THERE was a huge crowd at Penshurst on Saturday where the Old Surrey Burstow and West Kent Hunt held the second of their two point-to-point meetings on this course.

Thanks to the hard work of the organisers the going was reasonable, and there were sufficient numbers of runners in each of the six races to make exciting racing with some close finishes. Punters had a field day with five favourites winning.

Nick Pearce, from Newmarket, was again in great form, riding a double for trainer Chris Lawson, who certainly has made a great start since moving his yard from Essex to Kent. They took the Confined with Pristeen Spy, winning for the second time this season for owner Libby Harrison. The Hiscox Intermediate, with Supreme Vintage also winning for the second time this season.

Carryonharry continued his dominance of the ladies’ races, winning by only half a length from Persian King, well ridden by the owner’s daughter, Anna Sanson, whose riding tactics nearly toppled the champion. Always well up with the pace Persian King was in striking distance of the favourite, and releasing a strong challenge going to the last fence, but just went under by half a length at the line. The Men’s Open was run at a blistering pace, with Cape Stormer running on ground he really likes, and was able to dictate the pace, and never headed. The Turner horse, Thoutmoses, from Suffolk, was the one in hot pursuit, but there was a length in it by the time they reached the judge. The time recorded for the race was eight seconds faster than the Ladies, and considering the winner was carrying 19 pounds more made it a great win.

Mrs Jenny Donegan has always had a good eye for a horse, as L’Etang Bleu proved, bought at Ascot for 2,000 guineas back in 2005, the horse, having won a Seller when trained by Martin Pipe, has taken time to get fit but he certainly was just that when winning the Veterans and Novice Riders race under Peter Bull, winning by 15 lengths. A chance ride in the Maiden for Rupert Stern was well worth a journey from Norwich, when partnering King’s Linen to win this race. Stern had to sit tight at a number of the fences, but eventually won by two lengths.

This weekend, Saturday, April 28, the meeting moves to West Sussex where the Chiddingfold, Leckonfield and Cowdray hold their fixture at Parham with the first race time of 12.30pm.

In the hunt race, Jack Of Kilcash looks the winner, with Grayslake the danger. The Confined has previous winner on this course, Heaven is Above, and Balau in the list of entries. Fiery Ring should take the Ladies with Millennium Way the danger. In the Mens, Cape Stormer, if declared, must have an outstanding chance.