Secretary: Mrs Jane Stockldale

Address:  Mallyn, Portman Road, Pimperne, Dorset, DT11 8UL

T:  01258 455412

E:  jane.stockdale@hotmail.co.uk

Entries:  Mr James Symonds

Address:  Willowbrook House, 41 Corton, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 0SZ

T:  01985 850883

M: 07990 707139

E:  symonds@willowbrookhouse.eclipse.co.uk

or

enter online at www.pointtopointentries.co.uk

Entry Fee: £30 for a single race, £15 per aadditional race same horse - Chqs payable to 'CA Dorset'

Entries Close:  Monday 16th February @ 12 noon

Races:  Club Members Conditions - Mens Open (Wessex Feature Race) - Club Members Novice Riders - Ladies Open - Restricted - 5 year old & over Maiden Conditions.

Website: www.capointtopoint.org.uk

Raffa and Hameldown Tor, first and second at Wadebridge in December, can fight out the finish of the Bonhams Men’s Open at Badbury Rings on Sunday. The former notched an early season hat-trick but ran arguably his best race when a close third to the top class Harbour Court in the South Dorset Mens Open. Hameldown Tor, a winner here two years ago and runner-up to Ravethebrave in the 2014 corresponding contest, bypassed Sunday’s Westcountry Champion Chase in favour of stable companion Blazing Whale, who landed the spoils for Ed Walker’s Ottery St Mary yard. Champagne Rosie – a close-up fourth in Harbour Court’s Milborne St Andrew contest – impressive Chipley Park winner Parkam Jack and consistent recent dual Larkhill runner-up Posh Totty are three more to consider. The Mythologist was unbeaten in his three UK point-to-points before pulling up at Larkhill and may be the one to give Raffa and Hameldown Tor the most to do.

In the likely absence of Lingfield Hunter Chase winner Aiteen Thirtythree, Sagalyrique is fancied to record his ninth point-to-point success in the Ladies contest. Posh Totty holds an engagement and must be respected if connections take up the option. Former high-class chaser Ghizao, who chased up Alskamatic at the South Dorset, Minella Fifty – third in Raffa and Hameldown Tor’s Wadebridge race – and dual 2013 winner Ruapehu are three for the shortlist. Tiger D’Oust, the winner of French hurdle races at Cazaubon and Montauban in September, is interesting but Sagalyrique should be suited by Badbury Rings and gets the vote.

The Mythologist is among the 29 entries for the opening Conditions race. Impressive Upcott Cross Intermediate winner Driftashore, Larkhill winner Hincheslea Moor and joint current National Leading Horse Jepeck are three others with chances. Stalbridgeswansong can give his supporters a run for their money despite a 20-month absence, but Subtle Sovereign is in top form and can complete his seasonal hat-trick.

The 18 entries for the Novice Riders’ contest include Hincheslea Moor and the evergreen Barneys Mate who has been a standing dish in these contests for five seasons. Loose Preformer and Niki Royal, who walked over at Barbury on Sunday, are two more candidates. The two to choose from are Silver Token, who provided Harry Cobden’s first win at Chipley Park and Sam and Rose Loxton’s Maxi Chop, who is scheduled to make his pointing debut after finishing runner-up on four occasions under Rules for the Paul Nicholls stable.

Ask The Weatherman and Larkhill winner Wak A Turtle can contest the finish of the Restricted. Daisy Picker was upsides when falling at the last at Larkhill and can gain compensation in the Maiden.

The course lies between Wimborne and Blandford, 4 miles NW of Wimborne on the B3082 (DT11 9JL). First race: 12.00noon. Admission: £25 per car, £15 car with single occupant, £15 pedestrians. Gates open at 9.00am for a variety of entertainment including terrier racing, hound parade, ongoing children’s activities, silent auction, a large shopping village with varied food outlets and much more. 

