Secretary: Mrs Katy Davis

Address:  Honeysuckle House, Lower Fifehead, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 2AP

T:  01258 817151

M:  07899 871623

E: katyemdavis@hotmail.co.uk

Entries:  Mrs J Lovelace

Address:  Honeypuddle, Piddlehinton, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7TE

T:  01300348393

E:  janelovelace1@btinternet.com

Entry Fee: £30 for a single entry, £15 per additional race same horse (Hunt Members £10)

Entries Close:  Monday 27th January @ 12 noon

Races:  4,5,6 & 7 year old Maiden (2m4f) - Members - Open Maiden - Restricted - Ladies Open - Mens Open

The Sally Duckett-trained That’s Rhythm, unbeaten in five completed outings last season including Stratford’s AGA Ladies Series Final Hunter Chase, and Gwanako, who provided 16-year-old Megan Nicholls with a first win between the flags at Larkhill, are the two suggestions for Sunday’s South Dorset Ladies Open at Milborne St Andrew. Extra Bold and Terra Bleu – first and second at Peper Harow in May – and Whitfield winner Major Decision are three other contenders. The fascinating runners are the Goulds’ former high class Rules performer Silverburn, a full-brother to Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Denman and winner of a Grade 1 Sandown Novice Chase, and the Ruckers’ State Benefit, a £42,000 May Doncaster purchase after winning a hurdle race and two steeplechases for the Nicky Henderson stable. That’s Rhythm is fancied to forge clear of his rivals up the final climb.

Larkhill Racing Club winner Poquelin and last year’s winner Certain Flight are among the 14 entries for the Bonham’s Men’s Open, along with course specialist Crank Hill. Johnny’s Way, prolific South East winner Adept Approach, long distance specialist Fortification and the Peter Mason-trained Shy John are four more for the shortlist, along with Frances Bishop’s Theatre Evening, the winner of a 2m6f Newton Abbot hurdle for trainer Fergal O’Brien in May. Consistent former Coronation Gold Cup winner Coombe Hill will be suited by testing conditions and can chase up Poquelin and Certain Flight.

Crank Hill is an automatic selection to complete a three-timer in the Hunt race if connections take up the option. The 2010 winner Gunner Be Quick – another who would relish a test of stamina – may be the strongest challenger.

In the 2m-4f Maiden, Auckland De Re, who could represent the Louise Kemble/Chloe Roddick combination, Robert Waley-Cohen’s pair Sing To Me and Storm Lantern, and Larkhill runner-up The Gunner Brady may be four to choose from. Wadebridge runner-up Sutton Storm and Chipley Park second Mangans Turn are the two suggestions for the 3-mile Maiden.

The Greenways’ Justabout is fancied to confirm Tiverton placings and deny Barneys Mate a fourth consecutive win in the Novice Riders’ race, which has attracted 17 entries. Stafford Cross winner Flanshan, 10-race winner Doof, River Indus, a winner over 4-miles at Treborough Hill last season and Dunraven Prince, the winner of three of his four UK points, also catch the eye but Wadebridge winner Working Title may give Justabout and Barneys Mate the most to do.

Ask The Weatherman won well at Larkhill on Saturday and can follow up in the Restricted. Fine Resolve stayed on strongly to win at Chaddesley Corbett in December and may be the danger.

The course at Milborne St Andrew is just off the A354 midway between Blandford and Dorchester. First race: 12.00 noon. Admission is to either of two car parks at £20 or £25 per car with a reduction for single occupants; £5 for pedestrians. 

Sunday 2 February 2014

Open Maiden 456&7yo, 2m4f (13 ran)

1. Castle Beach (IRE) (B Denvir, 3-1F); 2. Storm Lantern (S Waley-Cohen, 4-1); 3. Tikkeche (J Newman, 25-1). 5min 31s. 5l, 12l. (Gareth Moore)

Hunt Members (2 ran)

1. Aces Or Better (IRE) (G Bingham, 8-15F); 2. Gunner Be Quick (R Tory, 11-8). 6min 49s. 10l. (Sarah Bingham)

Open Maiden (11 ran)

