Secretary: Mandy O'Hare

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

T:  01980 655556

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E:  mandyohare@btinternet.com

Entries:  `The Point to Point Racing Company Ltd

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Entry Fee: £30 per horse per race

Entries Close:  Monday 2nd February 2014 @ 12.30pm

Races:  CS Club - Ladies Open - Mares Open Maiden – Open Maiden - Mens Open (Coronation Cup) – Restricted - AGA Intermediate (Novice Riders)

Benedictus is selected to win the Coronation Gold Cup Men’s Open, the second of the season’s four National Classic races, at Larkhill’s Combined Services meeting on Sunday. The 10-year-old made an impressive return to pointing in January when benefiting from a vintage Will Biddick holdup ride to take the 18-runner Larkhill Racing Club Open. The 15 entries include Surenaga, winner of the 2011 classic Lady Dudley Cup, Steeltown, a close runner-up to subsequent Wincanton Hunter Chase winner Coombe Hill at Black Forest Lodge, the prolific Certain Flight, runner-up at Chipley Park, and Court Red Handed, a Brocklesby Park winner 12 months ago. Richard Hewitt has entered King Fontaine and Barbury Castle winner Executive Benefit, who went on to finish fourth in a Taunton Hunter Chase, and his chosen runner may be the one to challenge Benedictus.

Posh Totty, a recent runner-up to Sunday’s Musselburgh Hunter Chase winner Current Event, will get the vote if reappearing in the Ladies Open. Former John Corbet Cup winner My Flora and Chaddesley Corbett winner Sir Du Bearn hold entries, but Catspan gave Byerley Bear plenty to think about at Black Forest Lodge and looks the danger.

Posh Totty will be an automatic selection if connections opt for the Combined Services Club Members race. Cocklebarrow winner Jetnova, 2013 winner Dead Or Alive, stable companions Quedillac and Trueflyingcolours and Cottenham third Wessex King have chances, but Guy Disney’s former David Pipe-trained Swing Bill, who finished 10^th and sixth in the 2012 and 2013 Grand Nationals, looks the main threat.

Dual 2014 winner Done A Runner is fancied to continue Oxfordshire trainer Alan Hill’s good run by taking the Novice Riders’ Intermediate race. Stalbridgeswansong, returning from a 20-month absence, Wadebridge winner Takamaru and Holnicote winner Tucumcari can complete the frame.

Ask The Weatherman was just touched off here five weeks ago and can go one better in the Restricted. Briefcase put up a fine round of jumping at the Royal Artillery and looks the strongest challenger.

The card is completed by two Maiden contests. Robert Waley-Cohen’s Atomic Tangerine, fourth in a Warwick bumper in October, Wadebridge runner-up Wilde At Heart and three-time placed Sweet Like You are three suggestions for the Mares race. Master Max, Montecito and Black Forest Lodge runner-up Swingbridge are three to consider for the horses & geldings event.

The meeting gets underway with the King’s Troop RHA Club Members race at 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).

Sunday 8 February 2015

Going: Good to Firm

Entries: 121; runners: 73 (60%)

Combined Services Club Members (9 ran)

1. Hincheslea Moor (J Sole, 5-4F); 2. Trueflyingcolours (IRE) (Miss K Lyons, 8-1); 3. Swing Bill (FR) (G Disney, 3-1). 6min 01sec. 6l, ½l. (James Young)

Restricted (8 ran)

1. Willow Bird (W Biddick, 5-2); 2. The Holy Monster (F Henderson, 25-1); 3. Themanfromcork (D Noonan, 5-1). 6min 00s. 12l, 2l. (Jack Barber)

Ladies Open (8 ran)

1. My Flora (Miss H Watson, 5-2); 2. Posh Totty (Miss P Fuller, 4-5F); 3. Orang Outan (FR) (Miss R Talbot, 33-1). 6min 02s. 15l, 8l. (Victoria Collins)

Mens Open (Coronation Gold Cup) (6 ran)

1. Benedictus (IRE) (W Biddick, evensF); 2. King Fontaine (IRE) (T David, 20-1); 3. Executive Benefit (IRE) (G Crow, 11-10). 6min 02s. 2l, 1l. (Jack Barber)

Jockey Club Open Mares Maiden (7 ran)

1. Kayf Collateral (Miss O Lamphee, 12-1); 2. My Rosie B (IRE) (D Noonan, 7-2); only two finished. 6min 18s. 7l. (Olivia Lamphee)

