BERKELEY trainer Dick Baimbridge sent out two winners during a bitterly cold Duke of Beaufort Point-to-Point at Didmarton on Saturday.
The renowned trainer was on the mark in the second race, the Hiscox-sponsored Intermediate, with the hat-trick seeking Martin Ossie.
The eight-year-old was bred by his owner Dave Smith at Saul, in the Berkeley Vale, who has had his patience rewarded this year as Martin Ossie has made significant improvement with every race.
Jockey Julian Pritchard reported afterwards that the horse was not fencing with his usual fluency and may have pulled some muscles in his back.
When the horse came over from Ireland, Baimbridge's immediate evaluation was that he was "small and hairy" but he has not lived up to the vendor's suggestion that he "might be a bit slow."
The eight-year-old took the lead at halfway and with Adrian Wintle dictating the pace, they defied the efforts of all his rivals as they attempted to reduce the deficit over the final half mile.
Julian Pritchard went on to score a double after steering Gregory Peckory to victory in Division II of the 5-6-7-year-old Maiden.
A runner-up on two occasions already this year, Jelly O'Brien's Naunton-trained gelding kept pulling out a bit extra and is yet another winner with the Frank Zappa connection that owner Caroline Mackness favours when naming her horses.
West Littleton-based Bill Bush and his sons Nick and Steven have won the Beaufort Members on numerous occasions but this year's winner Seef should have been partnered by Steve's daughter Lucy.
Unfortunately, fate intervened two weeks ago when Lucy broke her wrist in a fall from the same horse at Whitwick Manor. Her father proved an able deputy however and steered the 11-year-old to a 15-length success from the favourite Machalini.
Owner/trainer/rider Guy Disney is in his final year at the R.A.C. in Cirencester and he had cause for celebration after Master Jed turned the final race of the afternoon (Division II of the eight-year-old and upwards Maiden) into a procession.
The eight-year-old had a protracted battle with the runner-up Sherwood Rose from the 10th before prevailing at the penultimate where the ex-Jim Old trained gelding quickened clear for a decisive win to take the silverware.
Duke of Beaufort Point-to-Point at Didmarton Results:
MEMBERS: (five ran): 1 Seef (S Bush), 20-1; 2 Machalini (A Morley) 4-6 fav; 3 Lakefield Rambler (J M Pritchard) 11-4. Intermediate (17 ran): 1 Martin Ossie (J M Pritchard) 4-5 fav; 2 Bolide de Aunay (J Tudor) 6-1; 3 Nousayri (M Wall) 16-1. Mixed Open (19 ran): 1 Katarino (S Waley Cohen) 3-1; 2 Dancing Fosenby (M Holdforth) 9-1; 3 Royal Jake (J M Pritchard) 10-1.
Five-Six-Seven year old Maiden - Division I (11 ran): 1 Granoski Gala (B King) 8-1; 2 Saffron Hill (F Hutsby) 2-1 fav; 3 Pimlico (S Bush) 7-1. 11. Division II (ten ran): 1 Gregory Peckory (J M Pritchard) 4-6 fav; 2 Home by Midnight (T Ellis) 10-1; 3 Willie the Kid (H Dowty) 3-1. Restricted (16 ran): 1 Poppy Maroon (M Miller) 7-2; 2 Trade Off (D Jacobs) 6-4 fav; 3 Jurist (M Keen) 14-1.
Eight year old and upward maiden - Division I (12 ran): 1 The Wee Bishop (A Wintle) 2-1 fav; 2 Rohan (T Clarke) 11-4; 3 Landing Rights (I Howe) 6-1. Division II (12 ran): 1 Master Jed (G Disney) 5-1; 2 Sherwood Rose (M Harris) 10-1; 3 Crafty Monkey (S Lloyd) 7-1.
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