Trebudannon looked magnificent on a sunny afternoon with the course pattern rolled and immaculate fences a credit to the team led by Paul Hancock. The going was good with the back straight called good to soft. Runners were just enough to provide competitive racing and punters backing 3 favourites left smiling.
Josh Newman scored another three timer but was pushed by in form improving combatants and needed all his tactical skills to score.
The Logan Rock Conditions race opener was a thrilling battle between 5/4 favourite Itacare under Rian Corcoran and Quintin’s Man with John Heard’s top pointer in 2023 back to form under Josh Newman. They matched strides from five out until the last fence when Quintin’s Man pulled away to win by 2 lengths. In form Jockey, Josh Newman said “He stays well, so the intention was that wherever we were going we would be pushing on down the back and his jumping kept in with Itacare and we just outstayed them in the end”.
The Mitchell and Webber Veteran Conditions race saw Rian Corcoran dominate with Duc de Beauchene and pull clear 4 from home to ease across the line by 12 lengths. Odds on favourite Paloma Blue challenged mid race but was well beaten into third spot by the quickly improving Makety. Leading novice jockey, Rian, said “He stays all day, he’s a decent horse and still has plenty of enthusiasm”.
The Exeter Intermediate Final qualifier before the race Final at Exeter on April 11th saw John and Sonia Gardener’s Clondaw Drake impress under Josh Newman to notch up the gelding’s fifth win of the season by 3½ lengths. Grove Ash from Mary Sanderson’s yard looks promising and could score later this season. Josh explained “We were just crawling and I actually tried to go on, but he wouldn’t. Thankfully Jake did set up a bit more, but I wasn’t going to take any risks except for sailing down the back to get the revs up and make sure no one could come to us”.
The evergreen sponsors at the South Cornwall fixture of R J Trevarthen in the Mixed Open saw a classy The Kings Writ from Kayley Wollacott’s yard dominate under Hannah Morgan, with an impressive display of immaculate jumping from the 14-year-old gelding to annihilate the field. Favourite Dr Rhythm under Josh Newman was well beaten by the second from home with Joey Steel and Jo Supple running on well to claim second spot. Leading Devon & Cornwall ladies novice jockey, Hannah Morgan, was delighted with her win saying “I got told to keep kicking and I want to say a massive thankyou to Josh and Kayley because without them I wouldn’t be able to do it and I’m really grateful”.
The Jockey Club four- and five-year-old Maiden race for Mare and Fillies received a disappointing entry and one declaration from Jim Cole’s African Lady which he purchased from the Pipe yard the previous week – so a good start for the Cole team.
The final contest being the Chris and Sarita Perkins Maiden race saw the third winner for jockey, Josh Newman, on Buddah Castle at 7/4 but they were hard pressed by Walking It Off. In the 8-runner contest Buddah Castle was always handy and drew away from the penultimate but 14/1 outsider Walking It Off closed to come second best by a head to finish an entertaining day's racing. Banzigkane under Jake Bament ran on well to finish third and is one to watch. After another successful day Josh gave an insightful race review explaining Buddah Castle is “Just a big raw baby, you can see by the size of him and he’s not quite perfected his technique yet, but he will be a nice horse going forward. Another summer on his back and he will grow up, mature and that's what he needs to do now”.
After a glorious day in the sunshine, we look forward to Trebudannon’s second meeting in a couple of weeks on Easter Monday which always proves to be a popular day out for all.