Secretary:   Mr Peter Wright

Address:   5 The Manor, High St, Highworth, Swindon, Wilts SN6 7EU

Contact Details Tel: 01793 264603  Mob: 07437 437522

Email:   phdwright@outlook.com

Entries Secretary:   As above

Entries to:  The Entries Secretary or The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd (www.pointtopointentries.co.uk )

Entries close:   Monday 13^th February 2017 12.30pm

Races:   CS Members Conditions,  Mixed Open, Restricted, Combined Services Members Conditions for novice riders, Open Maiden Conditions, Open Maiden

First Race:   12.00 am

THe King's troop RHA Members Race will runn at 12 noon

COMBINED SERVICES AT LARKHILL (19 FEB) – RACE AMENDMENTS
Race Amendments
The Club Race conditions Race for Novice Riders (1st)

Penalties, after April 30, 2015,

For each win in an Intermediate or Novice Riders’ race (of any type)….3lb

For each win in a Confined or Club Members race……………………….4lb

For each win in a Mens, Ladies or Mixed Open Point-to-Point race……7lb

(Penalties cumulative, max weight 12st 10lb)

 

Club Members conditions Race (3rd)

Penalties, after April 30, 2014,

For each win in an Intermediate or Novice Riders’ race (of any type)….3lb

For each win in a Confined or Club Members race……………………….5lb

(Penalties cumulative, max weight 12st 7lb)

 
This removes the anomaly that point to point winners before dates above were penalised, whilst NH winners were not.  I would like to give our thanks to Tim Sage for drawing our attention to it, and to BHA and PPA for their kind offices in agreeing the amendment.
I would also like to thank Tom Lacey for drawing attention to the fact that the 2 ∏ mile maiden’s conditions have been substantially changed to assist last year’s maidens.  We recognise that they find it very difficult to find a race at the beginning of the season in which they have any chance against young newcomers, and hopefully the shorter length will help those a bit short of a distance.
 
The above three races have been very deliberately framed to provide opportunity for those with less excellent horses.  For what its worth we believe that the future of pointing in UK does depend on the hundreds of small trainers and owner trainers, who have always been, and continue to be, the backbone of the sport.
 
Notwithstanding the above, we are very proud to hold the Classic Coronation Cup, which reverts to being a Mixed Open.  We want the best for this, and hope that its prestige and history as a Classic, the prize money, the Cup and a special memento to commemorate Larkhill’s 70th anniversary, will combine to attract an excellent field.
 
Finally we have a Maiden and a Restricted with no conditions, which we hope will also attract the superstars of the future.  In so doing we hope that we have framed a racecard which gives opportunities for all.
 
We look forward to your company on Sunday the Nineteenth of February.
 

The Coronation Gold Cup, one of the Classic races of the National point-to-point season is the highlight of the Combined Services meeting due to be held at Larkhill on Sunday. Traditionally always a competitive race the latest renewal will be a major attraction for racegoers and the card is supported by six other competitive races including the annual running of the King’s Troop Race which starts proceedings at 12.00. 

The Coronation Gold Cup which has reverted back to a Mixed Open this year with no penalties has attracted a high class entry including the prolific Aikideau already the winner of three Ladies races at the course this season, Master Baker who was narrowly beaten by Aikideau on his seasonal debut and again only just touched off by Posh Totty at Milborne St Andrew and Real Milan already a winner at the course and at Milborne St Andrew earlier this month. Other winners at the course this season include Sidbury Hill who won the Hunt race at the Royal Artillery meeting, Rye Cross and the Flying Doc. The most interesting entry who may make his seasonal debut is Current Event owned by Sheikh Fahad Al Thani and trained by Rose Loxton and who finished fourth in the Cheltenham Foxhunters last season. He may need his first run and preference is given to Aikideau to continue his fantastic record at Larkhill this season. 

