POINT-TO-POINT RACING

WESSEX AREA

News Release prepared on behalf of the Wessex Area Secretaries Association
Brian & Gill Armstrong, Wessex Area Public Relations Officers
Telephone & Fax (01747) 841059      email brianandgill@pointingwessex.co.uk

A Preview of the 2012 Wessex Area Point-to-Point Season

THE WESSEX AREA POINT-TO-POINT SEASON kicks off on Saturday 7th January 2012 with the Larkhill Racing Club fixture. Twenty-three meetings are scheduled in Wessex, culminating in the Weston & Banwell's evening fixture on Wednesday 16th May. For a free colour leaflet detailing all the meetings in the Wessex area, send an SAE to Gill Armstrong, Pantiles, Penselwood, Wincanton, Somerset BA9 8NF.

Richard Barber has already made the headlines with three winners - Trueflyingcolours, According To John and Toby Lerone - at the recent two-day PPORC meeting, where Master Medic landed the mixed open for the Sally Alner stable. Here are some other horses to look out for in 2012.

Devon/Somerset Border

Keith and Janet Cumings' Bishop's Nympton near South Molton yard welcomes back stable stalwart Touch Of Flame, who took his winning tally into double figures last season, and fellow 2011 winners Alpha Native, Certain Flight and Wassonthen. Newcomers include Peter Clarke's grey One More Flame, a full-sister to Touch Of Flame, and The Wealerdealer, a Vinnie Roe four-year-old jointly owned by the Cumings and Geoffrey Brown.

Richard Woollacott's Rose Ash near Bishop's Nympton yard quickly got off the mark with Sunset City in the second race of the season at Black Forest Lodge. Richard has retained Whizzaar, while the former Paul Nicholls-trained Robin Will will also represent John and Floss Symes. Deb's Dasher and Parkam Jack are two others to follow. Alice Pearn will partner her father John's Deloughtane and their August 2011 Ascot purchase Hi Wycombe, while Richard's partner, Kayley Jones, will be aboard Mister Trigger.

Ashley Farrant has 10 horses at Coldharbour Farm stables near Bampton, including Laura Claydon's King's Wood - the winner of 11 races - King's Bench and King's Scout, a promising third at Flete. Party Pictures and Ben Robarts' trio Prince De Bersy, Pauillac and Wadebridge specialist Mioche D'Estruval return. Newcomers include Degenerate, a Newton Abbot runner-up for David Pipe in May, but now owned by the Exmoor Partnership.

Bampton trainer Cherry Winzer will again race Mike and Sue Hayes' Three Half Crowns. The eight-year-old won twice last season, including the race that clinched the National Novice Riders Championship for Micheal Nolan at Umberleigh on the final day of the season.

Olivia Jackson will campaign four horses from home a few miles from Bishop's Nympton, including stable stalwart Ryeman, who has finished in the frame at the last three Cheltenham hunter chase evenings. Brian Kilpatrick will be represented by maidens Ooson, out of prolific winner Miss Bobby Bennett, and The Mamur Zapt, whose dam, Dapples, won between the flags. The Accordionist will run for longstanding patron Derek Lovell.

Ray Alford retains Holnicote runner-up Quillygham and Great Trethew third Maidstone Mercury and welcomes two unraced maidens to his Culmstock yard.

Somerset

Fitzhead near Wiveliscombe trainer Gerald Greenway ran his two pointers, both partnered by his granddaughter, Emma Pugsley, at the season's Black Forest Lodge opener. Winter Warmer pulled up, but Awesome George was still in third when departing at the second last in Divine Intavention's open and should have little difficulty opening his account. 2009/10 National Leading Horse Fully Loaded will come back into gentle work in the New Year.

Tigger Pudd from Pyleigh near Taunton has two maidens to run. These are Maisie Day and Dancing Olga, who both made their debuts last season.

Owner-trainers George and Debbie Beilby, from Lawford on the Quantocks, recorded their first-ever successes with Constantius and Soggy Dollar at the 2011 Quantock Staghounds. Constantius will reappear at Larkhill in January, with Soggy Dollar scheduled to run at Black Forest Lodge the following weekend.

Jenny Bult, who is based at West Newton near Taunton, will campaign her Ideford Arch winner Lethal Dream, to be partnered by Alice Mills.