1. Mangans Turn (J Barber, 4-6F); 2. Sutton Storm (W Biddick, 6-1); 3. Sam McCloud (IRE) (J Ponting, 66-1). 6min 44s. 4l, 8l. (Jack Barber)

Restricted (12 ran)

1. You Too Pet (IRE) (P Mason, 20-1); 2. Fine Resolve (T David, 7-1); 3. Timephase (IRE) (J Ponting, 12-1). 6min 43s. 5l, 6l. (Peter Mason)

Ladies Open (7 ran)

1. Gwanako (FR) (Miss M Nicholls, 4-6F); 2. Civil Servant (Miss E MacMahon, 40-1); 3. Flanshan (IRE) (Miss P Skipper, 10-1). 6min 28s. Dist, 6l. (Rosemary Loxton)

Bonhams Mens Open (5 ran)

1. Certain Flight (IRE) (W Biddick, 1-2F); 2. Adept Approach (IRE) (P Hall, 6-1); 3. Different Trades (IRE) (J Barber, 6-1). 6min 44s. 2½l, 25. (Keith Cumings)

PPORA-CA Club Members (Nov Rdrs) (11 ran)

1. Dunraven Prince (IRE) (S Bowen, 9-4); 2. Sona Sasta (IRE) (J Jackson-Stops, 6-1); 3. King Of The Road (T Humphries, 16-1). 6min 49s. 4l, 5l. (David Brace)

N/A

Gwanako put up an “awesome” performance to win Sunday’s South Dorset Ladies Open in a fast time under Megan Nicholls. The 11-year-old led after a circuit before galloping further and further clear of his toiling rivals. “He’s been buzzing since he won at Larkhill three weeks ago but that was awesome,” said Paul Nicholls’ assistant head girl Rose Loxton, who trains Gwanako at her Bruton farm. “The plan is to keep him pointing, probably at the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale [on 9 March] and then possibly go for the 2m-5f race at the Cheltenham hunter chase evening.”

Richard and Tina Dunsford’s Certain Flight will go hunter chasing after taking the Bonhams Men’s Open in facile fashion under Will Biddick, who never moved a muscle throughout the contest. “He just gets better and better,” said Janet Cumings, whose husband Keith completed an across the card double with Thetalkinghorse at Black Forest Lodge. “He’ll probably make his hunter chase debut at Taunton and if all goes well there, we’ll start to dream.”

Aces Or Better’s Hunt race win was a family success, as the horse was ridden by 21-year-old University College London medical student George Bingham and is owned by his parents George and Sarah and grandmother Sue Maxse. “We sent the horse to Jenny Gordon seven weeks ago after Sarah was knocked over by a horse in our yard and I broke my pelvis out hunting,” smiled George senior, clearly pleased with the family’s change of fortune.

Mangans Turn’s Maiden race win delighted owner Bill Dupont ahead of his four week holiday visiting friends and family in Australia and New Zealand. Partnered by his trainer Jack Barber, Mangans Turn stormed clear up the hill after leader Sutton Storm (Will Biddick) had blundered when holding a marginal lead at the last.

Peter Mason, who had produced Shy John late to take Wincanton’s Stewart Tory Memorial Hunter Chase 72 hours earlier, adopted similar holdup tactics aboard Martin Rice’s Restricted winner You Too Pet. “He’s green and quirky and has to be held up like Shy John, as he doesn’t do much in front, but he’s growing up fast,” reported Peter’s wife, Nif.

Two Welsh competitors registered their first-ever wins at the meeting. Pyle, near Bridgend, trainer Gareth Moore got off the mark – at the fourth attempt – when Castle Beach led at the last in the 2m-4f Maiden. The win also provided the perfect return for 27-year-old jockey Barry Denvir after an 18-month absence following an injury sustained while playing football. Multiple pony race winner Sean Bowen, 16-year-old son of licensed trainer Peter Bowen and his wife Karen, opened his pointing account in confident style aboard David Brace’s Dunraven Prince in the Novice Riders’ race. Sean, who hit the headlines when he and his younger brother James took the two finals of the Charles Owen Pony Racing Series at York in September, had already made the perfect start under Rules when winning a Uttoxeter hurdle race in December.