SOUTH DORSET – Sunday 4^th February 2018

Secretary:   Mrs Katy Davis

Address:Honeysuckle House, Lower Fifehead, Dairy Sturminster Newton, Dorset DT10 2AP

Contact Details Tel: 01258 817151   Mob: 07899 871623  

Email:   katyemdavis@hotmail.co.uk

Entries Secretary:   Mrs Kate Sutherland

Address:   Hill Dairy Piddlehinton Dorset DT2 7TG

Contract Details:  Mob:  07971 589333

Email:   katelovelace@hotmail.com

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

Entries close:   Monday 29th January 2018 12noon

Races:  4,5 & 6yo Open Maiden, Hunt, Ladies Open, Mens Open, Intermediate, Open Maiden, CA/PPORA Members Conditions

First Race:   12.15pm

The Wessex point-to-point season moves away from Larkhill this weekend when the South Dorset hold their meeting at Milborne St Andrew between Dorchester and Blandford. The course is in good order for their first meeting with the clerk of the course Graham Tory reporting good, good to soft going in places at present. The Hunt have been rewarded with an excellent entry of 125 horses over the 7 scheduled races and an exciting afternoon’s racing is in prospect. 

The meeting begins with the 2 and a half mile maiden sponsored by Symonds and Sampson. This race has thrown up some future equine stars in the past so the winner is definitely one for the notebook. Finding the winner might not be easy as there is not much form to go on but of those that have raced Danseur du Large has been placed in his three races to date and must go close, Swincombe Toby has run with promise at the first two Larkhill meetings this season, Troed Y Melin has been placed on three of his outings so far and Tamarstone boasts good form from 2017. Of the newcomers Serralunga who was in pre training with Dan Skelton and is now in the care of Jade Barber is one to note as well as Shanoule Wood placed in three Irish Maidens and is now with Hannah Clarke. 

The Hunt Race has attracted a good entry of 11 horses and of those with point-to-point form Creative Inerta stands out. However he only ran at Chipley Park last Sunday so others to consider include Attimo who won three steeplechases for Sam England and is now with George Hiscock who has a good record in this race, Boher Call who has won 5 races in Ireland and is now trained by Richard Bandey and Infrontofthejudge a winner and placed on numerous occasions in Ireland who is now in the care of Sophie Wollocombe. Boher Call is a tentative selection on his English debut. 

The Open Maiden sponsored by Max Events has the highest entry of 28 horses and several who are entered in the first race also hold entries in this race. Dragon de la Tour had a highly promising point to point debut at Wadebridge in January and this gelding would be a poignant winner for the Woollacott stable after the tragic event of last Monday. Of others that have raced Snow Puma, Act Like You Know, Burning Desire and Country Legend all have placings to their names and must come into consideration. Ohbaby was placed in his three outings in Ireland and is now with Les Jefford. Port Navas was placed twice for David Pipe under rules and is another for the short list. The Jaffna Queen from Robert Waley- Cohen’s stable should be watched with interest having had a couple of races on the flat in France. 

The Restricted Race features a number of promising horses with Tackler trained by Marie McGuinness having solid form from 2017. Of his rivals Journey Juice won well at Littlewindsor last season and is open to further improvement, Tucks Bergin has already won a Maiden this season, Delkantra was a good second at Chaddesley Corbett in December and will come on for that run, Wild Ginger was the model of consistency last season and The Editor who won a Maiden at Barbury last year is now trained by Will Biddick. Jade Barber may introduce Blackwater Bramble for owners Paul Barber and David Martin a winner of an Irish point-to-point in 2016 but has not been seen since. Tackler is chosen to win on his seasonal debut. 

The Ladies race sponsored by Smarts Agricultural Services from Piddlehinton may see the seasonal debut of The Flying Doc who has been the model of consistency for owners Wendy and Stuart Jarrett and she may be too good for her rivals. These are likely to be headed by Aikideau who will again by ridden by Aine O’Connor who hopefully will have a better run than their last outing at Larkhill and veteran Delta Borget who often runs well at Milborne. Court of Law bought out of Donald McCain’s stable for Lauren Reed to ride is another to consider along with the Welsh raider Salomo whose last victory was in 2012 when he was ridden by A P McCoy! 