After the King’s Troop race the Club Members Conditions race follows which is open to Novice Riders and has attracted a good quality entry of 13 horses. The race may see the return to action of course specialist Hincheslea Moor who will have a new partner in the form of Bradley Paris-Croft having missed all of last season. Thereyarsee won a similar race at the Larkhill Racing Club meeting but disappointed last time whereas The Flying Doc would find this a potentially easier than the Coronation Gold Cup. However the one that will take some beating is Monsieur Gibraltar a very easy winner at Milborne St Andrew for his promising young rider Lorcan Williams and he is taken to follow up. 

The Restricted race may see the return of Chester Copperpot a very easy winner at the Royal Artillery meeting for owner Pat Awdry and Stuart Penny and a repeat of that performance could easily see him in the winner’s enclosure again. Passage East won well at the Heythrop meeting and may be the biggest danger. Others to consider are the multi winner on the all-weather and turf Swivel now trained by Axelle Wall and Awesome Tunes, the winner of an Irish point-to-point and placed for David Pipe and now in the capable hands of Ian Chanin. 

The Club Members Conditions Race looks an ideal opportunity for Facile Bien to continue his upward progression for owner Robert Waley-Cohen and his usual rider Sam Waley-Cohen. Already the winner of two races this season he looks to have more potential than most of his rivals. Others to consider are The Mexican Bandit who defied a long absence when winning an Intermediate at Black Forest Lodge, Thereyarsee who also holds an entry in the Novice Riders race and Crackacan who won two races last season for trainer Julie Pocock 

The two and a half Maiden race confined to horses that have run at least four times without success looks a difficult race to find the winner. Lake Balaton finished close second in a maiden at Trecoed last June and a repeat of that form might be good enough. Give Us Peace, placed twice last season, is now trained by Teresa Clark and could be of interest as could Ballet Marbleless who might appreciate the drop in trip for sporting owner John Mead. 

The meeting concludes with an Open Maiden race which has attracted the biggest entry namely 21 horses. Of those with form Carrignagapple ran well in defeat at Milborne St Andrew and must have every chance of going one better. Jack Barber has entered three with the most interesting being Clenagh Castle who Jack bought out of Chris Grant’s stable at Doncaster last year. This seven year old King’s Theatre gelding is one that may be open to improvement by a spell of point-to-point racing. Tom Lacey has entered the four year old Sky Pirate out of the three times winning mare Dancingwithbubbles and is one to keep an eye on. Another interesting entry is the French bred Clameur des Obeaux placed third in a Bumper at Le Lion D’Angers in May 2015. 

Larkhill Racecourse is to be found 5m NW of Amesbury, Nr A303, A345 and A360 – Postcode SP4 8QR. First Race 12.00 noon. Entry Costs £10 per person. 

Meeting: Combined Services @ Larkhill 19^th February 2017

Race 1 – Club Members Conditions:

1^st: Superior Fire (Ire) 2^nd: Quedillac (Fr) 3^rd: The Flying Doc (Ire)

Runners: 7                      Time: 6min 08.4s                        Distance: ½ l 6l

Race 2 – Restricted:

1^st: Passage east (Ire) 2^nd: Teeton Kato 3^rd: Awesome Tunes (Ire)

Runners: 13                        Time: 6min 10.2s                     Distance: 1 ½ l 10l

Race 3 – Club Members Conditions:

1^st: Too Late To Sell (Ire) 2^nd: Thereyarsee 3^rd: Master Sunrise (Ire)

Runners: 9                        Time: 6min 07.4s                        Distance: 3l 15l

Race 4 – Mixed Open (Coronation Cup):

1^st: Brackloon High (Ire) 2^nd: Real Milan (Ire) 3^rd: Boardwalk Empire (Ire)

Runners: 7                        Time: 6min 04.8s                      Distance: 2l 4l

Race 5 – Maiden Conditions 2m4f:

1^st: Give Us Peace (Ire) 2^nd: Alittlebitless (Ire) 3^rd: Lake Balaton (Ire)

Runners: 8                        Time: 5min 25.2s                        Distance: 5l 20l

Race 6 – Open Maiden:

1^st: Sky Pirate 2^nd: Flying Bandit (Ire) 3^rd: Adeenne de Sevres (Fr)

Runners: 13                        Time: 6min 11.2s                        Distance: 5l 25l

N/A

A very competitive day’s racing was the feature of the Combined Services point-to-point at Larkhill with the highlight being Brackloon High proving a surprise winner in the Coronation Gold Cup for owner Mark Barlow and his son and rider Andrew Barlow who beat much fancied rivals. Elsewhere it was a day for visitors to Larkhill from outside the Wessex area who took the spoils on the day with wins for the Fred Hutsby stable, Emma Alvis yard, Tim Underwood and Sophie Lacey who introduced a promising 4 year old in the shape of Sky Pirate. An excellent turnout of 57 horses contested the 6 races on a dry afternoon supported by a good crowd. 

