Point-to-Point 2026: Trebudanon hosts six-race card on landmark day for Darren Andrews

By Mike Drowne

The popular Cornish course, Trebudanon, held their first of two fixtures on Sunday, with six races taking place, and it proved to be a landmark day for jockey Darren Andrews.

The first of which was the Logan Roch Inn and Peter George Transport Keepers Conditions (Level 1). 

Seven went to post with Punches Cross heading the betting. The even money favourite was prominent early with Minella Jab, but failed to get favourite backers off to a winning start. 

Minella Jab powered clear to win impressively by 15 lengths, with Punches Cross fading to finish fifth.

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Keepers Conditions

Get Off Your Phone had only ran seven days prior, but out ran his 10-1 status, running more than a creditable race for popular trainer, Jimmy Cole. 

Lakota Warrior ran on well at the end to give his rider, Lucinda Hayes, a safe first ride in public. 

Winning trainer Megan Lawrence said: “That’s his fifth win for his owners now. 

“He may come back here for the next meeting. He likes it soft, so if they have rain before the next meeting, we may come back as he doesn’t seem to have had too hard a race.”

Conditions (Level 2)

Race two was the Mitchell and Webber Conditions (Level 2) 9yo & up. 

Former Welsh National runner-up, The Big Breakaway, was sent off the even money favourite to follow up from his recent win at Buckfastleigh. 

Get Away Drumlee had won at Didmarton three weeks earlier and was his chief market rival. 

Anna Johnson was keen to be prominent on The Big Breakaway, as was Ashley Dascombe, on Invest Management. 

Anna kicked on from the third last, and the pair were clear when Plan Of Attack fell at the second last, and both Investment Manager and Get Away Drumlee pulled up.

Like at Buckfastleigh, The Big Breakaway finished alone. Winning rider, Anna Johnson, said: “The further he goes, the more he enjoys it. 

“The more you’re taking him back, the happier he is. He’s an old wise boy! 

“I rode him in the North Wales National last season over three mile five on horrific ground and he finished second. 

“So, this is pretty light work for him. The handicapper had him under rules, so the fact that he was able to come pointing and he could enjoy it is great. He’s loving it.”

Intermediate

Woodstock Octo was bidding for his fourth win of the season in the Exeter Racecourse Intermediate. 

The 4-7 favourite only had three rivals, but it was a competitive race nonetheless. 

Recent Didmarton winner, What’s Up Harry, travelled down from Wales. Madame Le’Strange had already won twice this season and once again was partnered by Charlie Marshall. 

Share A Moment was the outsider. What’s Up Harry made the running and looked as if he was going to make all. 

Still holding a healthy lead after jumping the last, Amber Jackson-Fennell looked to overturn the favourite aboard What’s Up Harry. 

Both Madame Le’Strange and Woodstock Octo came with a late rattle. 

There were three in a line a stride before the line, but Darren Andrews got Woodstock Octo’s head in front where it mattered. 

Speaking after the race, Darren said: “He’s a nice horse going forward. 

“He’s a bit big and raw. Josh said to me beforehand, don’t rush him. 

“I had to be after him early today and I don’t think the track really suited him. He wants a big galloping track. 

“They got a run on me down the back and I had to wake him up earlier than I planned, but he galloped to the line.”

Mixed Open

Next up was the R J Trevarthen Mixed Open. 

After Hidden Heroics was withdrawn due to the soft conditions, four headed to the start. 

The Josh Newman-trained Important Notice was 4-7 to go one better than his second-placed effort at Cothelstone earlier this month. 

Gateau De Miel was stepping back from Hunter Chases and looked like the key danger. 

However, the favourite saw no danger as he made all under Darren Andrews. 

After producing some mighty leaps, the 8-year-old ran out a four-length winner, from Ben Lilly. 

After the race, Lauren Read, partner of Darren and a key member of the Blackmore Farm team, said: “No one was keen to make the pace, so Darren took it upon himself to make the running. 

“Which is a very different way than he would normally run, because he can be quite keen, but he looked to thoroughly enjoy himself. 

He’s not had the best of seasons; I think being heavily hampered and then brought down really knocked his confidence. 

“So, it was lovely to see him put in a spectacular display of jumping and do the job from the front.”

Restricted

The penultimate race of the day was the Dunbia Restricted. 

Yet again four went to post and yet again Darren Andrews was keen to dictate the pace aboard Tourmaline.

Riskamatriark joined the 1-6 favourite at the last and the pair engaged in a duel to the line.  

Tourmaline pulled out a little extra to win by a length. This was win number 10 for Darren for the season and number four for the day.

Winning trainer, John Heard, said: “It isn’t the ideal way to ride him, because he is quite strong. 

“Usually he wants to be rode from behind, so he was a little bit free in front, but he did it nicely. 

“It was Darren’s idea to ride him like that to keep him out of trouble.”

Maiden

Man of the moment, Darren Andrews had a shot at a remarkable five timer, in the last race as he partnered Emmas Wish in the Chris and Sarita Perkins Maiden. 

The unraced Run Ruby Run was well fancied to get his career off to a winning start. 

Punters eventually sided with experience as the John Heard-trained Emma’s Wish went off the 4-6 favourite. 

An upset looked to be on the cards as Run Ruby Run never threatened and Emma’s Wish also looked to be struggling. 

Get To The Point led them until approaching the last, when the staying on Emma’s Wish took it up and pulled seven lengths clear of Get To The Point. 

An obviously delighted Darren said: “That’s been a long time coming to win a race with her. 

“She ran a nice race to finish second behind Talimar Pearl two years ago, but she’s been frustrating this season. 

“She came back and we thought we had her right, but she finished fifth at Dunsmore, fell at Wadebridge, was third at Larkhill and then second at Buckfastleigh. 

“I didn’t want to go after her in the worse ground down the back. I squeezed her until three out, and I thought I was beat then, but as soon as I turned in on the better ground, she came alive and then did it nicely. 

“She’s been frustrating, but it’s nice to win with her today.”

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