Secretary: Mrs Susie Old

Address:  Bellyns Stables, Ibberton, Blandford, Dorset DT11 0EN

T:  01258 817101

M:  07967 589543

E:  andrew@aold.orangehome.co.uk

Entries:  Mr T Selby

Address:  The Chase, Hinton Martell, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 7HE

T/F:  01258 840650

M: 07770 427394

E:  terry.selby@btconnect.com

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

or  The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd (www.pointtopointentries.co.uk 

Entries Close:  Monday 3^rd April, 12.30 pm

Races:  Intermediate - Restricted - CA Conditions (Nov Riders) - 4,5,6 year old Maiden (2m4f) – Mixed Open - Open Maiden - Confined

The second of the two meetings held at Badbury Rings, Near Wimborne takes place next Sunday 9^th April when the Portman hold their point-to-point. Since the last meeting all the corners have been moved to provide fresh ground and if needed watering will take place with a view to obtaining good ground. A total of 88 entries have been received for the seven scheduled races and there should be some very competitive racing for spectators to enjoy. 

Racing begins with the Intermediate race where the progressive Apple’s Queen may secure his fourth victory of the season for trainer Sally Alner and rider Lorcan Williams. An easy winner of a Novice Rider’s race at Milborne St Andrew last month he is the one to beat. Amongst his potential rivals are Boygoesjumping who runs well at Badbury, Indian Leader who gave 16 year old James Bowen his first winner and High Priority who won well at Cothelstone. 

The Open Maiden race over 2 miles 5 furlongs may see the debut of Captain Cattistock trained by Jack Barber. This four year old Black Sam Bellamy gelding was bought last year at the Goffs sale and his debut should be watched with interest. Of those with form Bellas Touch ran with credit at Ston Easton and River Wye has some form from last season. Spooner Street did not get very far at Larkhill last weekend and the same comment could apply to Bubbles Arcade who unseated at Cothelstone. 

The Novice Riders race may see another outing for the very game mare Posh Totty who will be ridden by Christopher Barber. She missed her intended outing at Cotley in view of the soft ground but this likely firmer surface will be more to her liking. Tom Barton did not run up to his best at Larkhill last weekend and more danger might come from Cinevator who will have benefitted from his seasonal debut and goes well for his rider Ella Pickard. Others to consider are Flying Eagle if travelling from West Wales, Same Difference who was looking like the winner at Milborne St Andrew until veering right after the last fence and the former Nicky Henderson trained Tetlami who has not been seen since 2013. 

Several of those entered in the Novice Riders race also hold entries in the Mixed Open race including Flying Eagle, Tetlami and Tom Barton. Golden Hoof is in good form having won his last two races and looks the one to beat. Champagne Rosie won well at Milborne St Andrew and has found her form. James Young might introduce Alternatif a new arrival at his Fordingbridge stable from David Pipe’s yard. Successful in a Hurdle and a Chase for the Pipe stable his debut should be watched with interest. 

The Restricted race may see the reappearance of Deadly Move who won on debut at Howick last month for James Bowen. Of his opponents Flights has been steadily progressing and won nicely at Charlton Horethorne , Little Billy Boy was runner up at the same course and Samuel Jackson won a maiden at the last Badbury Rings meeting. Guerrilla Tactics has been second in both his races this season and might the one to give Deadly Move the most to fear. 

The Open Maiden has fourteen horses entered and with little form to go on Draft Pick from Tom Weston’s stable might be the answer. Third on his debut at Siddington he might be too good for his rivals. Jack Barber has entered Roxy Belle who showed little form for Mark Rimell in three bumper races and could be one to watch. Berrysmart ran his best race for some time when third at Milborne St Andrew and comes into the reckoning. 

The meeting concludes with the Confined where several of the entries already hold other choices. Boardwalk Empire was a good third at Larkhill, Swallowshide who has been consistent this season and Theatre Evening runner up to Dan McGrue at Charlton Horethorne are three to consider but if Apple’s Queen chooses this race rather than the Intermediate then the hint should be taken. 

Badbury Rings, 4 miles NW of Wimborne off B3082 Postcode DT11 9JL. First race 2.00pm. Entry Costs: £25 per car (multiple occupants) £15 per car (single occupant) £15 for each pedestrian. 

