Early start today - we don't mind because we are not going to work, we are just going out to enjoy ourselves - and of that we are sure!

I have often been asked - why is the earth in your window box RED - simple - I clean our boots off into it after coming back from Chipley Park! This year I have had it fresh from the powers that be that Chipley Park is "Good with Soft in places" so maybe the window box will not be filled up on this visit.

We were first to arrive at this lovely course with the beautiful architect designed mansion in the centre with a neighbouring duck pond surrounded by tall pines, oaks and sycamores and wonderful views across rolling landscape to the hills in the distance BUT before next year I will have to contact the "necessary authorities" and get them to put a roof on the house, rearrange the entrance hall, furnish the lounge and light the log fire - some ducks in the pond would not go amiss and as for the trees could you kindly get a few leaves to put on them? - the trees that are alive I mean! Whilst I am at it, there is no reason at all to order a heavy downpour whilst I am walking the course (or, indeed, as I am picking up my winnings for the last race.) No seriously this is a lovely course and we are sure to have a good day.

It is a shame that we have to start The Stags Members', Subscribers' & Farmers' Race with a "walk-over". Mrs Sanderson's JABIRU (R Woollacott) would no doubt beat most P to P runners but surely it would have been a better outing for this lovely La Fontaine offspring to have run in an "Open" race rather than a hunt race and I am sure his supporters would have loved to have seen him run before perhaps a Cheltenham entry! He won the best turned out as well!

The next race was The Matford Land Rover Mixed Open Race and six went to post. Yes - I picked the winner of this one. Not much of a price but a win is a win and the sticky tape was taken off the tin and a little more added. Ruth saw that Darren Edwards was up on O SO BOSSY for Andrew Congdon so she went for that one but not me, I'll catch up with that one later in the season. I was a little worried about Dom Harvey on Mrs Ashburner's BELARUS but stuck to my guns and came up trumps. O SO BOSSY and BELARUS made most of the running with MISS O'GRADY never letting them get away and ORPHAN SPA and FLAMENGO following with AINSI SOIT IL bringing up the rear. The latter was punted on from fifty to one down to twelve to one at the off - someone fancied him a lot! FLAMENGO pulled up not looking too happy but with a complete circuit to go it was to be a race between BELARUS, MISS O'GRADY and O SO BOSSY. Never much between these three but where it mattered it was Michael Miller who raced home on MISS O'GRADY with O SO BOSSY coming in second four lengths behind and BELARUS a further four lengths back in third.

There was quite open punting on The Newton Abbot Racecourse Intermediate Championship Qualifying Race with no one sure who to make favourite. Allan Tizzard's AGILE KING was available at four to one, as was Mrs Silk's FERGUS O'D (T Faulkner). Mr Day's SILVER POT BLACK (E Williams) took some money after a while and was available at five to two but O Stephens's ST HELIER (R Stephens) took most and was eventually sent off as the favourite I believe. I wanted the blinkered Mrs Syckelmoore's THE FROSTY FOX (Michael Miller) to win or even be place because the price was suitable for that type of investment. Not a lot - just a little touch! Ruth chose J Young's MAKHPIYA PATAHN (D Turner) to carry her cash at fourteen to one and when questioned -Why Darling? -reply - I like the name! - how could one possibly like that name, you couldn't cheer him home because pronunciation was out of the question so the name was reduced to - come on you eleven year old grey - come on!! Believe it or not as the race progressed it was a good job the commentator had the pronunciation of the eleven year old grey weighed off as it was very necessary and when it mattered most it was the grey and Polly on AGILE KING that were racing for the line. A few fences came off worse for wear and were omitted on the final circuit making life a little easier. The third horse was going to be FERGUS O'D but the clever riding of Miss Gundry paid off and she was able to cross the line three lengths to the good of 'the grey'. Ruth off to collect after telling me to do better in future.

Next came The Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members Race and a large field went to post. Seventeen runners in all and The Happy Group's ESCARTEFIGUE (G Barfoot-Saunt) was punted down to two to one with Mrs Goody's lovely FRANK BYRNE (C Studd) very close and Rodger Farrant's TRUE HUSTLER to be ridden by Ashley also very close. The best turned out Mrs Bishop's GLADIATORIAL (T Bishop) was the best of the remainder. Charlie Studd kept FRANK BYRNE handy but S Pilkington's TALLAGE (A Charles-Jones) set a good pace for most of the first circuit with GLADIATORIAL, TRUE HUSLER and ESCARTEFIGUE still in it. The second circuit altered things just a little, as TALLAGE gave way GLADIATORIAL and FRANK BYRNE started to make a race of it and then they were joined by TRUE HUSLER. When it mattered it was that good horse FRANK BYRNE that lit things up by coming up the hill and into the winning straight travelling well. First by eight lengths from TRUE HUSTLER with GLADIATORIAL third only one length behind and a good run by the Fry's BLACKWATER BRAVE (H Fry) into fourth place. Take note of this race for future reference. More than one of those will win again!

