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ARMENIAN BOY: The quirky character made a winning seasonal debut
photo: Tim Holt

A total of 65 runners lined up for seven races with mild weather greeting a good sized crowd at Ideford Arch on Tuesday (27th December).

Saltash-based Jackie du Plessis saddled her first winner since gaining her full training licence at Taunton recently, and continued in good form here when her eight-year-old Armenian Boy took the Mixed Open. After leading from the fifth, Armenian Boy decided he had done enough and tried to pull himself up on the bottom bend after four out. Emma Pugsley did well to get him going again and his mood changed as he tackled Walter De Wodeland approaching the home straight before holding on to score all out by a length.

Never So Blue was a useful chaser for Venetia Williams in his day and was given a good ride by Ryan Hatch to win the Club Members at the expense of the strong finishing King's Bench. The winner is trained by Claudia Wilesmith on behalf of Upton-on-Severn owner Christine Esling.

Pastek was an unlucky loser of the Novice Riders contest. His owner/rider Martin Peaty tried to make all the running, but missed a marker on his eight-year-old after three out, so disqualification was inevitable. Original runner up Tres Bien just held off King's Wood to grab the spoils. The winner is trained by Nick Taylor at Woolminstone near Crewkerne on behalf of himself and his wife. "We share the riding out and my day job is making cricket bats for Millichamp & Hall at the county ground in Taunton," said Nick. The winner was a second career success for jockey Josh Newman who works in the Alan King yard.

There was also controversy following the split on the day of the first Maiden for young horses over 2m4f. Bach On Tow looked to have mastered Grove Melody when going past him on the run in, but Grove Melody was awarded a head verdict to the surprise of onlookers. The winner is owned and trained by Elizabeth England at Rockhampton near Berkeley and was ridden by Irish born Martin Cooney. The jockey works for Richard Barber and was successful on four of his nine rides last season.

The Mamur Zapt took the other division which also attracted 12 runners. This strapping gelding stands over 17 hands high and was making his racecourse debut as a four-year-old. Home-bred by owner Brian Kilpatrick and trained by Ollie Jackson, the winner sported the famous colours also worn by his dam Dapples, also trained by Jackson.

Darren Edwards had the mount on The Mamur Zapt, and completed a double with an easy success on board Gunpark in the Exeter Racecourse Intermediate. This chestnut is trained by Sam Holdsworth for joint owners Rebecca Welch and Charlie Eyston.

The concluding 3m Maiden attracted a maximum field of 16 and went to nine-year-old Simply Game. Jo Buck had her mount handily placed throughout and the gelding ran on well to hold Lisscow Lad. A syndicate revelling in the name of The Dog Foxes Club own the winner, who is trained by Mike Hawker at Chippenham.

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