Camilla Scott has eight horses at Brompton Regis near Dulverton, headed by dual Horse & Hound Cup winner Southwestern, who took his tally to 22 at Wadebridge, and Special Account, winner of three races last season including a tremendous performance at Buckfastleigh. The string is completed by six maidens of which Midnight Breeze, a once-raced full-brother to Dennis The Legend, Feathered Friend and Arnie Sendell's unraced Tiny Tenor are three to note at this stage. Vicky Wade trains Light Touch from a stable at the Scotts' farm and can enjoy further success with the nine-year-old, who provided easily the stiffest competition to Ravethebrave at Black Forest Lodge in November.

Exford's Jess Westwood, who works for the Scotts, opened her training account last season with a Wadebridge double with Monkerty Tunkerty and Rockon Xmoor. The latter misses 2012, but Monkery Tunkerty, already a winner this season, will continue in novice riders' races before embarking on a hunter chase campaign.

Julie Pocock has six pointers at her Stolford yard near Bridgwater. Julie welcomes back Bratton Down winner Dandooley, Amber Love and Sailing By. The newcomers are two unraced four-year-olds and David Jane's Atlantic Pearl, who ran in three 2011 bumpers for the David Pipe stable.

Charlotte Budd will race four horses from her Enmore home near Bridgwater. Think On This misses 2012, but Charlotte has retained Al Qanoon, who failed to finish in four 2011 outings but is capable of better. The newcomers are an unraced Jeremy Phillips homebred out of winning pointer winner Saucy Arethusa, ex-Evan Williams-trained Ascot purchase Havenstone, and the Musgraves' Nobody Tells Me, who joins from Ed Walker's yard.

Marie and Leighton McGuinness have a team of mainly young point-to-pointers at their Spaxton yard near Bridgwater, although they retain recent Wadebridge winner Hilda Wild, who was a first winner last season for the Only Fools Run Horses Club headed by Julia Talbot-Williams. The Club will be represented this season by ex-Philip Hobbs Otis Tarda, Rock Of Fife, Prince Of Pop and Tiger Wild. Cyril Moate's Strong Saddler, Ray Barrow's Our Jess and My Charlie all return, while Arnie Sendell's Oakapple joins the yard after running in a Cheltenham bumper in April.

Philip and Sarah Hobbs will point Saint Romble, who will seek a fourth consecutive winner in the Minehead Harriers & West Somerset hunt race, grand campaigner Croix De Guerre and Kingston runner-up Great Tusker, while Lord Lescribaa may contest some point-to-points before summer jumping. The Hobbs' pointers will again be split between the McGuinnesses, Philip and Sarah's own yard at Bilbrook and Polly Curling's Treborough stables, both near Minehead.

North Petherton's Suzy Berry will again race Ha Ho Magregor and may campaign unraced Cover Version, a full-brother to Ken and Sara Biggins' winning chaser Sound Stage.

Sue Popham has five horses at her Wellington stables. Sue has retained home-bred Persian Shadow, who should have little difficulty getting his head in front after two placed efforts last season. Newcomers include Newcastle hurdle race winner Little Promise, a half-brother to former classy Rules performer Another Promise. The ex-Philip Hobbs-trained Bob Emmet, Doncaster purchase Carlos Gardel and ex-Charlie Morlock To Be Frank complete the lineup.

Jane Western has two horses at Forde Abbey near Chard. Benedictus, who recorded a fast time when winning at Ottery St Mary in March, is joined by Picts Hill, a three-time winning chaser when with Anthony Honeyball.

Colin and Julie Bright of Combe St Nicholas near Chard will race Shaakier, who appeared at Black Forest Lodge, and Stantway Surprise, an unraced full sister to Kittley Hassle. Michael Legg and Chris Searrio will take the rides.

Chloe Roddick has a strong team at Wellow near Bath, including the Sheppards' prolific Sericina and The Slug, who were both on the mark at Wadebridge. Fascinating additions include Nevada Royale, who recorded very fast times when unbeaten in three points in his younger days, and Dear Villez, winner of the Munster National in 2008/09 when he was fourth in the Hennessy Gold Cup and at the Cheltenham Festival. New Little Bric, who ran a fine race for Holly Evans when third at Barbury, and Mahonia are two others to note.

