LOCAL trainer Helen Nelmes opened her Warmwell yard to the public as part of an open day to raise money for charity.

The national hunt trainer, who sealed success when Paul Moloney rode The Clyda Rover to victory in the Higos Insurance Devon National earlier this year, insisted she had a great day raising money for the Weldmar Hospice in Dorchester.

“It went very well,” Nelmes told Echosport. “We managed to raise £876 in total.

“We had a very good gate entrance and there were activities like guess the weight of the lamb, name the race horse, and a raffle with teas and cakes.

“It was a really fun day out and people got to see the horses and feed them.

“A couple of the jockeys were also there so people could ask them questions, and it was just a good day to show that people haven’t got to be millionaires to own a racehorse.”

Looking forward to the season, Nelmes added: “All the horses are back in work and we are just starting off.

“We build them up slowly to get them fit and will probably start racing at the beginning of the new jump season in October.

“Hopefully it will be a good year for us.

“I don’t tend to have a lot of summer horses because with the ground being so hard it is difficult.

“Every win we have is gratefully received. We very much work on personal things with it being a small yard.

“If you have a quirky horse then a small yard suits it a lot more.”

As well as The Clyda Rover, Nelmes is also expecting Unowhatimeanharry, Mr Toy Boy and Orvita to perform well next season.