The Wessex point-to-point season moves on to Milborne St Andrew near Blandford this coming Sunday when the South Dorset hold their meeting. Always a very popular meeting with owners and trainers this year’s renewal has attracted an excellent entry of 135 horses spread across the 7 race card commencing at 12.15pm. With the arrival of rain this week the ground was reported as good, good to soft on Sunday but with more rain in the forecast it may become softer before racing takes place. 

The Open Maiden over two miles and four furlongs sponsored by Symonds and Sampson opens proceedings and with an entry of 22 horses finding the winner could be tricky. Leading stables of Sophie Lacey, Sally Alner, Jack Barber and Alan Hill are represented and of those with form this season Flights was a promising second at Barbury Castle and Big Time Frank was fourth at Chaddesley Corbett in December. Sophie Lacey has 3 four year olds entered and her selection should be noted. Jack Barber has King Calvin who has had two runs in Irish points but another who has run in Ireland and placed in a maiden Hurdle It Has To Be could be one to keep on the right side now he is in the care of Guy and Sophie Henderson 

The Hunt Members may see a repeat victory for Tin Pot Man who was an easy winner of the race 12 months ago. He has already had two races this season and this looks a much easier task. Creative Inerta is the obvious danger but he only ran at Chipley Park last Sunday and this might come too soon for him. 

The Open Maiden sponsored by Max Events over three miles has attracted the biggest entry of 28 horses and again finding the winner could prove challenging. Sophie Lacey has two four year olds entered namely Amadoue and Sword of Fate and whichever one runs should be noted. Jack Barber has Ballyknock Cloud entered who has been placed in two Irish points. Of those with form Richard Bandey’s Magic Symphony was running a good race when falling at Barbury Castle and must have a chance of breaking his maiden status. Others to consider are Robin Longstride and Shes Dapper both placed in Maidens last season. 

The Restricted race could see the reappearance of Apple’s Queen who won his maiden race at Larkhill for Sally Alner’s stable. Other winners already this season entered are The Editor winner of a Maiden at Barbury Castle and Minim Mouse winner of a Maiden at Wadebridge. From last season Moscow Prices won at Holnicote, Humpback Bridge who was successful at Trebudannon and Fishy Story the winner of two races including his Hunt race at Upcott Cross and all of these will have their supporters. Bleu Et Or won well at Upcott Cross and if travelling from Wales the hint should be taken. 

The Ladies Open race sponsored by Branksome Park could see Master Baker making a return to the course where he won his Maiden last season. His rise through the ranks last season was most impressive and his close second to Aikideau at Larkhill earlier this month bodes well for another good season. Likely rivals include Minella Fifty who has very good form in Ladies races, Posh Totty who always runs well when competing in Ladies races and Imperial Circus who won well at Black Forest Lodge when giving Jodie Perry her initial riding victory. Tony Star was last seen running in a steeplechase at Galway and comes into contention if travelling from West Wales. 

The Mens Open sponsored by W and S Recycling also holds an entry for Tony Star but he may find Real Milan too good for him. Although he unseated Jack Jones at Taunton he previously won a Mens Open at Larkhill and is in good form. Premier Portrait was beaten at Wadebridge but had previously run up a sequence of wins for his rider Gus Levinson. Golden Hoof ran a good race on his debut for Jack Barber at Barbury Castle and should improve on that run. Daymar Bay won a Hunter Chase at Ludlow last March but has changed hands since. Certain Flight on his best form would come into the equation as would Moorland Sunset the winner of his only four races last season. 

The Novice Riders race sponsored by VT Vets concludes the meeting with 15 horses entered. Posh Totty is entered in this race as well as the Ladies race and may give Christopher Barber a winner on his return back to race riding after breaking his collarbone. He does also have the options to ride either Daymar Bay or Well Travelled. His main opposition may come from Monsieur Gibraltar, the winner of three hurdles and now in the care of Rose Loxton and Triangular the winner of two races last season for novice riders Naomi Sims and Mick Boyce and this season will have new riders all of whom work for Harry Fry. Current Exchange, the winner of 14 point-to-points, who ran at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown last season is now owned by Carrie Tucker and was third at Ampton on his seasonal bow. 

Milborne St Andrew racecourse is to be found off A354 between Dorchester and Blandford Postcode DT11 0JX .First race 12.15pm. Cost of entry is £10 per person.

Meeting: South Dorset @ Milborne st Andrew 5^th February 2017

Race 1 – Open Maiden 4,5, & 6yo 2m4f:

1^st: Master Tradesman (Ire) 2^nd: King Calvin (Ire) 3^rd:Flights

Runners: 13                      Time: 5min 41.8s                        Distance: 2 ½ l 30l

Race 2 – Hunt Members:

1^st: Tin Pot Man (Ire) 2^nd: Lamb’s Cross 3^rd:

Runners: 4                        Time: 7min 05.9s                        Distance: 30l

Race 3 – Open Maiden:

1^st: Ballyknock Cloud (Ire) 2^nd: Carrignagapple 3^rd: Every Breakin Wave (Ire)

Runners: 14                        Time: 6min 53.5s                        Distance: hd 30l

Race 4 – Restricted:

