The rearranged New Forest meeting is scheduled to take place at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain this coming Saturday. Previously due to be held in March it was abandoned due to snow and ice and the Hunt committee made the decision to rearrange for May due to earlier dates not being available and the risk that the going would have considerably changed. The ground has now become firm but it is still hoped that the meeting can go ahead to reward the efforts of the Hunt. Fences 5 and 6 have been moved onto fresh ground and the bends into and out of the home straight have also been moved to an unraced surface. Prior to the point to point racing there will be a charity race and two pony scurries starting from 12.00pm. 

The opening race, the Conditions, has attracted an entry of thirteen horses with a number of course specialists among them. Bedrock Fred who was second in a Ladies earlier in the season normally runs well at the course and will enjoy the conditions. Hincheslea Moor is another course winner but has not shown much this season. Trueflyingcolours won at the last meeting and was a good second at Cothelstone and keeps his form well. Tim Underwood has entered both Presenting Beara, a winner last weekend at Edgcote and Kicker King placed third at the same meeting and his chosen representative should be respected. Dandan won his Hunt race at Mollington whereas According to Trev was second at Peper Harrow. Before the War, the likely mount of Will Biddick, would have a chance on his best form as would Theatre Evening if given a more positive ride. Broughtons Bandit third on his only outing this season at Aldington comes into consideration but in a wide open race Trueflyingcolours would be a popular winner. 

Whereas the previous race contains much form to weigh up the Open Maiden which follows has little form to go on. Lyre Lad finished second in a two runner race whereas Gayatri finished last in a Maiden at the course in December. Brereton was pulled up on his first outing at Edgcote last weekend and Perfect Legend was pulled up at Cothelstone on his last outing. Now in the capable hands of leading trainer Ed Walker a chance is taken on the last named to improve enough to take this contest. 

The Timico Mixed Open is the highlight of the meeting and the Alan Hill trained Sharp Suit looks to have found a good opportunity. Placed second in a Ladies at Horseheath on his only outing this season he could be too good for his rivals. La Madonnina was a game winner of a Conditions race last Sunday at Bratton Down and is in great form whereas both Boygojumping and Golden Crisp have had busy seasons. Rouge Devils was second at Holnicote and could the one to trouble Sharp Suit the most. 

The Open Maiden over two and half miles includes entries from all of those entered in the three mile contest but the race may be between Delgany Devil and Justu. The former was fourth in a Restricted race at Kingston Blount and boasts the best form but Justu who looked the winner four from home at Cothelstone but did not stay might appreciate the drop in trip and could make a real race of it with Delgany Devil. 

The Restricted race may see the reappearance of the Lower Machen maiden winner Burn Baby Byrne who won on her debut under Isabel Williams. If she stays the full trip then she is the one to beat but the consistent Doctor’s Differ may give her most to do. The winner of a maiden at Badbury Rings he has been placed in two Restricted races so far and will act on the faster surface. Wild Ginger is another who may appreciate a sounder surface and Coco Live who has been placed this season comes into consideration. 

The meeting concludes with the Novice Riders race for which Golden Crisp, Presenting Beara and Before the War also hold entries. This might be an easier contest than their other options but Aerlite Supreme looks to have the best form. Already the winner of three races this season he was second in a Ladies at Lower Machen and could provide Isabel Williams with another winner. Of his other possible rivals the locally trained Adrenalin Flight ran very well behind the classy Wonderful Charm at Fontwell and a reproduction of that form would give him a chance. Cinevator goes well for his rider Ella Pickard and he is in good form having won his Hunt race at Vauterhill. If Aerlite Supreme makes the trip from Wales then he will be the selection. 

Larkhill Racecourse is to be found 5m NW of Amesbury, Nr A303, A345 and A360 – Postcode SP4 8QT. First Race 2.00pm. Entry Costs £10 per person.

