Secretary: Mrs Elizabeth Marriott

Address:  Wyndham Farm, Silton, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 5AE

M: 07771 528763

Entries:  `The Point to Point Racing Company Ltd

T:  01933 304840

E:  www.pointtopointentries.co.uk

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

Entries Close:  Monday 25th April 2015, 12.30 pm

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

Larkhill hosts its final meeting of the season when the South and West Wilts hold their point-to-point. Prior to the point-to-point races there is the annual Willowbrook Challenge Charity flat race which is always a great spectacle and a fundraiser for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Six races then follow and a total of 73 entries have been received for those races. 

The meeting opens with the Hunt Members race where trainer Stuart Penny would appear to hold the key with his two entries of Trueflyingcolours and Quedillac. The former who has finished second in his last three races is overdue a victory whereas the latter who has won six times at Larkhill ran well in a Men’s Open race when finishing fourth. First season trainer Teona Hammond has entered Regal Presence who was second on the course in February and Angela Davis has Sutton Storm, the winner of a maiden at Wadebridge. Trueflyingcolours is chosen to break his duck for the season. 

The Open Maiden has an entry of 13 of which two Bistouri d’Honore and Coastal Tiep are 4 year olds trained by Jack Barber. The former only got as far as the first fence at Badbury Rings when unseating Stan Sheppard whereas Coastal Tiep who cost 60,000 Euros last year will be making his debut. Both have entries elsewhere over the weekend and if absent those with form include Delgany Devil, second at Mollington and Kinlochspelve, second at Hackwood last season. Lanta’s Legacy has been improving with each run and stablemate Winged Action has been placed this season. Sally Alner has had her stable in good form this season and a chance is taken with Chilblains who was not discredited on his last run at Ston Easton. 

The Ladies Open has attracted the largest entry of the day with 19 horses entered. Jack Barber can choose from Aikideau, Benedictus and Ruddy Article the last named who will be making his seasonal debut. Potential opponents include Seigneur des Bois who won at the last Larkhill meeting, the Richard Bandey trained Little Chip, the Claire Hart trained Vincitore who was second over 4 miles at Kingston Blount and Bay to Go who won at Fakenham. Grand Gold the winner of two of his three races so far this season and very unlucky when falling at the last at Larkhill can keep his season on an upward momentum for his usual pilot Page Fuller. 

The Mens Open includes Chapoturgeon who will be seeking to make amends for his early season fall at Larkhill and he is the highest rated entry. Of his opponents Garstin has been in good form and won at the last Larkhill meeting, Parkam Jack has been placed in each of his three races so far this season, Shy John won at Andoversford and Subtle Sovereign won at the Avon Vale meeting but has been beaten since. Chapoturgeon if at his best ought to be good enough to win this race. 

The Young Maiden race also has entries for Coastal Tiep and Delgany Devil and Jack Barber has also given Clo Sacre an entry in this race. He has had one previous outing when unseating Stan Sheppard three fences from home when having every chance at Badbury Rings. He should be good enough if his jumping holds up. An interesting entry is the Harry Derham owned and trained 4 year old Caid des Malberaux who will be making his first appearance on the racecourse. Harry, the nephew of Paul Nicholls, will be making his debut as a trainer if his charge starts in this race. 

The final race, the Restricted, may see the return of Big Bad Barry who won on his debut in December at Larkhill but has not been seen since. Potential rivals include the Jack Barber trained duo Brandevin, third at Ston Easton, and San Satiro, the winner of a maiden race at Cotley, the Richard Bandey trained Woodfleet and Rakasba, winner of a maiden at Milborne St Andrew and placed third since. If Big Bad Barry reappears the hint should be taken for the Axelle Wall trained gelding.

Hunt Members (4 ran)

1 Regal Presence 2/1 Miss B Hampson; 2 Quedillac 4/6F E Doggrell; 3 Sutton Storm 5/4 M Legg. 6min 09s.

3l, 10l. (Teona Hammond)

Open Maiden (3 ran)

1 Lanta’s Legacy 5/4 Miss L Scott; 2 Kinlochspelve evensJF H Nugent; 3 Phantom Spark evensJF M McIntyre. 6min 29s. Hd, 15l. (Camilla Scott)

Ladies Open (6 ran)

1 Little Chip 11/4 Miss E Harbour; 2 Ruddy Article 10/11F Miss B Frost; 3 Trueflyingcolours 9/4 Miss B Hampson. 5min 51s. 1l, 4l. (Richard Bandey)

Mens Open (8 ran)