1^st: Fishy Story 2^nd: Tedspeed (Ire) 3^rd: Gift of Dreams

Runners: 14                        Time: 6min 53.6s                      Distance: 2 ½ l ½ l

Race 5 – Ladies Open:

1^st: Posh Totty 2^nd: Maker Baker 3^rd: Masterleaderman (Ire)

Runners: 7                        Time: 6min 51.3s                        Distance: ¾ l 6l

Race 6 – Mens Open:

1^st: Real Milan (Ire) 2^nd: Batu Ferringhi (Fr) 3^rd:

Runners: 9                        Time: 6min 55.3s                        Distance: 1Dist

Race 7– CA/PPORA Members Conditions (Nov Rdrs):

1^st: Monsieur Gibraltar (Fr) 2^nd: Shallowshide 3^rd: Triangular (USA)

Runners: 8                        Time: 6min 55.3s                        Distance: 12l, 6l

N/A

The overnight rain that arrived at Milborne St Andrew softened the ground and provided for a test of stamina in the seven races at the South Dorset point to point where 69 horses participated. Jack Barber trained two winners with Ballyknock Cloud and Posh Totty, Tin Pot Man repeated his success in the Hunt race, Real Milan was the winner of a dramatic Mens Open race and Monsieur Gibraltar was an impressive winner of the Novice Riders race. A good crowd attended on a cold but dry afternoon and the sun made an appearance towards the end of the afternoon.

The meeting began with a surprise 33-1 winner in the shape of Master Tradesman trained by Ces Mitford – Slade and ridden by Sean Houlihan. Setting off in front in the two and a half mile contest he held off the challenge of King Calvin by two and a half lengths. Bought privately from Ireland after eight fairly undistinguished runs in point to points in his native country he has been jumping poles and lots of different obstacles at Pontispool where Ces trains and the benefits of this certainly showed as he jumped well out in front. Given ‘ a peach of a ride’ as described by Ces about his jockey Sean Houlihan he had most of his rivals well beaten by the second last fence and although Will Biddick mounted a challenge with King Calvin he could not reach the winner.

Tin Pot Man easily supplemented his win in the Hunt race last season when taking this year’s renewal from his stablemate Lamb’s Cross. The last named made much of the running under Ed Doggrell until his stamina faltered and allowed George Hiscock to saunter home untroubled to record a thirty length win. Leased to Dick Hiscock this season from owner Carol Sevenoaks he will probably stay point to pointing this season whereas the runner up may now be aimed at two and a half mile Hunter Chases.

The Open Maiden race over three miles provided the closest finish of the day with Ballyknock Cloud beating Carrignagapple by a head. Always prominent the winner was headed between the last two fences by Carrignagapple ridden by Ed Doggrell but stayed on well to snatch the race in the final strides. Bought by Jack Barber at Doncaster last May for £15,000 he is owned by a syndicate of six including Andy Pollard whose colours he ran in today. He was ridden by champion jockey Will Biddick who reported that the grey gelding will prefer a sounder surface to show his best form.

The Restricted race was won by the mare Fishy Story who ran on well to beat Tedspeed by two and a half lengths. Owned by Martin Tucker and trained by Stuart Sampson she is clearly an improving mare and stayed on under Matt Hampton to record her victory. Bought out of David Pipe’s stable for whom she was placed in a Bumper at Fontwell she recorded two victories at the end of last season and appreciated the softer ground which she had been waiting for.

Another game mare in the shape of Posh Totty won a very competitive Ladies Open race under Bryony Frost. After tracking the leader Imperial Circus she took up the running on the final circuit and held off the determined challenge of the favourite Master Baker by three quarters of a length. Although only small she is a tough race mare who does not let anyone pass her on the gallops let alone the racecourse. The 7lbs weight concession was to prove a decisive factor in the outcome of the race.

The Mens Open race looked at the mercy of the Jack Barber trained Golden Hoof ridden by Will Biddick as he had a clear lead from Real Milan jumping the second last. However as they turned the final corner into the home straight Golden Hoof’s stride quickly shortened and as they approached the last Real Milan was upsides. Golden Hoof then took a nasty looking fall from which he fortunately got up from and this left Real Milan to come home virtually alone. Owned by Mr and Mrs Nicholas Jones, trained by him, led up by his daughter Miranda and ridden by his son Jack this horse is a real family favourite and has been a stalwart in Jack’s riding career. Commenting on his unseat at Taunton Nicholas did reveal that the horse coughed five times in the racecourse stables after the race and as a result gave him 10 days off before bringing him back to the course. The next intended outing will be the Coronation Cup at Larkhill where he finished third last season.

The final race of the day the Novice Riders race was won in emphatic style by Monsieur Gibraltar trained by Rose Loxton and ridden by Lorcan Williams. Reporting to one of the owners of the gelding John Gane, Lorcan described his mount as ‘fantastic’ and that he had settled and jumped well in the soft going. Although the gelding had won three hurdle races he had failed to win over fences for Paul Nicholls in the summer but on this performance more victories are likely to come his way. John Gane who supplies feed to Paul Nicholls yard at Ditcheat had previously owned shares in Current Event and was pleased to be able to have another share in a horse at Rose Loxton’s stable.