Secretary: Mandy O'Hare

Address:  Collins Farm House, 55 High Street Durrington Salisbury Wilts SP4 8AQ

T:  01980 655556

M:  07789 544498

E:  mandyohare@btinternet.com

Entries:  `The Point to Point Racing Company Ltd

T:  01933 304840

E:  www.pointtopointentries.co.uk

Entry Fee: £30 per horse per race

Entries Close:  Monday 3^rd February 2014 @ 12.30pm

Races:  CS Club - Ladies Open - Mares Open Maiden – Open Maiden - Mens Open – Restricted - Intermediate

Round Tom is selected to win the Coronation Gold Cup Men’s Open, one of the season’s four national Classic races, at the Combined Services meeting at Larkhill on Saturday. The nine-year-old made an impressive return to hunt racing last season, winning three of his four races, including a facile course victory in April. The 15 entries include Rumbavu, bidding to become the first horse to win both the Lord Ashton of Hyde’s Cup and the Coronation Gold Cup since 1994, Bellsinni Ron and Coombe Hill, second and third to Rumbavu here in January. All Great N Theory, who gave the top class Certain Flight a race at Chipley Park, and Larkhill specialist Parstara also hold entries, but the progressive Theatre Queen won well at Larkhill last month and he may be the one to challenge Round Tom.

Gwanako annihilated his Milborne St Andrew opponents on Sunday and cannot be opposed if making a quick reappearance in the Ladies Open. Angela Rucker’s choice from Sagalyrique and Stonemaster, last year’s winner Quedillac and Parstara can fight out the minor placings.

Dead Or Alive is fancied to repeat his 2013 win in the Combined Services Club Members race. Upton-on-Severn winner Boychuk, Roaringwater, a recent third to the top-class Khyber Kim at Higham, and Flemish Invader, the winner of four of his 23 races under Rules, have chances, but Trueflyingcolours has won four of his 10 races and looks the main threat.

Tamatown can end a run of three second places by taking the Novice Riders’ Intermediate race. Perfectly Willing and Little Cornham, second and fourth here a fortnight ago, and dual Kingston Blount winner Tempelpirate can complete the frame.

Subtle Sovereign won well here a fortnight ago and can follow up in the Restricted, which has attracted 30 entries. Black Forest Lodge winner Best Bide Quiet, course winner Flan The Man and the Sally Duckett-trained Stockade look the strongest challengers.

The card is completed by two Maiden contests. Bach Me, runner-up to Subtle Sovereign here, Higham runner-up Tigeralley and Tom Lacey’s Susie Sheep are three for the Mares race. Edeiff’s Lad, Peggy’s Hero and Milborne St Andrew runner-up Storm Lantern are three for the Horses & Geldings event.

The first race is the King’s Troop RHA Club Members race which has been transferred from the Royal Artillery meeting. The contest is perhaps best watched, but Cognac and Beluga, first and third last season, should give punters a run for their money.

First race: 10.45am. Admission is £10 per person, under 16s free. The course is found just NW of Amesbury on Salisbury Plain, reached via the A303, A360 or A345 (SP4 8QT).

King's Troop RHA Club Members, 2m4f (8 ran)

1. Cognac (U) (Capt C Blakiston, 2-1F); 2. Beluga (U) (Gnr M Benney, 7-2); 3. Cornelius (U) (LBdr J Cooksley, 3-1. 6min 37. 2l, 4l. (Claire Blakiston)

Combined Services Club Members (7 ran)

1. Stratford Stroller (IRE) (Miss J Banks, 10-1); 2. Flemish Invader (IRE) (N Pearce, 4-1); 3. Dead Or Alive (IRE) (F. Wheeler, 4-6F). 6min 30. 3l, 6l. (Alastair Ralph)

Restricted (19 ran)

1. Subtle Sovereign (IRE) (J Barber, EvensF); 2. Legal Legend (T McClorey, 5-1); 3. Guido d’Arezzo (IRE) (M Gorman, 7-1). 6min 28. 3l, 15l. (Jack Barber)      

Ladies Open (9 ran)

1. Aikideau (FR) (Miss B Frost, 3-1); 2. Boomtown Kat (Miss R Talbot, 14-1); 3. Parstara (Miss A Mills, 4-6F). 6min 26. 10l, 8l. (Jack Barber)

