DISPATCHES FROM THE SOUTH AND WEST MIDLANDS: 29 AND 30 NOVEMBER

Trainers, jockeys and horses from the West Mercian and South Midlands Areas continued their splendid start to the season with involvement in two wins at Hexham and sharing victory in all five races at Larkhill.

Joe O’Shea made the long journey from his Cheshire base to Hexham on Saturday and was successful with Paul Marvel and St Cuthbert’s Cave in the Mixed and Ladies Opens, the latter following up his Lower Machen success on the first day of the season. Respective jockeys Henry Crow and Amber Jackson-Fennell were opening their account for the season.

Joe O'Shea - Hexham double (Carl Evans)

Stars of the show at Larkhill were trainer Nickie Sheppard and jockey Fred Philipson-Stow, both of whom came away with doubles. Nickie and Fred teamed up to win a high-quality and exciting Mens Open with A Jet Of Our Own, Nickie completed her brace with Yippee Ki Yay in the Conditions Race, continuing jockey Milo Herbert’s excellent return to the saddle, while Fred’s second win was in the Maiden, on the Dorset-trained (and appropriately named) Dorset Dazzler.

Yippee Ki Yay and Milo Herbert win the Conditions Race at Larkhill (Tim Holt)

Two South Midlands raiders got on the scoresheet. Trainer-rider Lily Bradstock made up for Badbury Rings disappointment with a fine front-running display on Myth Buster in the Ladies Open while Zac Baker produced an excellent tactical ride to win the Restricted on Glancing Hill for Francesca Poste. All involved were winning for the first time this season.

Glancing Hill and Zac Baker (Neale Blackburn)