29.04.24

Chaddesley Corbett Point-to-Point 20th April 2024 Review

April 2024 Chaddesley Corbett Point-to-Point

On what was a great day’s racing on 20th April 2024 at Chaddesley Corbett, on a bright sunny day with the course in excellent condition due to a 4-to-5-day dry spell leading up to race day. Here’s a quick review of the day’s racing.

We’ll start with The Worcestershire, Albrighton & Woodland, Wheatland, Hereford & Clifton, and Ludlow Hunt Members, Subscribers & Farmers Race that we sponsored.

Kauto No Risk made a belated winning return when posting a battling half-length verdict over the rallying Perryville when lifting the Members race for trainer Jo Priest, rider Zak Baker and owner John Hargreaves. Priest explained the eight-year-old’s absence by saying: “it has simply been a waiting game for some better conditions as it has been bottomless everywhere this winter and he must have goodish ground.”

As for the big race of the day, the Laura Richardson-trained Jeux D’Eau added his name to the iconic rollcall for the historic Lady Dudley Cup with a no-nonsense victory in the Classic when providing his Shropshire-based trainer with by far the biggest victory of her fledgling career. Only six-years-old, the gelding ridden by Richardson’s partner Huw Edwards showed great tenacity up the long Chaddesley Corbett home straight to thwart the persistent attentions of Looksnowtlikebrian by a couple of lengths with odds-on favourite Grace A Vous Enki a further three lengths back in third.

An emotional Richardson was finding it difficult to hold back tears of joy and said: “I cannot believe it as we have always thought he was a nice horse ever since we had him as a two-year-old — but to win a prestigious race like this is beyond my wildest dreams.”

The victory of Jeux D’eau proved the middle leg of a treble for Edwards as he had earlier taken the opening Maiden for 4&5yo aboard Philip Rowley’s newcomer Jacques Clouseau and completed the three-timer when pushing out Call Her Clever for the Maiden mares and fillies contest.

There was plenty of daylight between Call Her Clever and her rivals as she passed the post with 16 lengths to spare over Penelope Ann in a race that was run in memory of the late Robert Chugg. Winning trainer Niel Turner, who was celebrating his first winner, said: “It’s an honour to win the race named in honour of Robert as I worked for him for many years, and he taught me so much – so this is all down to him.”

The Grace A Vous Enki team of owners Clive and Joan Hitchings along with trainer Nicky Sheppard did not go away empty handed as Ihandaya, ridden by Natalie Parker, stretched his winning sequence to three since switching to his current trainer.

The winning trainer had earlier initiated a double when A Jet Of Our Own got the better of a protracted tussle with Hidor De Bersy to take the spoils in the 2m 4f Conditions contest.

It proved a red letter day for rider Patsy Page as she celebrated her first ever winner after Rockhamtom made it fifth time lucky this season with a victory over You And Me Too for the 2m Maiden.

Author – Andrew King (race correspondent)

Below are some images taken during the day, including Richard Amphlett MD, Cox Mahon and Emma Matthews, BSc Hons ACII, Account Executive, Cox Mahon presenting the trophies to the winning rider and owners.