1 King’s Legacy 5/2 J Hill; 2 Shy John 7/4 P Mason; 3 Subtle Sovereign 3/1 R David. 5min 53s. ¾l, 2l. (Alan Hill)

Open Maiden 2m4f (4 ran)

1 Caid Des Malbereau 1/2F L Mahon; 2 Hit The Diff 7/4 J Martin; 3 Angie Vilorbame 4/1 R Bird. 5min 23s. 1l, 2l. (Harry Derham)

Restricted (2 ran)

1 Woodfleet 4/6JF M McIntyre; 2 Anglingforcharlie 4/6JF N Lawton. 6min 16s. 1½ l. (Richard Bandey)

N/A

It remained virtually dry at Larkhill despite showers in the near vicinity and a good crowd attended the final meeting of the season at the Wiltshire track when the South and West Wilts held their point-to-point. It was a day two trainers Teona Hammond and Harry Derham will remember as they each saddled their first winners and Richard Bandey saddled a double with Little Chip and Woodfleet. 

Teona, who is assistant trainer to Stuart Penny, saddled her first winner when Regal Presence stayed on well to beat Quedillac trained by Stuart by three lengths in the opening Hunt Members race. Always prominent the winner was well ridden by Brodie Hampson who was riding her first point-to-point winner of the season. Acquired privately from Victor Dartnall’s stable Regal Presence runs in the name of the Gracie Clementine Partnership who happens to be the name of Teona’s 3 year old daughter. The Presenting gelding has appreciated the change of scenery to a smaller yard and had been waiting for the faster ground which he found at Larkhill. Teona explained that prior to taking up her role with Stuart she was head girl for Colin Tizzard. 

Lanta’s Legacy just got the better of a battle with Kinlochspelve in the Open Maiden race giving owner Gary Lever and trainer Camilla Scott a welcome winner. Home bred by Gary out of a mare called Purple Patch the mare is named after a friend of Camilla Lanta Gillett who sadly lost her life through breast cancer. Lanta was instrumental in introducing Camilla to her husband Jeremy Scott so it seemed entirely appropriate to name her as a tribute to her friend. Gary has had horses for many years with the Scotts and reminisced about the exploits of County Derry who won 11 point-to-points and 6 Hunter chases for him. 

Little Chip brought up the first leg of Richard Bandey’s double when just beating Ruddy Article in a fast run Ladies Open race. Well ridden by Emily-Jayne Harbour for the enthusiastic Plantation Picnic Club the winner has suffered from foot problems and Richard was quick to give much credit to his farrier Harry Priestly for the work he has put in. This was the first time the gelding has raced right handed and on this showing a trip to Fontwell for the Hunter Chase card may well be on the agenda. 

King’s Legacy was held up by Joe Hill until being produced after the second last and stayed on well to defy Shy John and Subtle Sovereign to win a very competitive Men’s Open race again in a fast time. Lawney Hill, representing her husband Alan who was saddling a winner in Sharp Suit at Peper Harrow, explained that the gelding had had another wind operation after his last run at Kempton in October 2015 and this had made a difference. Joe had been instructed to delay his challenge till after the penultimate fence and carried out his orders to the letter. He will probably remain point-to-pointing for the rest of the season and then move to Lawney’s yard in the summer. 

Caid Des Malberaux gave Harry Derham a dream start as an owner and trainer when just winning the 2 and a half mile Maiden race under Leo Mahon. Bought unbroken by Harry at Ascot last summer as a project for two and a half thousand pounds he has been trained from a field at Ditcheat owned by Paul Barber and lives in a stable bought by Paul as a 21^st birthday present for Harry. Despite his full time role for his uncle Paul Nicholls he managed to find time in his lunch hour and after work to train the gelding to record his initial success on his debut. 

Woodfleet ridden by Martin McIntyre showed a good turn of foot on the run-in to defeat his sole rival AnglingforCharlie in the Restricted race and bring up Richard Bandey’s training double. Owned by Isle of Wight owner Anna Reed Richard holds the gelding in high regard and always rides him at home. He made most of the running until being joined by his rival at the fourteenth fence and they then duelled until after the last with the winning margin being one and half lengths. 

Prior to the point-to-point racing eight riders took part in the annual Willowbrook Charity race raising funds for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance which this year was won by the Robert Walford trained Saint Raph. Ridden by 68 year old Donald Hinks he narrowly defeated Trakeur ridden by Simon Hodgson in an exciting finish. Donald, who lives in Henstridge and is an undertaker, did ride as an amateur on the flat for trainers such as Vernon Cross, Bill Marshall and John Thorne but never rode a winner. Nowadays he still rides out for leading National Hunt trainer Colin Tizzard.