Secretary:   Mr & Mrs Mark Elgar

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

Contact Details Tel: 01722 718368   Mob:

 Email;         wiltonp2p@btinternet.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 17^th March 2017 12.30pm

Invitational Charity Race 12.30pm

Races:   Open Maiden6yrs+ (2.4m), Restricted, Mixed Open, 4,5,& 6yrs Open Maiden (2.4m), CA Members Conditions, PPORA WAPTP ClubMembers Conditions for novice riders & veterans

First Race:   12.30 pm

The Strutt and Parker sponsored Wilton point-to-point is the first of the two weekend Wessex meetings to be held this coming Saturday at the popular course of Milborne St Andrew, near Blandford. The meeting has attracted a good entry of 90 horses for the 6 scheduled races and an exciting day’s racing is in prospect for spectators. In addition to the point-to-point races there will be a Shetland pony Dash at 12.00 in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund and a charity flat race at 12.30 in aid of Julia’s House Children’s Hospice. As well as the usual trade stands, the bar and the bookmakers there will be another opportunity to meet the meerkats who were a popular attraction from 2016. 

The first race at 1.30pm the Open Maiden race run over 2 and a half miles looks an ideal opportunity for Ticket to Ride to get off the mark. Trained and part owned by Ed Walker the gelding was a promising second on his debut at Great Trethew and the winner of that race Little Billy Boy has franked the form by running a good race at Charlton Horethorne. Of the others that have raced River Myth was second to Palmaria at Chipley and It Has to Be was running a good race at the last Milborne meeting when unseating Ed Henderson at the third last. Of the newcomers particular interest should be paid to the 4 year old Present Ranger trained by Francesca Nimmo who is a half-brother to the 2011 Grand National winner Ballabriggs. 

The Restricted race sponsored by NFU has attracted the biggest entry of the day of 18 horses. Ballyknock Cloud will be fancied to supplement at the course in February for the Jack Barber/Will Biddick team. Jack has also entered King Calvin who won over 2 and a half miles at Larkhill and his chosen representative has to be on the short list. Bee Crossing won the Maiden over three miles also at Larkhill and comes into consideration as does Chester Copperpot who has been running well despite unseating his rider on his last two appearances. Fountains Cider won a Maiden last season but has not run this year and Micks Lad was running a good race until unseating the rider at Didmarton at the third last. 

The Clarke and Partners sponsored Club Members race for 8 year old and upwards looks an open contest. Ed Walker has two entries namely Doyen Dynamo and The Flying Doc and both have already run well this season. Little Cornham missed his annual outing in the Hunt race at the Quantock last weekend but he comes into the reckoning on his last outing at Badbury when he was hampered and unseated on the bend before the fourth last. Aiteen Thirtythree may make a return to the racecourse after a lengthy absence for Natalie Parker and Allerton is another to consider if he travels from the Cotwolds. Ed Walker’s selected runner is the choice. 

The Mixed Open race sponsored by Strutt and Parker looks a very competitive race with Rose Loxton holding a strong hand with her two entries of Join Together and Monsieur Gibraltar, the last named who is unbeaten in his two outings this season. The winner of the Timico Mixed Open at the New Forest meeting at Larkhill Sidbury Hill is in sparkling form and a repeat of that run may be good enough to win the race. Sally Alner’s trained Apple’s Queen comes into consideration as does Master Baker who always runs well at Milborne St Andrew. Sidbury Hill is selected to continue his winning ways. 

The Club Members race for Novice and Veteran Riders sponsored by New Forest Farm Machinery does feature a number of horses which hold entries in the previous race. Both of Rose Loxton’s pair and Sally Alner’s Apple’s Queen are entered and the winner may come from whichever of these Lorcan Williams rides. Allerton also holds an entry for this race and would come into the reckoning. The running of Impact Area owned by Harriet Waight will be watched with interest as if this classy horse runs to his best then he should be too good for his rivals. 

The final race, The Open Maiden for six year olds and upwards sponsored by PJY Francis Clark may provide Clenagh Castle with an opening to register his first victory. Beaten over three miles at Ottery St Mary on his last outing this drop back in distance may well suit the seven year old gelding. Of his potential rivals Every Breakin Wave was one place further back at Ottery St Mary after unseating his rider leaving the paddock and should be closer next time. Marguerite St Just will appreciate the shorter trip and if Alan Hill brings Harris Garden who ran well on his debut at Kingston Blount then the hint should be taken. 

First Race 1.30pm Milborne St Andrew, Near Blandford Forum, Off the A354. Postcode DT11 0JX. Entry Costs £10 per person with under 16’s free.

