Upcott Cross staged the final meeting of the official season for the Devon and Cornwall area on Bank Holiday Monday, despite two more bonus meetings yet to run.
Race One
Punters were provided with six well-represented races to get stuck into, the first of which was the Totnes and Bridgetown Races Series Conditions Race for grassroots riders.
Honest Opinion was well supported to repeat his win from the track two weeks ago, but it was the fast finishing 5-4 favourite, Grangeclare Glory, who took the honours under Jack Veysey, who also trains the horse.
The pair had won at Vaulterhill earlier this month and survived a blunder at the Open Ditch to come home 6 lengths clear of Conor’s Gift, who came from the clouds to finish second.
Race Two
Race two on the card was the Giffords Chartered Accountants Restricted Race. Meetmeatthepillar advanced from his run here two weeks ago when second to the talented Talimar Pearl.
He put in a solid display to win comfortably by 5 lengths from Zalando. This was Josh Newman’s 45th win in the saddle in what has been a remarkable season.
Newman secured the national trainers title at Kingston Blount on Sunday and also finished second to James King in the jockeys title.
Reflecting on his lucrative season, he said. “It’s been a great year. It’s mainly about the yard these days, for that to come in is just great. It’s been a good year, and the horses have been well. It doesn’t just happen; a lot of hard work goes into it.”
Race Three
Next up was the Simpkins Edwards Chartered Accountants conditions Race. 4-6 favourite, Jet Smart backed up his win from the last meeting with another good performance under Lucy Brown, who was once again rewarded for making the journey down from Scotland.
This provided trainer Emma Summersby with another double at this track, following on from her double delight here two weeks ago.
Emma, who only trains a stone’s throw away from the track, said; He’s a bit of a class above the rest. His first couple of runs didn’t go as planned, but he’s back on track now. He will go under the rules now. He’s doing this easily and loving it, so hopefully takes to it.”
Race Four
Race four, the Dunbia Mixed Open was a competitive renewal, five lined up and between them they had won 51 races.
The prolific winner, Quintins Man, was sent off the 4-5 favourite to add another win to his name, but it was the 12-year-old, Dr Rhythm (4-1), who provided an emotional win for the Cumings family.
Keith Cumings has played a pivotal part in Point To Pointing for many years and is sadly now living in a nursing home.
Dr Rhythum, who is now trained by Keith’s wife Janet, offered the family much joy as he rolled back the years to land his 17th career win, by three-quarters of a length.
Will Biddick was delighted to give the Cumings family a much-needed boost. The rider has enjoyed many good days for the team, including riding his 500th career win for them.
Afterwards, he said, “That was for the Cumings. If he had run the way he did the last twice he would have been tailed off third or fourth.
“It’s funny how horses know these things and do this.”
This may be the final runner for Janet, and if so, what a great way to go out.
Race Five
The PRJ Engineering LTD Maiden Conditions Race threw up some late drama.
Tanisha Little had given Doctor Doyen a bold ride from the front and was still travelling well heading to the second last, only to be carried out by a loose horse.
This left Dancing Du Moulin to come home 12 lengths ahead of the only other finisher, Middleton Fox. Fionn Summers felt he was going to get the better of the leader, but it was still all to play for.
Summers said, “I thought I always had Dr Doyen covered, I was always going to get to him. I clocked the loose horse, so I took a pull and went up the outside, and I thought she might get taken out.”
4-7 favourite, Eile Tara cruised to victory to win the FC Cleaning Systems Maiden Race by 8 lengths, making the journey down from Wales worthwhile.
Ed Vaughan, who rode the 6-year-old for his father Tim, said, “She’s got heart, her mother done alright for us, hopefully now she’s got a win on the board she can get going.”
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