NOVICE jockey Sam Jukes repaid the faith shown in him by Clive Bennett’s Dymock stable when forcing Stone up in the dying strides to claim victory in the PPORA Club Members' Race at the Duke of Beaufort’s annual Didmarton point-to-point on Saturday, writes Peter Mansell.

Rosie’s Peacock, ridden by John Mathias, held a six-length lead at the third from home – where they looked on course for an easy win – with Stone and Jukes apparently in vain pursuit.

However, approaching the penultimate fence Rosies Peacock’s stride began to shorten and Stone made the most of this opportunity.

The two horses started off down the run-in on opposite sides of the course but Stone was closing the gap with every stride and found hidden reserves to get up close home to prevail by a neck.

Jukes said: “I knew it was close but I thought I had got back up.”

Chippenham trainer Michael Hawker’s record in the Beaufort Members' Race is getting close to a monopoly and he took this year’s contest with seven-year-old Carrig Dubh who won for the trainer and co-owners, Old Sodbury-based jockey Charlie Dando and former Olympic bobsleigh champion Tony Nash.

The favourite led from the start but constantly jumped away to his right and lost ground at several fences. However, he continued to dominate and soon had the measure of most of his rivals.

At the 16th fence Carrig Dubh and Kyles Faith had drawn clear, with the leader still holding a healthy advantage at the second from home.

But Kyles Faith suddenly began to respond to Hugo Hunt’s urgings and started to eat into the lead, although he was still half a length adrift of the winner as they passed the judge.

Carrig Dubh was bought by Hawker at Ascot in July after winning a couple of Irish point-to-points after which he offered a share to his co-owners.

Cold Knight's recent form has been disappointing but after his previous run jockey Leo Mahon suggested sheepskin cheek pieces might be beneficial and their application helped the horse secure third place in the Conditions' Race.

They were at the forefront of affairs from the start and still led the field into the home straight but could not cope with The Flying Doc's speed from the home bend and eventually lost second place to Spit on the run-in.

Cold Knight’s trainer Martin Weston would probably have won the Restricted with Ypsilanti who was in the lead when falling at the second-last fence.

The tumble meant that the challenging Doyen Dynamo was left well clear and he completed a double for jockey Josh Newman and trainer Ed Walker.

Dan’s Wee Man and Guy Disney made a bold showing in the younger Maiden. They were prominent from the start, whereas Pinnacle Peter’s effort looked to have petered out at the third from home.

However, neither of them could cope with Fearless Fantasy who sprinted clear of her rivals around the final bend.