Secretaries: Mr & Mrs Mark Elgar

Address:  Slate Cottage, Homington, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 4NQ

T/F: 01722 718368

E: wiltonp2p@btinternet.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/wiltonhuntp2p

Twitter:      @WiltonHuntP2P

Entry Fee: £30 per horse per race, £15 additional race same horse. 

Or enter online at: www.pointtopoint.co.uk

Entries Close:  Monday 14th March, 12 noon

Races:  Charity Race - 4,5,6 & 7 year old Maiden (2m4f) - Restricted - Mens Open - PPORA Club Members - Ladies Open - 6 year old & over Maiden

The first of two Wessex meetings this weekend takes place when the Wilton hold their point-to-point at Milborne St Andrew near Blandford on Saturday 19^th March. Prior to the six point-to-point races there will be a charity flat race at 12.30 supported by Quiliter Cheviot (Wealth Management) in aid of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and it hoped that 9 horses will take part in that race. The Wilton are pleased to welcome Strutt and Parker as their main sponsor and amongst the usual tradestands, bar, food and bookies there will be a chance to see some meerkats and other animals for the children. 

The point –to-point races start with an intriguing looking young horse maiden race over 2 miles and 4 furlongs. Tom Lacey has two entered namely Agamemmon who was an early casualty when hampered and Zak Baker was unseated at Larkhill and Polydora an unraced four year old gelding by Milan who is a half -brother to Roberto Goldback the winner of 6 races. Of those with form Dunn’s River has been second twice at Larkhill this season, What a Saga was a promising third on her debut at Buckfastleigh and Eddie’s Son was an encouraging fifth on his seasonal debut at Wadebridge. Tom Lacey’s chosen runner is taken to continue his good record at the course. 

The Restricted race, again over the shorter trip of 2 miles and 4 furlongs, has attracted an entry of nine horses of which Jack Barber’s representative Brandevin looks an interesting prospect. The winner of his only race last season at Bratton Down he is sure to have come on from that experience. However he does also hold an entry at the Mendip Farmers meeting on Sunday and if he bypasses this race then Woodfleet the winner of a maiden at Kingston Blount, On Alberts Head, the winner of a maiden at Larkhill and Mystery Edition, the winner of a maiden at Black Forest Lodge may fight out the finish with slight preference given to the Richard Bandey trained Woodfleet. 

The Men’s Open race looks to be between Benedictus who returned to form when winning the Ladies Open at Badbury Rings, Kernel Victor whose winning run came to an end at Charlton Horethorne and Parkham Jack who has only had one run so far this season when finishing fourth in a Wincanton Hunter chase. Both Swallowshide and Theatre Evening put up good performances in their last races and come into the reckoning but Kernel Victor is narrowly chosen to continue his upward progress. 

The Countryside Alliance Club Members race for 9 years old and upwards horses may see a return to form of Rossmore Lad the winner of the Ladies Open at the Wilton meeting in 2014. Lightly raced since that season he ran in better company onhis seasonal debut and should run well. Likely dangers are Delphi Mountain who was going well until running out at Bishops Court last time, Bernshaw who likes to run left handed and Marlpit Oak who has been hurdling since her last point-to-point run in 2015. 

Benedictus also holds an entry in the Ladies Open race where Bryony Frost will be hoping to renew her partnership with the gelding after guiding him to success at Badbury Rings. Vasco du Mee, the recent winner of a Fakenham Hunter Chase for Phine Banks is the obvious danger as well as Minella Fifty who jumped so well for Taylor Pook when winning at Charlton Horethorne. If connections opt for this race for Benedictus he is the selection. 

Rakasba looks the answer to the concluding race, the Open Maiden. Beaten by In the Tub at Larkhill his conqueror won at Buckfastleigh on Sunday and the form looks strong. Of his potential rivals Vila Cova was fourth when falling at Bishop’s Court and should give a good account of himself, Mr Lano ran creditably in two races last season and Petite Rock is a debutant from Chloe Roddick’s stable who is nicely bred and could be worth noting if there is any move for him in the betting ring.

