The early rain showers soon gave way to give a warm sunny day attracting a good crowd to enjoy the thrilling racing at Trebudannon, where the Four Burrow staged their second race meeting of the season, writes Donna Harris.

Trainer Stuart Sampson enjoyed saddling a treble on the day, the first of which came in the Tremaine Plant Hire-sponsored mixed open race.

With only four horses in the race the market leaders Top Chief under jockey Chris Barber and Third Chance with Martin McIntyre aboard who were able to dictate the pace with both demonstrating a good round of jumping, but a tactical move switching his mount to the inside line enabled young Chris Barber to push on up the home straight and score a two length victory on Top Chief.

“He is one of my best, my little star and gives every ounce,” commented the delighted trainer. The day could only get better for the Culmstock based trainer with his next win coming in the Conway Bailey-sponsored intermediate race when Fishy Story, under Jamie Thomas, made all with a bold front running tactic, destroying the following pack by 25 lengths.

“The jockey rode as instructed,” explained delighted owner Martin Tucker who added “I am really pleased after she unseated her jockey at the Stevenstone meeting. The third part of the Stuart Sampson-trained treble came in the open maiden race sponsored by C & C Perkins.

This time it was the turn of National Champion jockey Will Biddick to demonstrate his excellent jockey skills, when he rode a patient race in mid division, then producing his mount Chanceanotherfive over the second last to stretch on to win by two lengths. Chanceanotherfive had shown some decent place form in Ireland and had been spotted by Bloodstock Agent Tom Malone’s assistant Nick Taylor. Tom was delighted with his recent purchase for which he gave good credit to his assistant and the trainer.

“Finding the horse is all down to Nick who plagued me for weeks to buy him, we will possibly look at the Bumper race at Stratford in June now.”

The two-mile-four furlong open maiden race for horses and geldings gave jockey Martin McIntyre the first part of his winning treble on the day.

Darcy Ward, trained by leading trainer Jack Barber had been backed into even money favourite with the bookies, and didn’t disappoint the punters when McIntyre kicked on down the back straight going on to score a ten length win. “He is a very nice horse and has come on a lot from his first run, Chris Barber rides him out at home and deserves some credit,” explained Martin. L’Chamise also trained by Jack Barber gave McIntyre the second part of his treble, when taking the open maiden race for Mares and Fillies.

This produced the closet finish of the day, with three horses joining the party over the last, and the judges having to call the result over the line. McIntyre had produced L’Chamise, who’s weight allowance could have been a factor in her three-quarter of a length win, leaving River Wye in second and the staying on Rumour Has It a close third. “She is a lovely little mare, we will turn her away now for the summer. She is homebred by her owner Michael Lowry and will hopefully be an eventual broodmare,” explained Jack.

The third part of the Martin McIntyre treble had come when the Claire Hitch-trained Every Breaking Wave took the Lamanver Broodmare-sponsored restricted race.

The bookies were offering Every Breaking Wave at 4/1 at the off with River Myth a 2/1 favourite. River Myths early exit when being brought down at the second fence, gave the opportunity for McIntyre to ride a patient race and produce his mount over the third last, going on to win by five lengths, giving McIntyre his 21st winner of the season.

Trainer Claire Hitch explained: “I bought the horse privately out of Ireland, and invited some friends to join in the purchase having met them whilst having our Christmas party in the local pub.”

Inch Rock provided the Ed Walker team with an impressive win under jockey Will Biddick, in the R & J Trevarthen-sponsored club members race.

Having travelled well throughout, and kept handy, Biddick took up the running on the final circuit and was able to kick on over three fences from home to score by six lengths. Inch Rock had held an entry in the Intermediate Hunter Chase final at Exeter earlier in the week, but the trainer had decided against running with the lack of rain.

However, with the Trebudannon course having a good downpour the previous night and Ed Walker walking the track, he decided on a last minute decision to run.

“We have been runner up twice to Colorado Doc, and this time the decision was to ride him more prominently, which seemed to work,” commented the jockey who looks soon to pick up another National Champion jockey title.