DEVON & SOMERSET STAGHOUNDS
HOLNICOTE
Saturday 3RD May 2008
PREVIEW
by Brian and Gill Armstrong
THE Wessex point-to-point calendar moves to Holnicote near Minehead this Saturday, 3 rd May, for the Devon & Somerset Staghounds fixture. The meeting has attracted a superb entry of 148 horses for the eight-race card, first race time 2.00 pm.
The Hunt race looks sure to maintain its high-class tradition, as over half of the 14 entries have won races this season. King Georges and Knightsbridge Hill won early in the season and have chances, along with El Hombre Del Rio and Ri Na Realta, who provided Giles Hawkins with a winner at Kingston St Mary. Winner in 2006 and 2007, Maxou Des Brosses, may go for his hat-trick, while So Long – winner of four races this season – and comfortable Cothelstone winner Yufo could represent Camilla Scott’s in-form stable. Maxou Des Brosses loves this course – he overturned Southwestern here two years ago – but the Scott runner will get the vote.
The Intermediate race has attracted 19 entries. Yufo must be respected if taking this option, while Fully Loaded seemed to relish faster conditions when winning at Badbury Rings. Sliema – a good second at the Axe Vale on Sunday – and Candlelight Valley are other possibles. Tory Blue has impressed in his last two outings and looks the one. Emergence has won two races for the Alan Walter stable this season and could be a sporting alternative.
The Ladies’ Open looks the feature race on the card. Richard Barber has a strong hand with Brown Cockle, who would relish a stamina test, Reviewer and Oracle Des Mottes, who never quite got on terms with Quick at Cherrybrook. Perouse and course specialist Beadnell Bay catch the eye, but Croix De Guerre is unbeaten in four completions this season and is strongly fancied.
Knightsbridge Hill is among the 14 entries for the Confined race, along with Kingston winner Fool On The Hill and Cookies Bank, who ran a tremendous race when third at Stafford Cross on Sunday. The suggestion is Canada, who runs infrequently but has a proven winning record over the Holnicote course.
Stable companions Noeud Vert and Shady Hollow have failed to complete on several occasions this season, but may still be the two to beat in the Restricted. However, Marias Rock came good to provide Neil Harris’ 200 th career winner at Littlewindsor and may be able to follow up here.
The Men’s Open has attracted 16 entries. Golden Jack and Quick are in-form and could set a rapid pace. Dante’s Back, Oracle Des Mottes, Szeroki Bor and Stafford Cross winner Who Else Knew will mount strong challenges, but So Long will be the suggestion if making her Open race debut.
The meeting ends with two divisions of the Open Maiden. Choice Connection made a pleasing debut at Woodford on Saturday and may take Division I for Richard Barber and Rachael Green. Max’s Choice was just touched off at Chaddesley Corbett and may finally get his head in front in Division II.
The course is off the A39, 3 miles W of Minehead and 2 miles E of Porlock. First race: 2.00pm (point-to-point). The entrance fee is £20 per car; £10 per car with a single occupant; £5 for pedestrians.