Its amazing how many times the best turned out (bto) will win a race or be thereabouts at the end. That was the case in division one of the restricted race when Ruth's choice (at 14 to 1) came home and my choice (at 10 to 1) fell down. For most of the first circuit, at least until mine got tired, they lead the field then Ruth took over and cheered P Pointing's COOLE'S ABBOT (M Walters)who was left in front, to come home in that position. M Rose's SKIP 'N' TUNE (M Miller) attempted to change this but had to be content with second place and close behind was D Wellow's ALPENSTOCK (T Stephenson). Mr Clough's CEDAR FATHER (E Williams) which had also taken some money at the investment centre came in fourth. Many smiles and much rattling in the bag as the spoils were salted away. None into my container I noticed.

Division two of the restricted went with form. Nic Williams was to ride Miss Llewellyn's SEA HAITCH EM which won for them at the Army meeting and to hold the form the horse that came second went out and won yesterday -CELESTIAL GOLD - so the chances are this is a certainty and he was invested on accordingly. Not by me as I am going to pick on Staverton Owners Group's SOUL KING (A Charles-Jones) or am I? No I will settle for Ashley Farrant to boost my tin with a good run on the jointly owned LEADING CASE. Started at five to two but I settled for five to one later. Well, it didn't come off for me but the three I have mentioned managed to fill the frame but not in the order I wished - first SEA HAITCH EM, second SOUL KING and third, my LEADING CASE. A good race and some of the others will win shortly.

Three divisions of open maiden races followed with the first division providing me with most enjoyment and a spectacle that only Point to Point meetings can produce. To whet your appetite -twelve ran in this division and only two finished. First time around FAR TOO CROWDED (R Woollacott) slipped up and C Dupont's best turned out RODNEY BAY (Christian Williams) (favourite) and THE WEE GENERAL (S Cobden) fell down in sympathy but A Ward-Thomas's KILVOYDAN with D Phelan up continued to make good progress and was followed by Rodney Farrant's KALAHARI SUNSET (Ashley Farrant) and J Studd's ILE DE RE (Charlie Studd) with the remaining field following well strung out. KILVOYDAN continued to lead on turning into the home straight for the first time accompanied by KALAHARI SUNSET both going well. The commentator stated that some were under pressure already and they still had a circuit to run. Nobody told Mr Phelan onboard KILVOYDAN that there was still a circuit to run and it was obvious he was now riding a finish. KALAHARI SUNSET fell. This left KILVOYDAN a long way in front and as he rode over the finishing line Mr Phelan was seen to stand up in his irons and lean back on his reins in a 'I have won position' - as he looked back to see where the second horse was (which was a long way back!) it dawned on him that there was another circuit to complete so he adjusted the situation, pulled the horse back onto the course and off again he went. C Warner's WALKABOUT (N Williams) and ILE DE RE were still racing as was E Donavan's GLEN MIST (E Williams) but KILVOYDAN was going further ahead and on turning into the home straight with three to jump he needed glasses to see his rivals, they were a long way back. GLEN MIST was making an impression and closed a little on WALKABOUT and ILE DE RE but KILVOYDAN cleared the penultimate well ahead of anything. Now the last - whoops! KILVOYDAN landed and dug his feet in a little, encouraging Mr Phelan to move forward at speed, over his neck and down onto the grassy turf. KILVOYDAN didn't have the strength to fall down or run away so it was easy for Mr Phelan to jump up, remount and with still a long way to spare over the finishing GLEN MIST he crossed the line to much applause. Well done all concerned and if that is not how you saw it Mr Phelan - please tell me as it was certainly how the viewers saw it!

I didn't invest in division two but it was a good race with NickWilliams riding the Fry's best turned out (again!) EARLS TOY into first place with Christian Williams riding the Dando's BILL HAZE into second place followed four lengths back by Alex Charles-Jones on D Churches's INIS EILE.

My day was completed when I choose the second of the Barber trained horses to really settle the tin account. The best turned out (again!) Mr Fear's STORMICO (C Williams) was to carry a considerable amount of the contents but I could only get a short price but not to worry, its better than the even money available about Eighteen Red Lions Partnership's RIVER DANTE (A Charles-Jones). No trouble - almost from flag fall to finish but it was a good maiden race and the Glacial Storm gelding came home 10 lengths to the good of S Thomas on ASHGREEN with Darren Edwards on POLKA four lengths further back.

This concluded a good days racing, the tin looking good and the handbag even better. Oh! hasn't Ruth done extremely well. (Perhaps fish with our chips on the way home!)

We found a couple of black plastic bags and deposited our wellies within and due to the heaviest shower one could imagine to finish up with - the window box will be replenished with enough 'red stuff' to last until next February.

Thanks to all concerned and see you next weekend. Saturday - United Services at Larkhill followed by a good card at Black Forest Lodge for the Mid Devon Foxhounds.

Fred & Ruth