Charles Whittaker has nine pointers to run from his yard at Gare Hill near Frome. Pertinent, Starburst Diamond and Now Listen to Me all return, together with Tweseldown runner-up Cut The Lugsreilly. Newcomers to the stable include Pistolet Noir, winner of a November 2009 Cheltenham Hurdle, dual Irish pointing winner Gort Na Lea, who was third in a Southwell hunter chase last season, and three unraced four-year-olds from France. Robert Hawker will be riding for Charles horses this season.

Rode near Frome trainer Sarah Hawker will campaign six horses, including Steely Bird, who ran at Black Forest Lodge on 27 November. The others are Lions In Law, a winning Irish maiden pointer, Action Steel, who won a maiden last season for Midlands trainer Jimmy Tarry, the twice-raced Portworth, the ex-Neil Mulholland-trained Skating Home and Lidjo De Rouge who won four chases under Rules. Sarah's son, Robert, will ride the bulk of the runners with her daughter, Charlotte, likely to partner Lidjo De Rouge in novice riders' or ladies' races.

Angela Davis has six pointers at Sutton Montis near South Cadbury. Several youngsters have joined the stable, but Angela has retained Weston & Banwell winner Nicholas The Spark, who will race for Lisa Snowden and Karen Price, and Lutteur Bleu, who will again be aimed at the South & West Wilts hunt race. Portland Bill, who made his debut for the yard at Tweseldown, will run in novice riders' races under Angela's daughter, Charlotte.

Podimore's Philip Prince has four horses to partner in 2012. Spanchil Hill returns after missing 2010/11 to join dual Holnicote winner Vote For Doodle, Preacher Boy, who ended last season with a four-timer, and Showman.

Ask Again has retired, so Sarah West will take a sabbatical this season. Fellow Ditcheat trainers David and Caroline Staddon have retired their Grand Military Gold Cup winner Blu Teen, but will campaign Red Harbour in hunter chases before attempting a Grand Military follow up in March. Bruton owner-trainers Rose and Sam Loxton will race Oslot, formerly smart under Rules but without a win since the 2008 Galway Plate.

Rilly Goschen is busy with her yard of pre-trainers at Horsington near Wincanton, but will again ride Comanche Chief and Tenawa for Belchalwell owner-trainer Jane Wilkinson. Rilly is also looking forward to partnering the Cotswold-qualified Lucky Nellerie, winner of the Grove & Rufford ladies' open and in the frame in his other three points last season.

Justin Myerscough-Walker enters his second season with three horses at Penselwood near Wincanton. Eljay's Boy, in the frame in four of his six outings last season, and Ascot purchase Major Potential will represent local owner Fabian Daw. Tula Tots, out of winning mare Royal Czarina, will make her pointing debut after running in a Wincanton bumper last season.

Marilyn Burrough plans to run three horses from her Higher Halstock Leigh near Yeovil base. Carrolls O'Tully is in foal to Tobougg and Good Outlook has retired after breaking down at Stafford Cross, but Denise's Dip returns and deserves a win after being brought down at Woodford when looking the likely winner. Newcomers are On Oath, a two-time winner in Wales, and Standing Order, the winner of a hurdle at Wetherby in May for Richard Ford and a candidate for ladies' races. Suzy Berry will ride Marilyn's runners.

Ben White will race Sir Stanley, placed in two of his four outings last season, from his Hardington Mandeville stables near Yeovil.

Henley near Crewkerne licensed trainer Bob Buckler will again race Different Trades who finished third in a competitive men's open at Barbury Castle earlier in December.

Chloe Newman has five horses at Woolminstone near Crewkerne. Chloe welcomes back Ducal Daisey, Sobre Tresor, who provided her nephew Josh Newman with his first-ever win at the Seavington, and Tres Bien. The yard is completed by Robert and Janet Gibbs' Kingston winner Ballydub and an unnamed homebred mare by Tikkanen out of the Newmans' smart Breteche. Josh Newman will take the bulk of the rides.

