THE cold weather didn’t dampen the spirits of racegoers at the rearranged Tiverton Foxhounds point-to-point meeting at Chipley Park.

It was a memorable day for trainer/jockey Josh Newman who rode an impressive four-timer at the meeting.

His epic result started in the opening race of the day, the GRE Ltd Hunt Members race, which was run in memory of John Pearcey and Marion and Brian Summers. Soldier of Destiny was sent off favourite and set the pace. However, a patient ride by Josh on Lucky Lara, who stayed on well up the hill, and ran into the lead over the last, coming home the three length winner.

The mare gave Josh his thirteenth winner of the season extending his lead in the gentleman’s championship.

The second part of Josh’s four-timer came in the Agrii & Tozers three mile Maiden race, when he partnered Ted The Thief, another which he trained, this time for the Blackmore Racing Club. Ted The Thief was sent off favourite, and didn’t disappoint his backers, having extended up the final hill taking on Goosey Lucy, who made a blunder at the last, leaving Ted The Thief to run home a four-length winner with Goosey Lucy under Charlie Sprake second.

Important Notice gave Josh his third winner in the Exeter Racecourse Intermediate Series Qualifier. Again he rode a patient race tucked in behind until two fences out, taking the lead over Arv Way There and Liberty Rock, coming home the six-length winner.

Newman’s fourth winner was also sent off odds-on favourite in the Greenslade Taylor Hunt & Mount Pleasant Inn-sponsored Restricted Race. This race resulted with the Newman trained and ridden El Capitaine, another held up tactilely during the race, and produced up the hill three out, winning by eight-lengths, leaving Royal Defender under Martin MacIntyre, six-lengths back in second.

Earlier in the day in The jockey Club & Clarke Willmott Maiden, it was Star Of Honour who was sent off the odds on favourite for the Alan Hill team, with daughter-in-law Izzie who took the ride. The horse didn’t disappoint, following up her good form in Ireland. Of the nine runners, Star Of Honour was kept handy throughout the race gradually fending off her rivals, coming home to win by five-lengths.

The Mixed Open sponsored by vets Dilloway and Bosley, only attracted two runners, with other entries having run the previous weekend. Fighter Allen for the David Pipe team was sent off odds-on favourite under Rian Corcoran, with Call Simon for the Robert Chanin team heading off at 2-1 under Arun McManus. A tactical race, with Fighter Allen two lengths ahead trying to head away on final circuit, however Call Simons jockey Arun McManus wasn’t giving up and knew he had petrol still left in the tank, provided thrilling battle up the final hill, resulting in a photo finish and a Dead heat declared by the judges.

It wasn’t the only dead heat of the day, with the last race being the Friends of the late Geoff White & PPORA Club members Conditions race for Novice riders also producing one. It also gave trainer David Pipe and jockey Rian Corcoran their double on the day with odds-on favourite Sidi Ismael, giving a thrilling battle three fences from home, and up the final hill with Doc Carver joining in on the line under young Rebecca Pugh producing another dead heat,