Meeting: Wilton @ Milborne st Andrew

25^th March 2017

Race 1 – Open Maiden 4,5,6yo 2m4f:

1^st: River Myth 2^nd: Present Ranger (Ire) 3^rd: Pistol Shoot (Ire)

Runners: 6                       Time: 5min 26.5s                        Distance: 2l 2l

Race 2 – Restricted:

1^st: Ballyknock Cloud (ire) 2^nd: Genemouse 3^rd: Fairy Delta

Runners: 9                        Time: 6min 25.6s                        Distance: 10l, 6l

Race 3 – CA Club Members 8yo+:

1^st: Champagne Rosie 2^nd: Little Cornham (Ire) 3^rd: Same Difference (Ire)

Runners: 7                        Time: 6min 28.5s                        Distance: 2l, 6l

Race 4 – Mixed Open:

1^st: Master Baker 2^nd: The Flying Doc (Ire) 3^rd: Louis Pasteur (Ire)

Runners: 5                        Time: 6min 34.6s                        Distance: 3l. 12l

Race 5 – Club Members Nov & Vet Rdrs:

1^st: Apple’s Queen (Fr) 2^nd: Adrenalin Flight (Ire) 3^rd: Top Chief

Runners: 4                        Time: 6min 36.9s                        Distance: 6l,.5l

Race 6– Open Maiden 6yo+ 2m4f:

1^st: Clenagh Castle (Ire) 2^nd: Harris Garden (Ire) 3^rd: Berrysmart

Runners: 10                       Time: 5min 26.5s                        Distance: 6l, 1/2l

N/A

A bright, clear spring day produced a good crowd for the Wilton point to point at Milborne St Andrew and spectators were rewarded with some excellent racing on ground that was good at the start of the meeting but with the drying wind became firmer towards the end of the day. The highlights were riding doubles for Will Biddick and trainer Jack Barber, an excellent ride from Jo Buck to win the Mixed Open on Master Baker and a welcome winner for John Meaden courtesy of Champagne Rosie in the Club Members race. 

River Myth trained by Stuart Sampson and ridden by Darren Andrews held off the challenge of Present Ranger ridden by Lorcan Williams to win the opening race, the Open Maiden run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs, by two lengths. Bought privately from Peter Mason’s stable Stuart said the mare who is a full sister to the stable’s successful Fishy Story’ is a good honest horse who has appreciated the better ground’. She is owned by John Gardener and Terry Hamlin who have both supported Stuart since he started training. 

Will Biddick and Jack Barber combined to win the Restricted race with Ballyknock Cloud. Following up on his maiden win at the course in February the grey gelding showed an impressive turn of foot after jumping the last fence and won easily by ten lengths from Genermouse who had made most of the running. He looks to be a progressive sort and more success seems likely. 

Same Difference looked the winner of the Club Members race approaching the last fence but he veered away sharply to the right after jumping the fence and this allowed Champagne Rosie ridden by Martin McIntyre and Little Cornham ridden by Lee Drowne to fight out the finish with John Meaden’s mare proving the stronger and having two lengths to spare over Little Cornham. Repeating her success from 2016 the mare’s victory should provide a real tonic for her 90 year old owner who is currently in hospital but is hoping to be home later this year. 

The Mixed Open race was a real cat and mouse race with Master Baker ridden by Jo Buck leading all the way and dictated the pace from her four rivals. The Flying Doc ridden by Will Biddick closed approaching the last but Jo found extra effort from her mount and had three lengths in hand at the line. Owned by Jacquie McCullogh and trained by Lisa Jefford he had been placed in his three outings this season including fourth in the Coronation Gold Cup and was following up a course victory in February 2016, There are no specific plans for Master Baker but he might be aimed at a Hunter Chase later in the season. 

Apple’s Queen was an easy winner for Lorcan Williams when the partnership triumphed in the Novice Riders race. He followed up on his two wins at Larkhill and is still on the upgrade. Explaining his poor performance at Wincanton Sally Alner explained that he did not enjoy the very soft ground and could not jump out of it and would not want to run him again on that deep surface. On the much better ground he looked a different proposition and continues to improve. 

Clenagh Castle and Harris Garden had most of the finish of the Open Maiden race between them with the former ridden by Will Biddick and trained by Jack Barber winning by six lengths. Bought by Jack out of Chris Grant’s stable at Ascot last May for £6000 and running for his Racing Club he appreciated the better ground according to his trainer and will be better over the full trip of three miles when he next takes on a Restricted race.