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The decision to rearrange the New Forest meeting to a late May date was rewarded as it was a glorious spring day at Larkhill where a reasonable crowd was able to enjoy six races and also participate in picnics on Salisbury Plain. On the racecourse itself it was a day of mixed fortunes for rider George Hiscock and a first and last race double for owner Tim Underwood and a first winner at Larkhill for owner Richard Harper and rider Guy Sankey. 

George began the day in the Conditions race aboard his partner Charlotte Brown’s Theatre Evening. Deciding to make the running the King’s Theatre gelding jumped very well off the firm ground and looked to have his rivals in trouble as he approached the fifteenth fence. However Philip York and Presenting Beara had been making steady headway and joining the leader at the final open ditch they raced together until he found extra on the run in to win by two lengths. Owner Tim Underwood explained that he does little with his horses between their races although when he rode him last Thursday he ran off with him so knew that he was still keen to race again having only raced on the previous Sunday. 

The Open Maiden proved that lightning does strike twice with the victory of Brereton for owner Richard Harper. Without a point to point winner since 2005 he had won a Maiden race at Edgcote the previous Sunday with Just Skittles and followed up that win when Brereton made all the running under Guy Sankey to beat the only other finisher Lyre Lad ridden by Lewis Stones. Bought out of Kayley Woollacott’s stable for £700 at Ascot in March Richard who trains at Kings Sutton near Banbury could hardly believe his success and was delighted to have recorded a first win at Larkhill. Explaining his jockey booking Richard originally had been using Patrick Sankey, Guy’s brother but when he announced his retirement from riding Patrick recommended Guy to Richard. Ironically Patrick then changed his mind about retirement and rode the only other runner in the race Ourcrazyanne who unseated Patrick at the first fence! 

The Timico Mixed Open race was the highlight of the meeting and a field of four set off. After just over a mile George Hiscock aboard Martin and Kathryn Peaty’s Boygojumping took over the running from his main rivals Sharp Suit ridden by James King and Rouge Devils ridden by Will Biddick. He soon started stretching the field and with some spectacular leaps notably at the fifteenth fence and the second last he was twenty lengths clear as he approached the last fence. Although he jumped that fence he sadly broke down badly almost immediately afterwards leaving Sharp Suit to come home virtually on his own. Boygojumping has been an absolute star for the Peaty family winning three times at his favourite course of Badbury Rings and once at Black Forest Lodge in a career spanning twenty two races. 

Delgany Devil was a comfortable winner of the Open Maiden race under Jordan Nailor. Taking up the running at the tenth fence the eight year old Kayf Tara drew clear to win by twelve lengths from principal rival Justu ridden by Will Biddick. Representing his son Hugh who was away in France at his niece’s wedding Guy Wilson explained that the gelding had been bought as a four year old but had had training problems which had limited his racecourse outings. He had been taken to Edgcote last weekend but had decided that the ground was not suitable. One of three horses in training with Francesca Moller this was their second winner of the season after Dandan had won the Hunt race at Mollington. 

The Restricted race saw a change in fortune for George Hiscock when riding his father Dick’s Doctor’s Differ he held off the challenges of Coco Live ridden by David Prichard and Fivefortyfive ridden by Will Biddick to win by two and a half lengths. A model of consistency this season the seven year gelding was a deserving winner after two seconds at Larkhill and Holnicote and finished his season on a high note with this victory. Originally bought at Ascot in March 2017 he had previously run in one point to point in Ireland and was described by George’s partner Charlotte as being ‘ fat and hairy’ on that occasion.  

Tim Underwood completed his double when Golden Crisp comfortably won the concluding race, the PPORA Novice Riders under Craig Dowson. Explaining his upturn in fortune Tim explained that the gelding does not like soft ground and this firm surface was much more to his liking. When questioned about his choice of rider Tim had been recommended Craig by Martin Oliver who sources many of Tim’s horses describing Craig’s style of riding as similar to Ruby Walsh. Craig who works for trainer Robert Stephens had ridden out 5 lots before coming on to Larkhill was recording his sixth victory of the season and is hoping to obtain his B licence shortly so that he can ride more under Rules.