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

1 Agamemmon 4/7F Tommie O’Brien;2 Boygojumping 20/1 G Hiscock; 3 Eddie’s Son 8/1 Ben Clarke. 5mins 23s. 8l, distance. (Sophie Lacey)

Restricted (2m4f) (6 ran)

1 On Alberts Head 6/4 Jamie Thomas; 2 Wyndcrest 9/1 G Hiscock; 3 Tempestatefloresco 11/8F W Biddick. 5mins 25s. 10l, 8l. (Kayley Woollacott)

Mens Open (4 ran)

1 Boss In Boots 7/2 D Sansom; 2 Parkham Jack 4/6F Jamie Thomas; 3 Swallowshide 3/1 B Hicks). 6mins 42s. 3l, 2l. (Seamus Mullins)

CA Club Members (9yo+) (8 ran)

1 Champagne Rosie 4/7F W Biddick; 2 Turtle Tim 3/1 W Gordon; 3 Turtle Boys 6/1 G Hiscock. 6mins 30s. 10l, 2l. (Stuart Penny)

Ladies Open (3 ran)

1 Minella Fifty 1/4F Miss T Pook; 2 Ethiopia 6/1 Miss M O’Meara; 3 Rossmore Lad 9/4 Miss B Frost.

6mins 40s. 4l, ½l. (Claire Hitch)

Open Maiden (6yo+) (7 ran)

1 Rakasba 4/6F D Sansom; 2 Rainbow Stripes 2/1 W Biddick; 3 Hoick Holloa 7/1 Philip Thomas. 6mins 51s. Neck, 8l. (Jane Bailey)

N/A

It was a dry but cold afternoon when the Wilton held their annual point-to-point at Milborne St Andrew. On ground that riders described as mostly good it produced some excellent finishes mostly notably the Men’s Open race and a first riding double for Dan Sansom.

Tom Lacey introduced another nice young horse in the opening younger horse maiden when 4 year old Agamemmon overtook the long- time leader Boygojumping after jumping the second last and stayed on well to win by eight lengths despite losing a shoe during the race. Bought by his owner in June last year for 35,000 Euros he is likely to be heading for the sales again in the near future.

The Restricted Race run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs produced an easy winner in On Alberts Head trained by Kayley Woollacott and ridden by Jamie Thomas. Taking up the lead outright at the second last the well backed winner powered away from his rivals to win by a comfortable ten lengths. The application of the hood and the better ground were both factors that his trainer put down to his improved performance and Jamie said ‘he is now easier to switch off so he should have no problems staying 3 miles’. 

The four runner Strutt and Parker Men’s Open race was a dramatic event. Approaching the last fence Theatre Evening looked to have the race at his mercy but on jumping the fence he quickly stopped and allowed Boss in Boots who had been in last place throughout to come storming through on the run in to win by 3 lengths. Owned and trained by National Hunt trainer Seamus Mullins the grey gelding had been running poorly under rules and after misbehaving at Huntingdon Seamus decided to send him hunting with the Royal Artillery in an attempt to sweeten him up. Described by his owner as ‘a clever horse’ he was given an excellent ride by Dan Sansom riding his first winner of the season having suffered a bad back injury before the season started. Dan, 22, works for Seamus who was full of praise for his jockey. Seamus could not recall his last point-to –point winner but thought that it was probably more than 10 years ago. 

The Countryside Alliance Club Members race gave Champagne Rosie and her new trainer Stuart Penny their first win of the season. Given a positive front running performance by Will Biddick the mare was challenged over the last three fences by Turtle Tim but found more on the run –in to win by eight lengths. Stuart said that she had come out of her race at Charlton Horethorne well and after nearly being bucked off her during the week he thought that she would run well and appreciate the sounder surface. Since taking over the mare Stuart did add that ‘we have given her a lot of jumping at home and this has paid off’ 

The Ladies Open was an exhibition round of jumping from Minella Fifty ridden by Taylor Pook. Setting off in front the gelding jumped superbly from fence to fence and was able to see off his two rivals by five lengths. Described by his trainer Claire Hitch as ‘a horse who loves his work’ he is building a good partnership with Taylor who works for Jack Barber. 

The concluding race, the Open Maiden, turned into a duel between Rakasba ridden by Dan Sansom and Rainbow Stripes ridden by Will Biddick. When Rakasba made a mistake at the last it looked like his rival was going to prevail but Dan got another effort from his mount and won by a neck. Owned, trained and bred by Jane Bailey at Wilsford where Seamus Mullins trains it gave Dan his first ever riding double and his fifth career win in total. When asked about Rakasba’s name Jane explained that ‘ I submitted 10 good names for the gelding to Weatherbys and all were rejected so I took the last two letters of the sire (Alflora) and the dam’s first name (Kasba) and thought that they would not reject that name!’