WILL BIDDICK took the honours on a soggy, wet afternoon at Chipley Park near Milverton on Sunday.

The 33-year-old champion point-to-point jockey not only rode two winners, but also enjoyed three training successes in the Chipley mud.

Promising young pointer Sylvies Dance started the ball rolling with a four lengths win over the favourite Thechaseison in the Tiverton Hotel and Mole Valley Farmers sponsored Restricted. “It was very hard work but she clearly stays,” remarked Biddick.

Sylvies Dance was also the first of the three winners sent out during the afternoon from Biddick’s training yard at Alhampton near Shepton Mallet. Emperor Renard  (Exeter Racecourse Intermediate) and Silsol (Tozers Solicitors, Woofenden Construction, Arcken Plumbing Novice Riders) followed up with lady riders on board.

 Emperor Renard provided a first win in the saddle on only her second race ride for Mariah McGuinness. The 22-year-old rider works in the yard, and was overjoyed at steering her 20-1 outsider home after a gruelling battle with Banco De Logos (Darren Edwards) up the finishing climb. “Following Will’s advice, I tried to get as much daylight as possible and keep as much energy in the horse as possible,” said Mariah.

Silsol, formerly a useful performer under rules for Paul Nicholls, was a gift horse for Sophie and Alex Orttewell and gave their daughter Ella the third winner of her career when staying on dourly in the heavy ground to beat Master Dancer and All Kings. Having lost his prominent early place Silsol drew right away from the home bend.  “He ran off with me down the hill,” confessed the 20-year-old rider.

Biddick’s excellent afternoon in the wet was rounded off as the Ed Walker trained Minella Beag prevailed in a slow motion finish to beat Welsh challenger Boss Baby (Bradley Gibbs) and Cottage Rose (Fergus Gillard) in the Jockey Club & Clarke Willmott Solicitors Mares Maiden.

Navanman maintained his unbeaten record for the season in  the £1000 Mixed Open sponsored by Mr & Mrs Simon Brooks-Ward. “He is so game,” exclaimed rider Darren Andrews, who followed trainer John Heard’s instructions not to panic and delay his effort until two out.

Martin McIntyre also conjured a strong late run out of Mountpleasant Inn and Geoff White’s friends sponsored Open Maiden winner Le Tueur. This strong ex-Irish gelding looks a useful chasing prospect.

“I went to buy him at Ascot sales but he was too expensive so I formed a partnership with his owner Harley Dunne who sent him for me to train. He is on the market,” remarked trainer Christopher Barber, who is rapidly following in the footsteps of his late Grandfather Richard Barber in the training ranks.

 Jack Snipe followed up last year’s Hunt Race (Pennymoor Timber, John Pearcey & Brian Summers Memorial) success in the hands of his trainer Rob Hawker, beating sole opponent Jabbea with the minimum of fuss.