VA-BRED FOREST BELL WINS WOODLEY CUP

Virginia-bred Forest Bell, a veteran of Virginia restricted flat races at steeplechase meets, captured the Virginia H.B.P.A sponsored $2,000 Woodley Cup this weekend at the Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-Point races.

(Douglas Lees Photo)

Under regular rider Eilidh Grant, the six-year-old by Forestry, out of Mambo Bell by Kingmambo, was close to the pace throughout the race before pulling away from Daytime and Snowbuster at the head of the stretch.  Wahoo closed with a flurry to finish third. 

Forest Bell who won by 3 ¼ lengths is owned and trained by Simon Hobson. He was bred in Virginia by the late Edward P. Evans.

Complete order of finish: 1) FOREST BELL, Eilidh Grant (rider), Simon Hobson (owner), Simon Hobson (trainer); 2) SNOWBUSTER, George Wood, John McCormack; 3) WAHOO, Jacob Roberts, Sara Collette, Neil Morris; 4) Daytime, Jeff Murphy, James H. Falk, Sr., Simon Hobson; 5) Wild Ball, Carl Rafter, Randy Rouse; 6) Bremo’s Bluff, Allan Maskell, Zoe Valvo, Nick Valvo and 7) Popes Creek, Keri Brion, Jalin Stable, Jazz Napravnik.