Mike Drowne: Point-to-point returns at Dunsmore

By Mike Drowne

Point to pointing returned to the Devon and Cornwall area on Sunday as Dunsmore held the first of 20 scheduled meetings due to take place across Devon and Cornwall in the 2025-2026 season.

Six races took place in front of a plentiful crowd and under blue skies. The first of those races was The Goffs “GB Pointing Bonus” Young horse Maiden Series Race.

Ian Channin’s Electric City was my pick of the paddock and looked to be the winner under an inspired James Shaw ride.

The pair had made a bold bid from the front. However, the favourite Woodstock Octo came with a very late rattle, having never looked likely to pose a threat.

Electric City

Turning the bottom bend for the final time, Josh Newman didn’t look happy with his mount but somehow managed to galvanise a challenge out of the 5-year-old.

5-4 favourite, Woodstock Octo crossed the line one length ahead of 20-1 shot, Electric City, who is a horse to keep on the right side going forward.

Speaking after the race, Josh Newman said: “He just hit a flat spot down the back.

“You’re not going to get home if you get after them for too long, so I just grabbed him, kept squeezing him with my lower leg and tried to keep him in the same rhythm.

“I thought the only way to get back into it is to just sit and suffer and stay doing what I was doing.

“He winged the ditch and that jumped him up a couple lengths. I just slowly but surely pulled the other horse back.”

Noble Blue

Race two was The Jockey Club Keagan Kirkby Remembrance 0-110 Rated Series Race.

Noble Blue was sent off the even money favourite to provide Josh Newman with a quick-fire double and he duly obliged.

Josh anchored Noble Blue at the rear of the field and stayed there until the final three-quarters of a lap, when the pair effortlessly made up ground before taking the lead before the last fence and running out an eight-length winner from Kilfilum Woods.

Winning trainer and jockey once more Josh Newman said: “He was cruising the whole way and I thought it was just [a] case of when I let him go.”

Jewel In The Park

Next up was The Exeter Racecourse Immediate Series Qualifier Race.

It looked to be a repeat of race two as Josh Newman adopted the same tactics aboard Talimar Pearl.

Try as they might, though, they couldn’t reel in long-time leader Jewel In The Park and Ed Doggrell.

Reflecting on the win, Ed said: “Jewel In The Park is owned by my parents and close family friends.

“Their fairly loud when he wins. We were lucky to win three with him last year and won nicely today.”

Mount Sinai

Race four was the feature race of the day: the A&S Paving Ltd Mixed Open.

It attracted 10 runners with the favourite being Illico De Cotte, who had finished second at Lower Machen recently.

The 7-year-old ran well for Will Biddick, but it was Mount Sinai who denied favourite backers by running out a length winner.

This provided trainer Chris Barber and jockey Ed Doggrell with their second winner of the afternoon.

They have now enjoyed success every weekend of the new season.

Talking to Ed once more, he said: “It was lovely to win on her because she is [a] bit of a handful at home.

“I have to ride her out at six o’clock on my own and I’ve built up a bit of a partnership with her.”

Catch Me Quick

Race five was The Restricted Race and Catch Me Quick just did that to land the honours.

Lucky So And So was bidding to make all under Tanisha Little, but A Force To Reckin With took over at the ditch and looked to be going well, until Charlie Marshall produced Catch Me Quick to come home strong.

Speaking after the race, the winning jockey said: “When I rode him in his last Point To Point at Cothelstone, he never really travelled, he was quite green, and then he came alive at the third last and went on and won nicely.

“Today he travelled so well and I was worried that I was doing too much, and I didn’t want to get racing too early.

“He jumped the ditch really well, probably too well. We landed running and then got racing with the others.

“He came up out of the wings at the last, so there was obviously a good bit left.”

French Symphony

The last race on the card was the Luxton Plant Hire & Steve Yeandle Maiden Race.

It seemed as if it was going to be the perfect ending to a brilliant first day of the season for Josh Newman and his team as their Electric Jet looked the likely winner.

However, tragically, he suffered a fatal fall when in front at the last fence.

Josh and his team were distraught at the loss, and what should have been a great day ended in despair.

French Symphony had travelled well throughout the race but was ultimately gifted the race by Electric Jet falling.

This was a good result for jockey William Badlan, being a true Point To Pointer.

He plies his trade as a farrier and rides his own horses predominantly; he had made the journey down from Wolverhampton and it proved a worthy journey.

William said: “I was trying to be as nice to him as I can as he’s a bit difficult to get going at home. It’s nice to get a winner on the board,

“Hopefully, we can get him going in the right direction now.”

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