Secretary: Mr J H Young

Address:  Ford Farm, Burley Road, Brockenhurst, Hampshire, SO42 7TB

T/F:  01590 622515

M:  07771 540919

E:  james@fordfarmstables.co.uk

Entry Fee: £30 for a single race, £15 per additional race same horse

Entries Close: Monday 9th March, 12 noon

Races: Conditions - Open Maiden - Mixed Open - 4,5,6 & 7 year old Maiden (2m4f) - Novice Riders - Restricted

Richard Bandey’s consistent Alskamatic is fancied for Larkhill’s New Forest Mixed Open on Saturday. The consistent nine-year-old, an Exeter Hunter Chase winner 11 months ago, has finished in the first three in 11 of his 15 races between the flags and showed his wellbeing when scoring at the South Dorset last month. Opposition could include course specialist Bedrock Fred, who would be suited by a fast surface, course winner Perfectly Willing, former top chaser Gauvain – a winner at Cottenham’s seasonal opener – and Posh Totty, who opened her Open race account at Badbury Rings. The fascinating entry is Quantum Theory, a recent Thorpe Lodge winner for Oliver Greenall’s Cheshire stable, but Alskamatic gets the vote.

Perfectly Willing is among the 22 entries for the PPORA Novice Riders and must be considered if facing the starter. Horseheath winner Solstice Knight is another for the short list, along with James Young’s Combined Services winner Hincheslea Moor and Saturday’s Didmarton scorer Presentandcorrect. The two suggestions are the evergreen Barneys Mate, who has been runner-up in his two appearances this season, and Cock Of The Rock, who led Cheltenham Foxhunter candidate Harbour Court over the last when just deprived at Milborne St Andrew.

My Flora, winner of the 2011 John Corbet Cup and fourth in the 2012 Cheltenham Foxhunter, can confirm Combined Services placings with Posh Totty if both face the starter in the TBA Mares and Fillies’ race. Rainbow Trout won two points in 2014 but Robert Waley-Cohen’s Atomic Tangerine, fourth in a Warwick bumper in October, may be the one for the minor placing.

Harriet Besent’s impressive Impact Area can complete a four-timer in the opening Conditions race. Higham winner Broken Eagle, the fast improving Jepeck and Native Pride, the only horse to beat Ask The Weatherman, are three more to consider but the Hutsbys’ consistent 14-year-old Rash Move, placed in 22 of his 25 races and third in the 2013 Aintree Foxhunter, is the main danger.

Badbury Rings winner Montecito, On Your Max and course winner Wak A Turtle can fight out the finish of the Restricted.

Two Maiden contests complete the card. Combined Services runner-up Crackacan can finally get his head in front in the 3-mile contest. Bingo Tiep, Saruni and The Ibbster are three for the 2m 4f event.

Two pony races, qualifiers for the Wessex Area Finals in May, begin proceedings at 11.30am, followed by the first of seven point-to-point races at 12.30pm. The course is 5 miles NW of Amesbury on Salisbury Plain, reached off the A303, A345 or A360 (SP4 8QT). Admission: £10 per person, under 16s free.

Saturday 14 March 2015

Going: Good

PPORA Club Members Conditions (9 ran)

1. Quedillac (FR) (Robert Hawker, 14-1); 2. Broken Eagle (USA) (James Tudor, 2-1); 3. Hincheslea Moor (D Sansom, 5-1). 5min 52s. 1½l, Nk. (Stuart Penny)

Open Maiden (5 ran)

1. Keen Eye (IRE) (M Wall, 5-4F); 2. Nortonthorpelegend (IRE) (E Glassonbury, 7-4); 3. My Rosie B (IRE) (D Noonan, 8-1). 6min 03s. Dist, 1½l. (Jason Warner)

Mixed Open (5 ran)

1. Perfectly Willing (IRE) (M Wall, 4-5F); 2. How’s My Friend (Miss A Bush, 7-2); 3. Theatre Evening (IRE) (T Bishop, 12-1). 5min 56s. 15l, Sht Hd. (Tim Sage)

TBA Club Members (Mares & Fillies) (5 ran)