N/A

Sunday 22 February 2015 at Badbury Rings

CA Club Members Conditions (15 ran)

1. Subtle Sovereign (IRE) (W Biddick, 4-5F); 2. Jepeck (IRE) (Jamie Thomas, 3-1); 3. Saint Peray (FR) (Louis Muspratt, 6-1). 6min 24s. 5l, 5l. (Jack Barber)

Bonhams Mens Open (5 ran)

1. Posh Totty (W Biddick, 7-4); 2. Hameldown Tor (R Henderson (5-4F); 3. Raffa (J Mathias, 5-2). 6min 22s. 8l, 2½l. (Jack Barber)

CA Club Members (Nov Rdrs) (15 ran)

1. Silver Token (H Cobden, 7-4F); 2. Barneys Mate (C Barber, 4-1); 3. Hinchelsea Moor (B Hicks, 5-1). 6min 34s. 8l, ½l. (Rachael Green)

Ladies Open (7 ran)

1. Sagalirique (Mrs A Rucker, 6-4F); 2. Ruapehu (IRE) (Miss A Mills, 6-1); 3. Trueflyingcolours (IRE) (Miss K Lyons, 14-1). 6min 35s. ½l, 20l. (Angela Rucker).

Restricted (4 ran)

1. Ask The Weatherman (W Biddick, 1-4F); 2. Degenerate (FR) (N Lawton 4-1); only two finished. 6min 52s. Dist. (Jack Barber)

Maiden Conditions 5yo&up (11 ran)   

1. Montecito (FR) (W Biddick, evensF); 2. Winter Soldier (J Mathias, 4-1); 3. Don’t Doittome (J Helburn, 7-1). 7min 0s. 4l, 12l. (Jack Barber)

National leading trainer Jack Barber and jockey Will Biddick combined for a four-timer – Jack’s first – to dominate the Countryside Alliance (Wessex) meeting. Conditions race winner Subtle Sovereign, Bonhams Men’s Open hero Posh Totty, Restricted winner Ask The Weatherman and Maiden race scorer Montecito provided the pair’s four successes.

The former made the most of Jack’s skilful placement to record a seventh pointing success despite never having contested an open. Always in the first two, Subtle Sovereign put up a fine performance to concede 6lb to three-time winner Jepeck, who made ground from the back of the field. The Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Conditions or Hunt race contests could be on the agenda.

Will adopted similar tactics aboard all of his mounts, including Posh Totty, who put in a fine round of jumping to achieve her first open race success. Posh Totty, runner-up to Current Event and My Flora in her previous two outings, ran right up to her best to account for useful yardsticks Hameldown Tor and Raffa.

Ask The Weatherman finished a distance clear of Degenerate after closest pursuer Billersley Road (Ciaran Gethings) had capsized three out when challenging. Ask The Weatherman is owned by Ditcheat’s Dave Martin and Paul Barber, who missed the horse’s success owing to his duties as president of the local hedge laying competition.

In the Maiden, Montecito overcame greenness to justify even money favouritism from Lucy Fielding-Johnson and Richard Mitford-Slade’s promising debutant Winter Soldier.

Harry Cobden, who opened his account aboard Silver Token at Chipley Park, doubled his tally aboard the same horse in the Novice Riders’ race. Last with a circuit to go, Silver Token picked off his rivals one by one to get home from Barneys Mate, who ran his usual genuine race but couldn’t concede five years to the winner.

Sagalyrique justified owner-trainer Angela Rucker’s 2½-hour journey from Worcestershire by taking an eventful Ladies Open. Sagalyrique just held on from Ruapehu after being left in front when leader Ghizao unseated Chloe Newton four out and Minella Fifty parted company with Lara Mahon at the penultimate. “It’s my first win at Badbury Rings and only my second ride here after Roving Report quite some time ago,” reported Angela who rode her first winner between the flags aboard Ernie The Milk in 1983. “We walked our local course, Chaddesley Corbett, found it too soft and came here for the better ground.”