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CHICUELO: winner of the Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members (Novice Riders) for Lara Mahon
photo: Sweet Photography

The rearranged Tanatside Point-to-Point meeting at Eyton-on-Severn went ahead in glorious sunshine.

Racing was put back an hour to allow all the frost in the ground to clear; the racecourse looking in great condition, which was a credit to the clerk of the course John Beddoes. The racing was excellent and there was a larger than normal crowd who were treated to a great days racing.

Chester Trainer and Rider Will Kinsey completed his first double as a Trainer at the Shropshire course. The first leg came aboard Willie Wong in a decent Restricted, in which he beat his brother-in-law Richard Burton on the Sheila Crow-trained Cockpit Lane by three lengths. The Anshan gelding used to be co-owned by top National Hunt jockey Richard Johnson and won his Maiden at Eyton when trained by Sheila Crow. Since joining the Kinseys he has been running under Rules, for which he is trained by the Rider's father Richard.

It was good training feat as the winner had a year off with leg problems; Richard Kinsey said afterwards that the winner would improve for the race and added that he has a hell of an engine. The winner is owned by the Wilfilandan syndicate, which consists of the Trainer, Phillip Woods, Anne Cardwell and Vicky Walker.

Kinsey had to work much harder to complete the double aboard Heezbehindyou in the second division of the Open Maiden, as Big John Macarty under David O'Brien jumped the last with a lead of a length-and-a-half; Kinsey pinged the last and landed running to win a thriller by half a length. The winner was bought by the Trainer's father from Richard Aston as a four-year-old and has run over hurdles but has had leg problems in the past. The win rounded off a good day for the Kinseys as the gelding is owned by the Trainer's mother Julie.

There was a shock result in the Mens Open, with the well-backed odds-on Vicario, from the Sian McCain yard, getting turned over by the 10/1 shot Billigerent , who was confidently ridden by Adam Wadlow to win by five lengths; Posh Dude was a further three lengths back in third. The winner is owned and trained at Bridgnorth by Belinda Clarke, who was reflecting that the last time her charge won a race was three years ago at Weston Park.

The second division of the Open Maiden went to the Martin Wilesmith-trained Lord Bellamy with the Trainer's son Mark in the plate; the horse was driven out to repel Enter Paradise and Richard Burton by a length-and-a-quarter. The Ledbury-based trainer said afterwards that the winner had been plagued with niggling injuries and added that, considering all the problems, it was a good feeling to see him win a race at last.

Gillon Crow, who works as Assistant Trainer to Sian McCain's husband Donald at Cholmondley, rode his 10th career Point-to-Point winner on Gunner Be Bee in the first division of the 2m4f Maiden; the combination quickened up on the run-in to beat My Flora, who jumped violently to the right at the last fence. The winner is trained at Somerwood by Gordy Edwards and was home bred by the Trainer's wife Sarah, who had been eventing the horse very successfully, also winning a dressage qualifier. The winner was bought last Christmas by John Wilson, who for many years did a great job as the North Western Area Secretary.

The second division of the 2m4f Maiden went to the well-backed Mi Man Sam who stayed on strongly to beat Shales Big Wood, with Tipped up Harry a further two lengths back in third. The winner in trained at Shobdan by Steve Flook and owned by John Priday, Keith Morgan, Tom Jones and the Trainer.

The opening Members race saw History Man win under Richard Burton for the second year running, beating Chalk It Up with Adam Wadlow in the plate. This was Burton's 12th winner of the season and the second one for Abberley trainer Joanne Priest. The runner-up is trained by the entries secretary Jean Balmer and co-owned by the Tanatside hunt secretary Ian Anderson and David Barlow.

The best finish of the day came in the Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members for Novice Riders; the race developed into dual between Lara Mahon aboard Chicuelo and No Virtue under John Flook. The two market rivals in the betting jumped the last as one, but despite losing an iron on the run in Lara Mahon galvanised her mount to win by three parts of a length. The winner is trained by her father Gabe at Stratford on Avon.

Jane Williams set out to make all on the Eyton specialist Step And Run in the Ladies Open; the veteran gelding beat Villochely by three lengths but finished lame. The winner loves this track as this was his sixth win at the Shropshire course. Step And Run is trained at Enville by the Rider's mother Di, who had a weekend training double with Upton Legend winning at Brecon the day before.

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