Bratton Down brought down the curtain on the 2024-25 season on Sunday for the Devon and Cornwall area.
Seven races took place under moody skies, and there was plenty of exciting action for spectators to savour.
Race One
The first race of the day, the Tiverton Staghounds Hunt Members Race, saw a clash between Skilfull Lord and Grove Ash, both of whom won at this course two weeks ago.
James Shaw kept things simple again aboard the 11-year-old and set the pace. Grove Ash made the favourite work, however, and the pair virtually jumped the last together before 1-4 favourite, Skilfull Lord, pulled out enough to win by 1 and a quarter lengths.
This was the gelding’s fourth win in a row and his fourth career win at this track.
Owner Brian Palfrey, who was also the race day Chairman, said, “We only keep two horses at home, we’re hunting people. He’s a true Point To Pointer, we hunt him until February and then he goes to Danny’s, he’s pre-trained on the hunting field.”
Race Two
Race two saw the former men’s champion jockey and the current champion, Will Biddick and James King, do battle.
With Will on What A Pleasure and James on Skiffle Man, the pair engaged in a dual for the final circuit and jumped the last together, with Skiffle Man (8-11F) staying on the better up the hill to win by 4 lengths.
This was yet another win for the combination of James King and Luke Price at Bratton Down.
Talking about the way he trains, Luke said, “We have a deep round gallop and we get them really fit on there.
“We take them to the beach, and we also have a place where we work them over four miles in the winter, and we get them really fit that way.”
Reflecting on why he has such a fruitful end of the season, Luke said; “All it is is that at the start of the year we sell Cobs or any horses, so were busy through the summer, that is the business so the pointers have to wait, we don’t get them in until November.”
Race Three
The Intermediate Race saw a fantastic finish. There were three in a line at the second last flight, with Boys Will Be Boys, Designer Destiny and Gallent Geronimo all tussling for the spoils.
11-10 shot, Boys Will Be Boys landed in front at the last and narrowly held on from the 4-6 favourite, Desighner Destiny, who was closing with every stride.
After the race, Will said, “He’s been a bit up and down but has come good at the end. He jumped well and got in a rhythm.”
Race Four
Race 4 was the Men’s Open Race, kindly sponsored by Ucanstore.com.
Fliminger went straight to the front under Walter Barnett, but as soon as the 1-4 favourite, Mourzouk, got the lead, he proceeded to make the race a procession, using the final circuit as a lap of honour and crossing the line a distance clear.
This was another win for the father-son combination of Tim and Ed Vaughan.
Race Five
Next up was the Greenslade Taylor Hunt Ladies Open, 13-year-old Cheltenham Mati took on the 11-year-old Arthur’s Sixpence, although she took on maybe the wrong thing to say, as Arthur’s Sixpence made it a rout.
Taking the lead with a circuit to travel, Arthur’s Sixpence (1-5F) effortlessly dispatched his rival.
Olive Nicholls, who rode and trained the winner and who will soon be joining her father Paul as pupil assistant, said, “He’s a lovely old horse, he hasn’t done much running, he’s been a bit problematic. He’s come back after two years off and won two races on the bridal.”
Race Six
The Witheridge Garage Restricted Race followed, it saw the biggest field of the day with seven runners.
Luke Price ambushed the race with three of the runners, but it was Emberscombe who landed the honours under Will Biddick, providing Danielle Kenealy with her second winner of the day and 11th winner of the season.
This took her seasonal strike rate to 50%, quite the achievement.
After the race, the winning rider said, “Her form at Cheltenham, I know she was fifth and beaten a long way, but that’s good form to come back to a Point To Point. I thought she was going to take a bit ofa beating.”
Race Seven
The final race of the day and the season went to the red-hot favourite, Ninth Wave.
Sent off at odds of 1-7, Ninth Wave cruised to a 25-length victory to gain his 5th career win at the track, for trainer Teresa Clarke and jockey Will Biddick.
After landing a treble on the day, it was very apparent that the fire still burns bright in the eight-time champion, and he is as hungry as ever.
There have been many positive stories from this season and many great races, with some thrilling finishes.
Well done to the title winners, and here’s to a cracking season, roll on 2025-26.
By Mike Drowne
