A NUMBER of races at the Penshurst point-to-point meeting were won easily by horses at home on heavy ground.

One of the significant features of the meeting was the return to form of the Tindall yard whose horses had been suffering from a virus earlier in the season. Sheriff’s Friend, a great campaigner for the yard, does not seem to have lost any of his class and took the Men’s Open under a superb ride from Chris Gordon.

Sheriff’s Friend was having his first run after a year off and jumped from fence to fence to win by a distance, achieving his 14th win out of 19 runs.

Five-year-old French-bred Napolito, from the same yard, took the Maiden Race from the impressive Buster Mai.

The Ladies was a very competitive race with previous winners A Few Bob Back, Indoux and Minino all fancied. Stylish Dave, trained and ridden by Lisa Stock, took them along at a resolute gallop and led all the way to win in the fastest time of the day.

Honourable Spider needs soft ground and was justifiably made favourite for the Veteran and Novice Riders’ Race, partnered by his usual jockey Peter Bull. With a circuit to go he galloped himself into the lead and won by a distance. This is his fourth win from five races.

It was a great day for Frittenden owner rider Helen Williams, having only her sixth ride to win the Restricted on her own Nicodemus.

Bought by Williams as a failed racehorse, she has competed the horse in various disciplines and his new enthusiasm for racing saw him sprint to the finish to pass the favourite just before the line.

Williams is an area sales manager for a soft drinks company and trains the horse herself but has been greatly helped by National Hunt trainer John Best.

Racing this Sunday 9April 9) moves to Catsfield, near Battle, where the East Sussex and Romney Marsh Hunt hold their meeting featuring a six-race card starting at 12.30pm.

The first race, the Hunt Members’, should see the Tindall yard back in the winner’s enclosure with Magnolia. If absent, Bustling Rio, who finished third at Penshurst, should go well.

Jazz Attack, who lost his maiden ticket at Godstone, should have the right credentials to take the Restricted. The in-form stable of Marcus Gorman should repeat his success at the last Godstone on Cape Stormer to win the Men’s Open.

The Ladies looks a more open contest, but Camilla Ewart, who owns and rides A Few Bob Back, already a winner this season, must have a good chance. If the ground stays soft we might see Honourable Spider reappear in the Confined but the opposition will be stronger and Monarch Rules from East Anglia could be the danger.

Lutin Collonges heads the small field of 13 in the Maiden Race and could give Mike Roberts his first winner this season.

OLD SURREY, BURSTOW AND WEST KENT, Members’ Race: 1 Funny Money (J Sarchet) 1-4 fav, 2 May Zee Wong (P Blagg) 3-1. 2 ran. Winning owners: James and Helen Sarchet. Time: 8min 18sec. Distance: Distance. No tote.

Veteran and Novice Riders: 1 Honourable Spider (P Bull) 1-3 fav, 2 River Bailiff (T O’Callaghan) 13-2, 3 Bustling Rio (Miss C Ewart) 9-1. 9 ran. Winning owner: M Roberts. Time: 7min 45sec. Distance: Distance and 1/2 length.

Restricted: 1 Nicodemus (Miss H Williams) 2, 2 Pampered Lad (A Pennock) 4-5 fav. Only 2 finished. 4 ran. Winning owner: Miss Helen Williams. Time: 8min. Distance: 2 lengths.

Men’s Open: 1 Sheriff’s Friend (C Gordon) 13-8 fav, 2 Little Farmer (P Hall) 4-1, 3 Altareek (G Gallagher) 6-1. 7 ran. Winning owner: S Tindall. Time: 7min 45sec. Distance: Distance and 1 length.

Ladies’ Open: 1 Stylish Dave (Ms L Stock) 14-1, 2 Indoux (Miss C Haydon) 2-1, 3 A Few Bob Back (Miss C Ewart) evens fav. 9 ran. Winning owner: Mrs J Plumptre. Time: 7min 38sec. Distance: 10 lengths and 7 lengths.

Open Maiden: 1 Napolito (C Gordon) 5-1, 2 Buster Mai (P Hall) evens fav. Only 2 finished. 10 ran. Winning owner: S Tindall. Time: 7min 59sec. Distance: 2 lengths.