Secretary: Mrs Katy Davis

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

T:  01258 817151

M:  07899 871623

E: southdorsetp2p@gmail.com

Entries:  Mrs Kate Sutherland

Address:  Hill Dairy, Piddlehinton, Dorset, DT2 7TG

M:  07971 589333

E:  katielovelace@hotmail.com

Or enter online at www.pointtopointentries.co.uk

Entry Fee: £30 for a single entry, £15 per additional race same horse (Hunt Members £10).  BACS payments can be made to Lloyds TSB, Sortcode 30-92-69, Account No: 00323281

Entries Close:  Monday 25th January @ 12 noon

Races:  4,5,6 year old Maiden (2m4f) - Members - Open Maiden - Restricted - AGA Ladies Open - Mens Open - CA or PPORA Club Members Conditions Race for Novice Riders

Milborne St Andrew near Blandford is the venue for this coming Sunday’s South Dorset point-to-point and this popular course has been well rewarded with a large entry of 144 horses and the young maiden race has already been divided into two races and there exists the possibility that at least one other race may be divided on the day. The quality of the horses entered should ensure that racegoers have a superb days racing with the opportunity to visit the food hall and craft tent which should not be missed! 

The racing now starts at 12.00 with the First Division of the Young Horse Maiden sponsored by Symonds and Sampson over 2 and a half miles. There is little form to go by with Big Bang de Loire posting a respectable fourth at Larkhill being the obvious choice. Bill and Barn from Jack Barber’s stable, Irish Legionnaire from Richard Bandey’s stable and Bells on Sunday from Sophie Lacey’s yard are all newcomers and it would not be a surprise if one of these should prove to be the winner. 

The Second Division again poses dilemmas for punters with again minimal form to see. Both Brice Canyon and Woodfleet should improve on their debuts as should Sing to Me. Of the newcomers Cirano de Sivola trained by Sophie Lacey and The Oppidan trained by Claire Hart should be considered but a chance is taken with Tommo trained by Bill Smith who ran well at this meeting in 2015 and was a creditable fourth on his debut at Larkhill in December. The third in that race has subsequently won. 

The South Dorset Hunt race could fall to Turtle Boys if he reappears after finishing third at Larkhill last Saturday. George Hiscock also may be represented by Tin Pot Man the winner of four races under rules for Evan Williams but has not been seen since 2014. Minella Selfie has run respectably in two maiden races this season and could the one to chase home Turtle Boys. 

The Open Maiden sponsored by Branksome Park Care Centre has received a large entry of 30 horses and ones to consider are The Crumpet Mine placed third on his two races in 2015, Master Baker who was running a good race when unseating Jo Buck at Bratton Down in May and Looking Glass placed twice this season. Tom Lacey has entered the unraced Pinnacle Peter whilst Tom Malone has In the Tub placed in six point to point races in Ireland and may be good enough to win on his British debut. 

The Restricted race features a number of very promising individuals amongst the 24 entries. Sea Current very impressive at Cottenham, Zephyr and Creative Inerta each the winner of a maiden at Black Forest Lodge, Wotzizname the winner of a maiden at Larkhill, Mystery Edition the winner of the first race of the season at Black Forest Lodge are all potential winners but the selection is Innocent Girl who jumped superbly at Barbury Castle in December and the second in that race has already won two races since. Jack Barber’s mare looks one to follow this season. 

The Aga sponsored Ladies Open race has a high quality of entries and much attention will be on Pacha du Polder due to be ridden by Victoria Pendleton. The gelding placed in the Aintree Foxhunters and the Champion Hunter Chase at Stratford will be having his first race in a point-to-point and should give his rider a very competitive ride over the Milborne fences. Now trained by Chloe Roddick for owner Andy Stewart his class should be too good for his rivals. These are headed by the Jack Barber duo of Aikideau and Queen’s Bay who is unbeaten in her two point-to-point races, Join Together who has run well in his two races this season, the very consistent Minella Fifty trained by Claire Hitch and Sharp Suit trained by Alan Hill. 