Open Maiden (Horses And Geldings) (Div 1) (10 ran)

1. Wak A Turtle (IRE) (Jamie Thomas, 3-1); 2. Casino Boy (D Skelly, 8-1); 3. Chinatown Boy (IRE) (Miss A Mills, 15-8F). 6min 10s. 6l, 1l. (Kayley Woollacott)

Open Maiden (Horses and Geldings) (Div 2) (10 ran)

1. Daves Venture (IRE) (D Noonan, 6-1); 2. Crackacan (D Edwards, 7-4F); 3. Trumpet Master (M Green, 25-1). 6min 09s. Nk, 8l. (Teresa Clark)

Intermediate (Nov Rdrs) (7 ran)

1. Done A Runner (IRE) (Miss L Wheeler, 4-7F); 2. Ballycassel (IRE) (G Disney, 14-1); 3. Tucumcari (IRE) (Miss L Thomas, 9-1). 6min 02s. 8l, 4l. (Alan Hill)

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

1. Moet (Gunner R Rowe); 2. Rentboy (Gunner H Brasher); 3. Bruce (Capt J Stamp). 6min 14s. 5l, 2l. (Sgt Luke Allen)

N/A

Will Biddick rode his 200th winner between the flags when winning the Larkhill Restricted aboard Peter and Sandra Maltby’s Willow Bird. Will rode his first winner aboard Ross Oliver's Let's Fly at the 2004 Axe Vale and enjoyed his most successful season with 42 wins in 2011/12. He’s already well clear of his rivals in his quest for a fourth consecutive national title.

Trainer Jack Barber and Will completed a double with Benedictus, the easy winner of the Coronation Gold Cup Men’s Open, one of the season’s four National Classic races. The 10-year-old never came off the bridle before overtaking King Fontaine halfway up the run-in. Benedictus is now unbeaten in two outings for owners Messrs Barrow, Cotton, Irish, Moate, Trevarthen and Twyford after being purchased at Jack’s owners’ day last summer. “The pace of today’s race and fast ground has set it up for him but you must be patient and ride him like that; he’s lost past races by leading too early,” said Will.

My Flora, winner of the 2011 John Corbet Cup and fourth in the 2012 Cheltenham Foxhunter, returned to her best when upsetting odds-on favourite Posh Totty in the Ladies Open. “It’s all down to [trainer] Tor [Collins],” beamed Sarah Dawson, who bought My Flora, with Felicity Ashfield, for £15,000 at Doncaster in September. “Tor changes the routines of horses to freshen them up. The key with My Flora is to keep her away from the gallops and to get her fit in the hills and with lots of hunting.”

There were two first time riding successes at the meeting. Gunner Richie Rowe, 20, opened his account – at the first attempt – aboard Moet in the traditional King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery Members’ race. Richie, who has always hunted and show jumped, got his first taste of race riding when riding out at Eve Johnson-Houghton’s historic Blewbury stables. Olivia Lamphee got off the mark on her own Kayf Collateral, who already looked the winner when Daisy Picker fell at the last when still upsides. Olivia trains Kayf Collateral – alongside nine polo ponies – at her Ascot base.

Wak A Turtle and Daves Venture took the two divisions of the Horses & Geldings Maiden, which was split at declaration. The former stormed clear from three out under Jamie Thomas to provide another success for in-form owner Jon Pike. “Jon bought him after our open day as we guaranteed he would win a Maiden,” smiled trainer Kayley Woollacott. “He used to compete over two miles so it’s been tough to get him to settle over three but he jumps like a bunny and loves quicker ground.” Daves Venture just got the better of a driving finish with Crackacan. “Jockey David Noonan’s father, Gerard, bred him and brought him over in the summer to assess his ability as his Irish form isn’t good,” summed up trainer Teresa Clark.

Hincheslea Moor showed the benefit of an autumn soft palate operation by running on strongly to take the Club Members’ race. “He wasn’t getting home, now he’s staying on strongly,” pointed out owner-trainer James Young. “Jody [Sole] is a very experienced pilot who has won races like the Grand Military and Royal Artillery Gold Cups and is invaluable in this type of military contest.”

Toby Hunt’s Done A Runner (Lucy Wheeler) justified 4-7 favouritism in the closing Intermediate (for novice riders). Guy Disney looked to have a useful advantage aboard Ballycassel but had no answer when Lucy urged Alan Hill’s charge into the lead approaching the last.