Although there were only 7 runners for the Coronation Gold Cup a case for most of the participants could be made with Aikideau a warm order to follow up on his three previous victories this season at Larkhill. However it was not to be the favourite’s day and he never really threatened and finished fifth of the six finishers. Real Milan ridden by Jack Jones looked the winner turning into the home straight but Andrew Barlow got a tremendous leap from his mount Brackloon High at the last and finishing with the real flourish swept by Real Milan to win going away by two lengths. Owner Mark Barlow had hoped for a place finish at best so this success was a pleasant surprise to him. Andrew who will celebrate his 45^th birthday later this year, has had in his words ‘an on and off point –to-point career’ and had enjoyed success as a polo player in the past. 

The meeting began with a welcome winner for the Fred Hutsby stable when Sam Lee riding Superior Fire stayed on well to beat Quedillac ridden by Tom Doggrell in the Novice Rider Conditions Race. Owned by his father Ken, Fred holds Superior Fire in high regard and thought that this race would be ideal for the progressive seven year old. Sam Lee who works as a dairy farmer near Towcester racecourse rides out three times a week at the Hutsby stable and was recording his third ever career win. 

A very competitive thirteen runner Restricted race followed with the race over the final two fences being between Passage East, Chester Copperpot ridden by Katy Lyons and Teeton Kato. Chester Copperpot made an error at that fence causing Katy to be unseated and left Passage East ridden by Sam Jukes to hold off the challenge of Teeton Kato by one and half lengths. Owned and bred by Clive Bennett and trained by Emma Alvis the Presenting grey gelding is a fourth generation for the Bennett family with his dam Greensleeves having won 5 point-to-point races. He looks one to keep on the right side of in the future. 

The Club Members Conditions race turned into a duel between Too Late to Sell ridden by Katy Lyons and the favourite Thereyarsee ridden by Lorcan Williams with the former prevailing by three lengths. Owned and trained by Tim Underwood the gelding was a close fourth on his last appearance at Larkhill and readily showed that was no fluke when winning this race. Bought privately by his owner in Ireland from Martin Oliver his claim to fame prior to this success was winning the Conyngham Cup at Punchestown in January 2014. His owner joked that ‘he does not like to go far to get beaten and limits this to 45 minutes from his home base’ but on this occasion he need not have worried. 

The Maiden Conditions race was won comfortably by Give Us Peace trained by Teresa Clark and ridden by Martin McIntyre. Bought by Teresa at the Ascot May sales last year for £1400 from David Kemp she described her charge as a very nervous animal when he first arrived at her yard but the application of a hood helped along with a spell of hunting has transformed him. Owned by the Culverwells Racing Club there were only two of the owners present as the remaining four owners had decided to attend the Devon and Cornwall meeting at Buckfastleigh. 

The final race of the day, the Open Maiden race, saw an impressive debut for the four year old Sky Pirate trained by Sophie Lacey and ridden by Tommie O’Brien. Tracking the leaders most of the way he took it up from the long-time leader Flying Bandit approaching the last and drew away to win by five lengths. Tom Lacey explained that he had bought the gelding at the Derby sales last June for £34,000 and holds the gelding in high regard. His dam Dancingwithbubbles won 2 bumpers and a hurdle when trained by Alan King. His next likely outing will be at the sales and hopes that there will be much interest in the gelding. 

Earlier in the day a dramatic King’s Troop race was won by first time rider Gunner Alice Dunn aboard Cheroot who narrowly beat the only other finisher Burlington ridden by Lance Bombardier Grace Gostelow by a neck.