The Mens Open race sponsored by W and S Recycling has attracted some high quality horses amongst the 17 strong entry. Heading these are the Welsh mare Frelia the winner of a Hunter Chase at Cheltenham last season and a narrow second on her seasonal debut at Chaddesley Corbett. Facile Bien ran well when third behind Cousin Pete at Larkhill and a repeat of that run may be good enough. William Money has already won two races this season for Connor Brace but this is a step up in class. Fishy Story was another improving mare who won four races last season including at this meeting. Abricot de l’Oasis won 3 races for Dan Skelton before being sold last May and he should be watched. Rouge Devils won two point to points for Jack Barber and three hurdle races for Paul Nicholls and is now with Ed Walker. A tremendous race is in prospect with Frelia and Facile Bien chosen to fight out the finish. 

The Novice Riders race sponsored by Evans Garages of Crossways concludes the meeting with another good entry of 20 horses. The Dapper Fox may appreciate the uphill finish at Milborne as he is always staying on at the end of his races for Jack Veysey and is already fit from three outings this season. Flights stayed on to be third at Larkhill on her last outing and comes into the reckoning. Top Chief has been a good servant to trainer Stuart Sampson and should run well and if Universal Soldier runs up to his best form from 2017 he would win this race. Stay Tuned won his last two outings in 2017 for rider Zoe Hawkins and is another to consider. 

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.

Open Maiden 45&6yo, 2m4f 12st (16J) 14 ran

1^st:         SWINCOMBE TOBY                            L. Williams          4-1

2^nd         Troed Y Melin (IRE)                           Jamie Thomas          9-1

3^rd         Danseur du Large (FR) (7a)                 W. Biddick                   3-1

OFFICIAL DISTANCES: hd, 6l TIME: 5min 39.9s 

Hunt Members, 12st 8 ran

1^st         BOHER CALL (IRE)                            G. Bingham                   4-1

2^nd         Creative Inerta (IRE)                         D. Andrews                   3-1F

3^rd         Shanoule Wood (IRE)                         C. Dando                   16-1

OFFICIAL DISTANCES: 2l, 4l TIME: 6min 48.4s 

Open Maiden, 12st 16 ran

1^st              KILCREA BRIDGE                           N. Williams                   5-2F

2^nd         Where’s Wilma                                 M. McIntyre          16-1

3^rd         The Jaffna Queen (14a)                       S. Waley-Cohen          7-2

OFFICIAL DISTANCES: 1l, 6l TIME: 6min 51.5s 

Restricted, 12st 14 ran

1^st         BLACKWATER BRAMBLE (IRE)            M. McIntyre         6-4F

2^nd         Tackler (IRE)                                    Tommie O’Brien          8-1

3^rd         Captain Kennit (IRE)                           B. Gibbs                   7-1

OFFICIAL DISTANCES: 12l, 1l TIME: 6min 51.5s 

Ladies Open, 11st 8 ran

1^st         ARGOCAT (IRE) (5a)                           Miss S. Rippon          3-1

2^nd         The Flying Doc (IRE) (7a) (5a)         Miss Abbie Hughes 6-4F

3^rd         All Great N Theory (IRE)                  Mrs C. Hardwick         14-1

OFFICIAL DISTANCES: dist, 4l TIME: 6min 42.7s 

Mens Open, 12st 8 ran

1^st         FACILE BIEN (IRE)                           S. Waley-Cohen         9-4

2^nd         Sonny The One                                     B. Carver                   25-1

3^rd         Tom Barton                                     L. Williams                   11-2

OFFICIAL DISTANCES: 10l, 1l TIME: 6min 49.0s 

CA/PPORA Club Members Conditions (Nov Rdrs), 12st 14 ran

1^st         THE DAPPER FOX                           J. Veysey                  3-1

2^nd         Flights (7a)                                             E. Doggrell                  2-1F

3^rd         Before The War (USA)                           Miss Abbie Hughes 9-2

OFFICIAL DISTANCES: 12l, 5l TIME: 6min 54.0s

N/A

A tremendous days racing took place at Milborne St Andrew when the South Dorset held their point –to-point where 82 horses took part in the seven races. On ground that many National Hunt courses would be most envious of Clerk of the Course Graham Tory received many plaudits for producing such a superb surface to race on and his efforts were well rewarded by the very high turnout. Those in particular who will remember the day will be Jade Barber who saddled her first winner as a trainer, Nick Williams who rode his first winner on his return to the saddle this season and the impressive winner of the Ladies Race Argocat ridden by his owner Sarah Rippon. 