1. Atomic Tangerine (S Waley-Cohen, 4-1); 2. Posh Totty (W Biddick, 4-5F); 3. My Flora (Miss H Watson, 5-4). 5min 56s. 12l, 15l. (Robert Waley-Cohen)

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

1. Anglingforcharlie (N Lawton, 5-2); 2. Bingo Tiep (FR) (S Drinkwater, 4-6F); 3. Next Surprise (IRE) (D Noonan, 10-1). 5min 11s. 10l, 4l. (Bethen Childs)

Restricted (7 ran)

1. Dandan (IRE) (M Wall, 5-2); 2. On Your Max (R Henderson, 5-2); 3. Wak A Turtle (IRE) (Jamie Thomas, evensF). 6min 02s. 1l, 25l. (Francesca Moller)

PPORA Club Members (Nov Rdrs) (11 ran)

1. Cock Of The Rock (IRE) (H Cobden, 6-4F); 2. Tolatetobeearly (IRE) Miss T Pook, 8-1); 3. King Ozzy (IRE) (A Chandler, 12-1). 6min 00s. 6l, 14l. (Rachael Green)

The two pony races, qualifiers for the Wessex Area Finals in May, were won by Elliot England, 11, aboard Diptford Moonwalker (138cm) and Isabel Hunt, 15, riding Barboza (148cm).

Mark Wall took the Larkhill riding honours with a treble – his first wins of the 2014/15 season – aboard 3-mile Maiden winner Keen Eye, Perfectly Willing (Mixed Open) and Dandan (Restricted). The wins may have provided a small consolation to Mark after the loss of stable star Theatre Queen, winner of last season’s classic Coronation Gold Cup, at the Cheltenham Festival.

Jason Warner’s Keen Eye took advantage of Crackacan’s penultimate fence fall to provide Mark’s 200^th career success – 174 between the flags, 25 under National Hunt rules and one Irish point-to-point win. Making his fencing debut, the six-year-old had previously finished runner-up under AP McCoy in a Uttoxeter hurdle race in July. “He came privately from JP McManus and Jonjo O’Neill, but on the condition that he only runs in point-to-points,” revealed Jason.

Perfectly Willing recorded his second Larkhill success with a trademark Wall front running ride. Owners Tim and Irene Sage were tempted to put Perfectly Willing into Mark’s licensed yard for a National Hunt campaign, but “I imagine he’ll stay pointing, as we get so much pleasure from it,” remarked Tim.

Mark adopted similar tactics aboard Dandan, who ran on strongly accompanied by a loose horse. “He’s more confident this season and improving steadily,” summed up Dandan’s owner, wildlife documentary maker Hugh Wilson.

Robert Hawker made the perfect comeback aboard Quedillac, who recorded his fifth course success in the Conditions race. The jockey had been out of action for six weeks owing to back injuries sustained at Milborne St Andrew. Quedillac led on the run-in after The Wealerdealer had unseated Ian Chanin at the last when well clear. “The better ground has helped today,” felt Henstridge trainer Stuart Penny, welcoming his first winner of the season.

Bilbrook owner-trainer Beth Childs, 23, and fellow Philip Hobbs’ employee Nick Lawton, 24, opened their accounts with 2m-4f Maiden winner Anglingforcharlie. “My background is in showing and showjumping but my grandfather, Pete Doran, rode in local point-to-points” revealed Beth. “This is about my 25^th ride,” added Nick. “I started riding when my family moved to Somerset when I was 13 and have done a lot of hunting with the West Somerset. I hope I can progress as far as I can as a jockey.”

Robert and Sam Waley-Cohen introduced a nice prospect when five-year-old Atomic Tangerine easily despatched top pointing mares Posh Totty and My Flora in the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) Mares’ & Fillies’ race. The mare had finished fourth in her only previous race, a Warwick bumper, in October. “She was receiving 10lb (from Posh Totty) and 11lb (from My Flora) today, but we didn’t think we’d win quite like that,” said Robert, clearly impressed with his homebred.

Cock Of The Rock and Harry Cobden were left clear in the Novice Riders race when pacesetter Solstice Knight fell fatally at the last.