Ryan Bliss, now also based at Woolminstone, will partner most of his nine horses in training. Celtic Society returns from a lay off, along with In The Circle, a winner when trained by owner Helen Barber in 2010 but absent last season. Buried Gold and Beady Eye both ran last season, while newcomers include unraced four-year-old Chesterton and Mishkaluch, whose name is Gaelic for "mouse" and continues the familiar naming convention of owner-breeder Michael Dare. Kate Nutt, who works for Ryan, hopes to run her Bergerac, a winner over fences and hurdles and previously trained by Venetia Williams.

Farrier Paul Phillips, who has also moved to Woolminstone, has Lady Oaksey, who ran at Black Forest Lodge in November, and the interesting Wun Chai, the winner of five hurdle races when trained by John Panvert and owned by Graham Brown. Josh Newman and Ryan Bliss will ride for Paul.

Dorset

Richard Barber has his usual strong team of pointers at Seaborough near Beaminster, including prolific winner Barneys Mate, as well as recent Barbury Castle winners Trueflyingcolours, According to John and quaintly named Toby Lerone. Buck's Bond, restricted to just one outing in 2011, I'm A Turtle and Irish point-to-point winner Keppols Hill are three to consider. The stable has its customary intake of younger horses and Temple Grandin, Kevin Eleven and Comeonginger are three unraced horses to note at this stage. An interesting recruit is Chapoturgeon, a winner at the Cheltenham Festival as a five-year-old, and likely to begin his quest for Christie's Foxhunter qualification at Larkhill in January.

Lucia Borradaile has two very interesting horses at Stoke Abbot near Beaminster. Turko is likely to appear at Larkhill before hunter chasing, while Classic Swain, a new recruit from the Paul Nicholls stable, is a candidate for ladies' contests.

Nicky Atkinson has five horses at Cattistock near Dorchester. Russian Rain, Spring Lord, M'Lady Spider and Roxie Daisy return from last season and are joined by Roxie Daisy's younger half brother by Pasternak. Martin and Catherine Atkinson will share the rides.

Graham Foot has three possible runners from his Askerswell yard near Bridport. Stable star Johnny's Way, who beat subsequent Horse & Hound Cup winner Southwestern at Trebudannon, may go hunter chasing later in the season. The yard is completed by unraced maidens Askers Judge, a five-year-old by Bandmaster, and Askers Lad, a four-year-old son of Volochine.

Sherborne owner-trainers Richard and Ruth Dimond, who landed the Western Daily Press Trophy with Merry Terry last season, will race Forgive Intrusion, the runner-up in an Irish point-to-point in April.

Kington Magna near Gillingham permit holder Cathy Hamilton is running Sir Bathwick and Chaddesley runner-up Deep Pearl in points this season. The pair will be ridden by Cathy's daughters Katy Squires and Emma Hamilton, who will be 16 on New Year's Day and hopes to ride at the following weekend's Larkhill fixture.

Stuart Penny, who will move into new stables at Inwood, near Henstridge in the New Year, has 10 horses. Stuart has retained Tweseldown winner Who Else Knew and Silver Monarch, who will both race jointly for Stuart's mother, Heather Hayes, and the Nyland Partnership, Pat Dods' General Bob, John Knapton's Spicketts Girl, and the Dufosee family's Stalbridgeswansong. Newcomers include the Davies' 2011 winner Woodbridge Quest, Jinny Marsh's Doncaster purchase Big Time Ben and Quedillac, bought privately out of Tim Vaughan's yard by longstanding stable patron Hazel Goody after winning at Ffos Las in April.

Motcombe near Shaftesbury trainer Pat Bryant made a cracking start to the season when James Drummond's Irish purchase On My Living Life won at Black Forest Lodge. Janet Menzies' Country Foolery, in the frame in both outings to date, returns, while David Churches will be represented by Soul Town, Soul Native and unraced Zarumba, who was bought at Doncaster as a three-year-old. Emma Pole, who works in Caroline Keevil's licensed yard, will train and ride Monsignor Fred, while trainer-rider Ruth Tilsley-Baker, who made her debut in 2011, will be aboard Imperial Sun.

Sturminster Newton trainer Alycia Collins has a team of mainly unraced four-year-olds, including horses by Midnight Legend, Alflora and Double Trigger for this season. Alycia has also retained the promising Doran's Lodge, twice runner-up before enjoying an easy success at Godstone on his final outing of last season.