The meeting began with the closest finish of the day when Swincombe Toby ridden by Lorcan Williams just headed Troed Y Melin ridden by Jamie Thomas in the shadow of the winning post and won by a head in the Maiden race run over two and a half miles. After his poor run at Larkhill last week the winner did not wear the tongue tie that was applied then and this certainly produced a much improved performance. Owned and bred by Malcolm and Kathleen Yeo and trained by Sally Alner Malcolm described his 6 year old Tobougg gelding as a ‘bridesmaid’ and had been a little frustrating under rules when trained by Philip Hobbs. However in the care of Sally Malcolm commented that ‘he had never seen him look so well’ and he has clearly thrived and had shown good form at Larkhill on his first two outings. 

Boher Call jumped his way to victory in the Hunt race for one of his three owners Dr George Bingham and had two lengths in hand over Creative Inerta ridden by Darren Andrews. Bought privately after winning four chases in Ireland for George to ride and trained by Richard Bandey he looks an exciting recruit to point-to-pointing. George who is a GP at St Thomas and was riding after 7 nights’ duty at the Hospital explained that he had managed to find time to school the horse at Lambourn when his jumping had been exhilarating. 

Kilcrea Bridge was a winner for Wales when the gelding responded to Nick Williams strong riding to hold off the late challenge of Where’s Wilma ridden by Martin McIntyre in the Open Maiden race. Bought by Nick’s brother Christian from Ireland the Kayf Tara gelding was placed in hurdle races there he is now owned by Wayne Rowles who missed the victory as he was on holiday in Spain. Nick who trains 12 horses from his stable at Port Talbot explained his decision to return to the saddle after missing two seasons as ‘ I want to ride the horses I train rather than putting someone else up!’ 

Jade Barber got off the mark as a trainer in the Restricted race when Blackwater Bramble made most of the running under Martin McIntyre. Bought by Paul Barber as a 3 year old the gelding won a Maiden for him when trained by T J Nagle as a 5 year old at Dromahane. Since then he has suffered a leg injury and this was his first appearance since so it was a tremendous training performance to get him back on the course and to beat his 13 rivals. Jade who took over the point-to-point yard after her husband Jack decided to take out a full National Hunt licence was pleased and relieved to get her first victory on the board particularly for Jack’s great uncle.

Argocat was the most impressive winner of the day when easily winning the Ladies Open race under Sarah Rippon. Paying her first ever visit to Milborne St Andrew she explained that she fell off the gelding at Thorpe Lodge last week and as he seemed so well she thought he could take his chance to run again. This time there was no mistake and the partnership won by a distance. A classy individual in Ireland where he won three Grade 2 steeplechases he last ran under rules for Nicky Henderson in 2016 but made no show. Found for Sarah by Alex Cole son of the trainer Paul Cole he is now trained at a yard owned by Henrietta Knight and on the basis of this evidence there will be more victories to come. 

Another easy winner was Facile Bien in the Mens Open race ridden by Sam Waley-Cohen and owned by his father Robert. He had run a good race when third in a competitive Mens Open at Larkhill behind Cousin Pete and Monsieur Gibraltar and showed the benefit of that outing when beating his seven rivals. Explaining that for his first outing he always seems to be very fresh and tends to rush his fences Robert said that he hopes that he repeats the success of last season when he won his next four races. He is next likely to be seen in the Coronation Gold Cup at Larkhill later this month. 

The Dapper Fox outstayed his rivals to win the final race of the day, the Novice Riders race, under his owner and rider Jack Veysey. Bought four years ago the gelding has been a model ride for his owner who was recording his sixth career victory. Given an instruction by Martin Sweetland of ‘Don’t leave it with too much to do’ Jack followed this to the letter and had twelve lengths in hand at the line over the mare Flights ridden by Ed Doggrell.