The Men’s Open race sponsored by W and S Recycling may feature the return of Chapoturgeon who fell on his return to racing this season in a Ladies race at Larkhill. The previous course winner has not been easy to train but showed he still retained his ability when easily winning on his only appearance at Kingston St Mary in 2015. Join Together is also entered in this race and if he bypasses the Ladies race he may trouble Chapoturgeon but more danger may come from Warne unbeaten in his four point-to point races and the winner of seven races under rules. David Maxwell can choose from No Loose Change and Out Now and Divine Intavention likely to be ridden by Mark Wall the winner of 11 point-to-points and seven steeplechases also comes into the mix in a fascinating race. 

The final race the Club Members race for Novice Riders sponsored by Smith and Williamson has received an entry of 19 horses. Imperial Circus a good second at Black Forest Lodge when ridden by Nick Lawton boasts the best current form and may prove difficult to beat. Triangular the winner of four chases is an interesting recruit to point-to-point racing as is Ashes House the winner of three races for Tim Vaughan and Rebecca Curtis and Gift of Dgab the winner of two races for Irish trainer Tony Martin and now owned by Laura Thomas. 

Open Maiden (Div 1) 45&6yo 2m4f (10 ran)

1 Bill And Barn (IRE) 4/5 (W Biddick); 2 Woodfleet (IRE) 12/1 (Miss C Hart); 3 Bells On Sunday (GB) 3/1 (Tommie O'Brien). 6mins. ¾l, 10l. (Jack Barber)

Open Maiden (Div 2) 45&6yo 2m4f (7 ran)

1 Tommo (IRE) 4/1 (O Wedmore); 2 The Oppidan (IRE) 4/1 (Miss C Hart); 3 Brice Canyon (FR) 6/4

(D. Maxwell). 6mins 04s. ½l, neck. (Bill Smith)

Hunt Members (5 ran)

1 Tin Pot Man (IRE) 2/1 (G Hiscock); 2 Seenigora (GB) 10/1 (Miss A Goschen); 3 Turtle Boys (IRE) 4/6 (M Legg). 7mins 22s. Dist, 10l. (George Hiscock)

Open Maiden (16 ran)

1 Master Baker (GB) 10/1 (Miss J Buck); 2 In The Tub (IRE) 5/2 (W Biddick); 3 Thymeandthymeagain (GB) 20/1 (Philip Thomas). 7mins 08s. 20l, Dist. (Lisa Jefford)

Restricted (13 ran)

1 Kernel Victor (GB) 8/1 (J Newman); 2 Innocent Girl (IRE) 4/6 (W Biddick); 3 Tikkeche (GB) 25/1 (M Legg). 7mins 14. 2½l, 15l. (Ed Walker)

AGA Ladies Open (12 ran)

1 Queens Bay (GB) 5/4 (Miss B Frost); 2 Pacha Du Polder (FR) 5/2 (Ms V Pendleton); 3 Terra Bleu (IRE) 50/1 (Miss A Goschen). 6mins 54s. Hd, Dist. (Jack Barber)

Mens Open (2 ran)

1 Chapoturgeon (FR) 1/5 (W Biddick); finished alone. 7mins 28s. (Jack Barber)

CA/PPORA Club Members (Nov Rdrs) (12 ran)

1 Jakros (IRE) 12/1 (J Jackson-Stops); 2 Imperial Circus (IRE) 4/5 (N Lawton); 3 Lord Of The Dunes (GB) 25/1 (E Doggrell). 7mins 18s. 3l, Dist. (Simon Gilmore)

N/A

An exhilarating day’s racing took place at an initially damp Milborne St Andrew where the South Dorset Hunt held their point-to-point. Fortunately the weather improved and spectators were able to enjoy some good finishes on fairly testing ground. The highlight of the meeting was a tremendous battle for the Ladies Open race won by Bryony Frost aboard Queens Bay, the middle leg of a treble for trainer Jack Barber. Will Biddick rode the other two winners for Jack’s stable, keeping up his momentum to retain his Championship title.