Bradford Peverell near Dorchester handler Peter Shaw has five possibles for the new season. Peter welcomes back Pimbury and Perouse, both potential rides for Peter's son, George, and Karshaan, a candidate for ladies' races. The stable is completed by an unraced maiden and Buckle End, a very promising third at Barbury in early December.

Piddletrenthide licensed trainer Nick Mitchell will maintain his pointing links by campaigning his own Over The Rubicon, who pulled up in an Irish point-to-point in April. Nick's brother, Tim Mitchell opened his training account with I Hear Thunder at the South Dorset last season and will train Sue Humphreys' Ronnie Ronalde.

Mary Tory has five pointers at Thornicombe near Blandford. Mary has retained John and Greer Norman's 2011 Wessex Leading Horse Miss Midnight and welcomes the Normans' dual-hurdle winner Marigold's Way, a half-sister to Miss Midnight. Battle Bridge, who raced last season for Paul Swaffield, is now owned by Tim Swaffield and provided a memorable first win for his daughter, Chloe Swaffield, at Tweseldown. Crank Hill, a winning chaser when trained by Bob Buckler, and Midnight Paradise, who ran over hurdles for Neil Mulholland, complete the stable.

Monica and Norman Tory will again race Kingston St Mary winner Gunner Be Quick and a home-bred, both to be ridden by their son, Rupert, from their Winterborne Whitechurch yard.

Trade Off has retired, but Okeford Fitzpaine trainer Sally Alner will race a small string of pointers headed by Master Medic, who put up a tremendous performance to win at Barbury Castle, and Wincanton hunter chase winner Jayne's Crusader, a good runner up there the following day.

Richenda Ford has three pointers at her stables at Okeford Fitzpaine near Blandford, including Wilton winner Tork To Me, who opened his account at Littlewindsor in April, and Somerby, who returns after missing 2011. The newcomer is Abayaan, winner of a December 2009 Southwell flat race and bought at Ascot in August after two placed efforts in six outings for trainer Charlie Mann.

Dorset/Devon Border

Monique Pike has five horses at Sidbury near Sidmouth. Monique has retained Simply Mary, Spot The Tiger and Miss Cupcake, while newcomers Last Edition and Rachel's Colours complete the team. Monique's husband, Stewart, will again race Geneva Lake.

Wiltshire

Charlotte Tizzard will campaign three horses from her new base at Wingfield near Trowbridge. Charlotte has retained Coombe Hill, runner-up five times last season and likely to be aimed at hunter chases, and Audrey Kley's Parstara, a daughter of eight-time winning mare Castle Lynch and unlucky to fall two out at the Cotley. Little Cornham completes the string and will make his debut in January.

Figheldean near Larkhill Racecourse owner-trainers Sally and Stan Rawlins will again race Righteous Glory, winner of a Larkhill conditions race before finishing third over 2m 5f at the Folkestone Hunter Chase evening.

Camilla Baylis, who sent out Shooter's Wood to win at the Cheltenham Hunter Chase evening, will introduce two unraced maidens and may campaign Kempton all weather winner Imperial Harry from her Maiden Bradley base.

Lester Symonds will ride three family horses trained by his wife Katie from their home near Warminster. Faneuil Hall, who ran twice last season for Lester's father, James, is joined by Saketini (owned by Lester and Katie) and Choice Connection, a recent purchase out of Richard Barber's yard to run in the colours of Lester's mother, Jane.

Sharon Brown is busy teaching via her Real Riders Club, but will maintain her links with point-to-pointing via Mayo Rock, who was in the frame in two of his three 2009/10 outings.

Wiltshire/Hampshire Border

David Buckett has two pointers at Upham near Winchester. Chloe Boxall will partner Tweseldown runner-up Armoury House and Backhomeinderry, who was pulled up early at the Hampshire venue with a slipped saddle.

Richard Bandey has two horses to run for Peter Southcombe. These are Smart Dwellie, who has been placed in maidens, and Alskamatic, an unraced five-year-old out of Alska, who won a hunter chase for the Southcombes.

James H Young plans to run four horses from his Brockenhurst stables in the New Forest. Marlpit Oak and Queens Bower have already appeared at Barbury Castle, and these two mares will be joined by Fletchers Thorns, who missed last season, and Hincheslea Moor, the winner of a Littlewindsor maiden in May. David Turner will again ride for James.