Mens Open (Coronation Gold Cup) (9 ran)

1. Theatre Queen (IRE) (M Wall, 4-5F); 2. Bellsinni Ron (IRE) (W Biddick, 3-1); 3. Rumbavu (IRE) (S Waley-Cohen, 2-1). 6min 21. 12l, ½l. (Mark Wall)

Jockey Club Open Mares Maiden (15 ran)

1. Grand Exit (S Davies-Thomas, 14-1); 2. Bach Me (IRE) (Miss H Lewis, 4-5F); 3. Setters Gift (Miss A Goschen, 10-1). 6min 39. 2l, 1l. (Sylvia Edmunds)

Open Maiden (Horses & Geldings) (14 ran)

1. Overafrica (IRE) (S Bowen, 7-4F); 2. Le Croisic (FR) (L Mahon, 5-2); 3. Peggy’s Hero (IRE) (Miss E Harbour, 10-1). 6min 30. Dist, 3/4l. (Willie Bryan)

Intermediate (Nov Rdrs) (10 ran)

1. Tempelpirate (GER) (Miss K Lyons, 7-1); 2. Little Cornham (IRE) (C Gethings, 4-5F); 3. Horatio Caine (FR) (Miss C Chugg, 25-1). 6min 32. 10l, 3l. (Tim Underwood)

N/A

Theatre Queen belied her inexperience with an impressive win in the Coronation Gold Cup, one of point-to-pointing’s four classic races, at Larkhill on Saturday. The seven-year-old sauntered home a long-looking 12 lengths ahead of useful yardsticks Bellsinni Ron and Rumbavu after leading at the top of the final climb. The mare had run in just five races before Saturday, winning four times and suffering her only defeat when left at the start at Wadebridge in December. Trainer/rider Mark Wall reported that Theatre Queen will not be aimed at this season’s Cheltenham Foxhunter, but may appear at Cheltenham’s Hunter Chase Evening on 30 April.

     The win completed a double for West Midlands stables after the Alastair Ralph-trained Stratford Stroller returned from a near 12-month absence to take the Club Members event. The 10-year-old led at halfway under owner Pat Tollit’s granddaughter, Phine Banks, before readily holding off Flemish Invader, who looked a real threat approaching the last. “He’s missed most of the last two seasons after twice hurting himself while out in his field,” commented Pat, one of the all-time great lady riders with 171 wins from only 342 rides. “So it’s full marks to Alastair, who’s done a good job to get him fit first time out and to Phine, as he’s a very hard puller.”

     Crewkerne trainer Jack Barber flew the Wessex flag with a double with Subtle Sovereign (Restricted) and Aikideau (Ladies’ Open). Jack took the reins himself aboard the former, who again impressed as he readily followed up his 25 January course success. Aikideau, bought privately by Sarah Barber, Pippa James and Sarah “SJ” Longman after carrying the Stewart family’s Big Buck’s colours under Rules, opened his pointing account after jockey Bryony Frost grabbed the inside line rounding the final bend.

     Northamptonshire trainer Sylvia Edmunds thanked former jockey Tim Lane after Grand Exit’s comfortable Jockey Club Mares’ Maiden win under Sam Davies-Thomas. “Tim found her in David Pipe’s yard,” explained Sylvia, who shares the eight-year-old with her partner, John Busby. “I went down to the Oakgrove Stud, near Chepstow, where Tim works as Stud Manager, to see her in June. She’s ideal for us as she’s a real old woman’s ride.”

     Sean Bowen, 16, doubled his career tally when his uncle Willie Bryan’s Overafrica was left clear by Themanfromcork’s last fence fall in the Horses & Geldings Maiden. “I bought this one from Donald McCain [for £2,500 at Doncaster in May] so that Sean and my son, Peter, could share the rides,” explained Shrewsbury-based Willie, who recalled riding his late father Bill’s top class Sparkford to victory in the Cheltenham Hunter Chase Evening 4-mile contest.

     The ease of Tempelpirate’s Novice Riders’ race success under Katy Lyons surprised his Newbury owner-trainer Tim Underwood. “He’s a good horse but I thought he would need the race. He’ll definitely come on for today,” felt Tim, who has been riding winners himself since 1966.

     Cognac provided owner/trainer/rider Capt Claire Blakiston with her first-ever win after making most of the running in the King’s Troop RHA Club Members race.