The AGA Ladies race became a two horse race from some way out, with Queens Bay leading until being headed by Pacha Du Polder, ridden by Victoria Pendleton, at the 10th fence. Victoria’s mount jumped superbly for her and she led until after the second last. On the downhill run to the final bend Bryony had made up the four lengths deficit and secured the inner line; this proved significant. Victoria, on the instructions of Paul Nicholls, Pacha Du Polder’s former trainer, came wider seeking better ground and there was little between them at the last fence. Both horses and riders gave their best efforts on the run-in, with Queens Bay prevailing by a head. Lucy Dickinson who owns Queens Bay with her husband Robert was thrilled with the performance of her mare. “Jack insisted we come to Milborne and it has paid off. Our colours are very old and have seen much darning over the years,” she added.

The Mens Open proved little more than a schooling exercise for Chapoturgeon, ridden by Will Biddick. Opposed by only Latalanta, Will made all the running and, after being left solo by his rival pulling up after the 13th fence, was able to come home in his own time. This was a confidence booster for the popular grey after his recent fall at Larkhill.

Will’s other winner came from the promising Bill And Barn in Division One of the 2m 4f Maiden. Surviving a bad mistake at the last, the 5-year-old Presenting gelding held off the attentions of Woodfleet, ridden by Claire Hart, by ¾ length. Bought at Doncaster in May 2014 for 70K by Ryan Mahon for Jared Sullivan, this looks one to follow for the future.

Division Two was an all the way success for Tommo, ridden by Oz Wedmore and trained by Bill Smith for Winchester owners Michael and Carolyn Poland. The gelding established a clear lead during the race and although both The Oppidan (Claire Hart) and Brice Canyon (David Maxwell) closed on the run-in, Tommo held on to win by half a length. Oz, who was recording his 10th career victory, is reading Geography at Reading University.

The Hunt race proved to be a tremendous training success for George Hiscock and his partner, Charlotte Brown, of Plush. Riding the 10-year-old Tin Pot Man for owner Carol Sevenoaks, George was able to dominate the race from the final circuit and eventually won by a distance. Having not raced since June 2014, when he was trained by Evan Williams, the gelding clearly relished the testing going and belied his long absence. Carol, who lives near Longtown in Herefordshire, is a family friend of George and Charlotte and asked them to train him after his spell under National Hunt rules.

The Open Maiden proved a gruelling event, with only three of the 16 starters completing. The Jacquie McCullough owned and Jo Buck ridden Master Baker drew right away from In The Tub (Will Biddick) to record a comprehensive victory. Trainer, Leslie Jefford, indicated that the gelding should be better on decent ground but clearly acted on this soft surface. Bought from Stewart and Monique Pike as a two-year-old, he ran with promise on his two starts last season and is a good advertisement for his dam, Fashion House, who won a chase and three point-to-points for the Pikes.

The Restricted was a high class affair, with Kernel Victor getting the better of Innocent Girl by 2½ lengths. Sea Current (Gina Andrews) set off in front but was beaten by the second last fence. Kernel Victor (Josh Newman) and Innocent Girl (Will Biddick) then had a good battle until Ed Walker’s charge prevailed on the run-in. Owned by long standing owners of Ed’s yard, Raymond and Evelyn Targett, the Old Vic gelding has clearly improved since last year, but Ed added “we did not think we would beat Jack’s horse [Innocent Girl] and would have been happy to have finished in the first four.” The first and second in this race look sure to go on to better things.

The final race of the day proved a triumph for the Simon Gilmore trained Jakros ridden by his owner James Jackson-Stops. Instructed by his trainer to ‘go hunting and give the outside to no one’, James followed instructions to the letter and gradually picked off his rivals one by one until taking it up on the descent after the second last. His main rival, Imperial Circus (Nick Lawton) had every chance but went down by three lengths at the line. Simon, who trains at Banbury, smiled when he said the “three hour journey home won’t seem nearly as long as the trip to Milborne.” James, who has just established a property development business in London, hoped the horse was fit to run well, as he had been off the course last season with an injury.