A BITING wind did not deter a fair crowd and they were rewarded with over half the entered horses from running at the Quantock fixture, traditionally the first meeting of the year at Cothelstone, writes Kirsty Boutflower.

Highlights were a riding double for Will Biddick, the appearance of Aintree Foxhunter hero, Famous Clermont and a second victory for Purdy Peaster in the Hunt race, albeit a training one this time.

Purdy Peaster earned herself Wessex Ride of the Season in this race three years ago when cannily beating her rivals with a well-timed ride on Rocheston to swoop late at the odds of 16-1.

This year’s race featured both Rocheston and Purdy’s former horse Sizing Cusimano who she was reluctantly forced to sell following a bad fall on him at Milborne St Andrew in early February.

Having broken an array of bones, Purdy handed over the reins to her good friend Hannah Morgan and she proved an admirable substitute.

Will Biddick made up the trio on Far Out West and he made the early running with Hannah keeping tabs on him from the rear. A good jump three fences from home sealed the outcome and Rocheston came home an easy 4 length winner from Far Out West.

Famous Clermont looked a picture of health in the paddock prior to the Conditions Race and despite Acey Milan trying to spoil the story, James King never looked out of first gear as they cruised into the lead on the bottom bend to win by five lengths with market rival Punches Cross another 15 away in third.

The extended Mixed Open went to Norton Hill for trainer Harry Ryall and jockey Will Biddick setting up the first of his riding double. Sent off favourite, Norton Hill had run with promise on his pointing debut at Badbury Rings when 3rd behind Dr Rhythm and he showed a willing attitude here to win easily by seven lengths from Assassin’s Lullaby.

Will’s second winner was on one he also trained when Good Boy Eric took a competitive Restricted.

Ed Vaughan sent the other joint-favourite Posh Dude into an early lead and the pace was a quick one with Will happy to sit quietly in 4th. Posh Dude departed out of sight at the third last to leave Good Boy Eric to score from outsider Bobarelli.

The two maidens featured some very nice types in the paddock with the earlier young horse short Maiden going to Just A Glance for Robert Chanin and Darren Andrews.

Just A Glance had run out a good winner of a pointing bumper at Godstone last May and was joint favourite here to go one better.

Very clever at her fences, the 5 year old mare was bred by her owners John and Michelle Frampton from a mare they had in training with Ron Hodges who had won ten races for them.

The Older maiden went to Hannah Clarke’s Catch Me Quick under Charlie Marshall who scored by a cosy four lengths from another promising type in Valentin de Maine.

A beaming Hannah said “I wanted this horse so badly when I saw him at the Doncaster May Sales, that I stood outside in the rain until 9pm! We gave him the summer off and he’s really strengthened up well.”