Meeting: Portman @ Badbury Rings

9^th April 2017

Race 1 – Intermediate:

1^st: Boygojumping 2^nd: Apple Queen (Fr) 3^rd: Well Travelled (Ire)

Runners: 3                       Time: 6min 17.8s                        Distance: 6l Dist

Race 2 – Open Maiden 45&6yo 2m5f:

1^st: Spooner Street (Ire) 2^nd: Tucks Bergin (Ire) 3^rd: Justu

Runners: 7                        Time: 5min 30.1s                      Distance: 1.5l 20l

Race 3 – CA Club Conditions (Nov Rdrs):

1^st: Posh Totty 2^nd: Sebadee (Ire) 3^rd: Falcon Island

Runners: 5                        Time: 6min 20.7s                        Distance: 5l, 8l

Race 4 – Mixed Open:

1^st: Tom Barton 2^nd: Uber Alles (Ger) 3^rd: Theatre Evening (Ire)

Runners: 6                        Time: 6min 05.8s                        Distance: 6l Dist

Race 5 – Restricted:

1^st: Gentle Duke 2^nd: Flights (Ire) 3^rd: Askers Lad

Runners: 4                        Time: 6min 14.2s                        Distance: 2.5l 15l

Race 6– Open Maiden:

1^st: Lawsons Thorns (Ire) 2^nd: If It Be Your Will 3^rd: Berrysmart

Runners: 6                       Time: 6min 23.2s                        Distance: 6l 12l

Race 7– Confined:

1^st: Ballybough Gorta (Ire) 2^nd: Same Difference (Ire) 3^rd: 

Runners: 4                       Time: 6min 14.4s                        Distance: 12l

N/A

The sun shone all day at Badbury Rings where the Portman held their point to point and the hard work put in by Martin Tory and his team was rewarded by some very competitive racing and compliments from both riders and owners on the condition of the ground bearing in mind the drying conditions. On the course it was a day that both James O’Connor and Ed Henderson will remember as they both rode their first winners and James followed up by then riding a second winner. 

The Intermediate race was won in good style by Boygojumping ridden by his enthusiastic owner Martin Peaty. This time last year he was away skiing and missed his horse winning his first race but this time he declined another skiing trip to ride his gelding to a six length victory over the favourite Apple’s Queen. Holding up his horse until the second last fence Martin was following his plan to the letter and he clearly enjoyed the faster racing conditions. 

The Open Maiden over 2 miles and 5 furlongs turned into a good battle between Spooner Street ridden by Martin McIntyre and Tucks Bergin ridden by Lorcan Williams. The latter had made much of the running but Spooner Street stayed on well and had a length and a half at the line. Paying his first visit to Badbury Rings from his base in Worcester Tom Weston explained that he had been looking for better ground and despite Barbury Castle being closer to home he had travelled the extra distance. Bought at the Tattersalls August 2016 sale he is for sale and he will no doubt be entered in one of the forthcoming bloodstock sales. 

Posh Totty was not hard pressed to keep up her remarkable record at Badbury Rings when recording her seventh course victory in the Novice Riders race under Christopher Barber. Explaining the reason for reverting back to Novice Riders races from Ladies Jack said that she had missed her planned engagement at Cotley as it was too soft and as this race did not include penalties she was given the chance to let Christopher record his fifth career victory. The only time Posh Totty has been beaten at Badbury was when she was ridden by her trainer who confessed that ‘it was because he had got the tactics wrong’ 

Lorcan Williams gave Tom Barton a very positive ride to win the Mixed Open race. Setting off in front he had only Uber Alles for company in the final stages of the race and with his rival tiring after the last fence he had six lengths in hand at the line. Recording a birthday victory for one of his owners Anne Tory on her local course the stewards did enquire about his improved performance from his run from Larkhill the week before. Sally Alner advised that the hood had been removed and a complete change of riding tactics had been made which had brought about the improvement in his fortunes. The stewards noted this explanation. 

James O’Connor, 21 from Dundalk in Ireland, recorded his first career success when partnering Mike Vanstone’s Gentle Duke to victory in the Restricted race. Having been unsuccessful in several rides in his homeland he decided to try his luck in England and after a couple of spells with Dennis Coakley and Charlie Mann he responded to an advert put out on Facebook by Linda Blackford and her partner Mike Vanstone. Mike explained that James joined them last November and has been working very hard and is now a valued member of their team. The horse was bought privately from previous connections near Ludlow and is in Mike’s words ‘a sound jumper and ideal for James to ride’ 

James only had to wait for the next race, the Open Maiden, to record his second career victory when he partnered Lawsons Thorns for owners Nigel Mackenzie and Richard Dening. Setting off in front he stayed on well to beat If It Be Your Will ridden by Darren Andrews by six lengths. Previously an inmate of Dan Skelton’s stable he had found it difficult to settle in his races and despite wearing a hood he was still very keen in this race. Mike Vanstone who also trains this gelding recalled that he had previously had a training treble at the defunct Ideford Arch course but never a double. Mike added with a laugh that ‘James won’t stop talking all the way back to Devon in the lorry!’ 

The meeting concluded with a popular first winner for Ed Henderson riding his parents Guy and Sophie Henderson’s Ballybough Gorta to win the Confined race. This did not look very likely during the race as they were struggling in last place for much of the race but as the leaders faltered Ed’s mount stayed on strongly to beat the only other finisher Same Difference by twelve lengths. Ed, 20, rode last season whilst he was working for Jack Barber but is now at Exeter University studying law as well as riding out for Paul Nicholls when time permits. Explaining that he was keen for his son to ride a winner before he got too big Guy was delighted to have provided him with his first victory at his local course.