After the postponement of several local meetings and the likely heavy ground at other courses the free draining surface of Badbury Rings near Wimborne has attracted a huge entry of 187 horses which is believed to be a record for the Portman Hunt. One of the races has already been divided and with the possibility that other races may also have to divide on the day organisers have made the decision to bring forward racing by one hour so that the first race now starts at 1.00pm. It should be an excellent days racing with the usual attractions of trade stands, bookmakers and bar and this year there will be a wildlife display by Bryan Paterson including snakes, spiders and meerkats which the children should enjoy so with the weather warming up towards the end of the week there will be something for everyone to enjoy. 

The first race, now at 1.00pm, the Intermediate has received an entry of 22 horses and this looks an open contest. Minim Mouse ran well in an Open race at Charlton Horethorne and a repeat of that performance may be good enough. Those that are on the upgrade include the progressive mare One Big Love from Sally Alner’s yard, Keel Over who won his first two races and then unseated his rider at Penshurst, Blackwater Bramble who won at Milborne St Andrew but did not jump well at Charlton Horethorne, Ballycahane who has won two races this season and has been placed in three more and the Richard Bandey pair of Fortune Bound and Irish Legionnaire who have won three races between them. Claire Hitch may run Every Breakin Wave who won his last three races in 2017 but has not yet race this season. Minim Mouse is chosen to give owner/breeder Michael Dare a welcome winner. 

The Open Maiden for 4, 5 and 6 years old over two miles and five furlong has 22 horses entered and with a safety factor of only 14 this might be a race which will split on the day. Of those with form Shanoule Wood ran well in his Hunt race at Milborne before being placed fourth at Hackwood, Sixteen Letters would have been placed at Larkhill last Saturday but for unseating his rider at the third last and Enormouse ran with much promise when finishing third at Charlton Horethorne. Others to consider are Artson, runner up at Milborne St Andrew, Emergency Speed who finished second at Badbury in February and Our Grey Boy who was third at Ston Easton. Smoke Man finished second on his only start for owner Tom Lacey before being sold. My Dixie is well bred and if the decision is made to run here in preference to Cothelstone then the hint should be taken. 

The Countryside Alliance Members race for Novice Riders has attracted a large entry of 35 horses. Robin de Boss has been in great form for his rider Jamie Hepburn with three victories already this season. L’Eldorado has given Meisha Micklewright two wins and a second so far this season and would be one for the short list as would Bistouri d’Honore who won well at the last Badbury meeting but did not enjoy the soft ground at Milborne St Andrew. Others to consider are Boher Call the winner of the South Dorset Hunt race, De Boitron who won the Novice Riders race at the last Badbury meeting, Skylander who won the Novice Riders race at Didmarton and The Dapper Fox who won at the South Dorset meeting. Robin de Boss is in such fine form and is difficult to oppose. 

The Mixed Open is another race with a large entry, this time 30 horses and from these the Coronation Gold Cup winner Brackloon High and the recent Milborne winner Master Baker stand out. Both will have their supporters but slight preference is for Master Baker who will come on for his seasonal debut. Others that may be in the shake up are Facile Bien who won at the first Milborne meeting, Karinga Dancer who goes well for Laura Thomas, Moscow Prices who won on his seasonal debut at the second Milborne meeting, the very consistent The Flying Doc , the course specialist Tom Barton and the Cheltenham Hunter Chase winner Woodfleet. A real high quality field is in prospect for the feature race and this should be a race to be savoured. 

The Restricted race may see the reappearance of the lightly raced Emperor Renard who won his maiden race at Ston Easton last season but has not been seen this year. The same stable also has Tackler entered who finished runner up at the first Milborne meeting. The Jaffna Queen won over two and a half miles at Milborne whereas Doctor’s Differ won over the full trip at the last Badbury meeting. Journey Juice has fallen on his two starts this season but won well at Littlewindsor last year. Missyladie won well at Didmarton and if this race is chosen ahead of Cothelstone then she would be the selection over Emperor Renard. 

The Open Maiden race over three miles has already been divided into two races and of those that have raced in the first division Lucarno Express and Silver or Gold were third and fourth in a Restricted race at Milborne and must both have chances. Imogens Thunder ran a mighty race to split King Roland and Foxworthy at Larkhill and if he reappears then he will be fancied to go one better. Tik Tak has not been seen since finishing third at Cotley in 2016, Our Grey Boy was a promising third at Ston Easton on his English debut, Country Legend was a good third on her seasonal debut before finishing fourth at Milborne and Cona River was third at Chaddesley Corbett. Heated Debate was placed for Charlie Longsdon and is now with Francesca Nimmo and should be noted. 

The second division may see the English debut of Newlands Cross placed in four Irish points for Shark Hanlon and now with Tom Malone and the likely mount of Will Biddick. His possible opponents may include Loodeen placed at Larkhill and a faller at the last at Charlton Horethorne, Emergency Speed the runner up in the Maiden race at the last Badbury meeting, Shanoule Wood who also holds an entry in the young Maiden race and Who Told You runner up at Great Trethew. Both Hunter Pres and Fouroclock Fox have been placed to date and hold each way chances. 

The meeting concludes with the Confined race where course specialist Boygojumping looks to have a favourite’s chance. Owned by Martin and Kathryn Peaty he was an easy winner at the last Badbury meeting before not appreciating the softer ground at Milborne St Andrew. Of his rivals Flights has finished second in her last three races and deserves to put her head in front whereas Sonny The One has shown some ability this season. Trueflyingcolours was second to Boygojumoing at Badbury and may be placed again. Too Scoops has changed stables since last season and may be best watched on his seasonal debut. 

Badbury Rings, 4 miles NW of Wimborne off B3082 Postcode DT11 9JL. First race now 1.00pm. Entry Costs: £30 per car plus a free race card. £45 per car for limited front row parking. £15 per car (single occupant) and for each pedestrian

Intermediate

1 Blackwater Brave 2 Fortune Bound 3 Allie Beag

Young maiden

1 One Touch 2 Enormouse 3 Cornflower Blue

Conditions

Bistouri d'Honore 2 De Boitron 3 DH Universal Soldier 3 Too Late To Sell

Mixed Open

1 Tom Barton 2 Moscow Prices 3 The Flying Doc

Restricted

1 Emperor Renard 2 Tackler 3 Tikkeche

Open maiden Div 1

Cona River 2 Country Legend 3 Gask Ridge

Open Maiden Div 2

1 Who Told You 2 Truly Spoken

Confined

1 Flights 2 Danandy 3 Boygojumping

N/A

It was a day that 20 year old Ed Doggrell will not forget in his riding career as he recorded his first ever treble as a jockey at the Portman point to point at Badbury Rings. A rather damp day was enlivened with some high class racing on ground which many riders described as perfect for jumping and although the crowd was down on the usual Portman attendance it was an excellent afternoon’s racing.

Other highlights included a riding double for Martin McIntyre and a training double for Sally Alner and an impressive debut of One Touch in the young Maiden race.

Blackwater Bramble bounced back to form when making virtually all the running to win the Intermediate race, the first race on the card. He did not enjoy the softer ground at Charlton Horethorne when pulling up in his Members race but this was more like the form he had shown when winning his Restricted at Milborne St Andrew. Given a very positive ride by Martin McIntyre he had four lengths in hand from Fortune Bound ridden by Bradley Gibbs who secured his place in the Intermediate Final at Cheltenham. Plans for the winner are not made as yet but Paul Barber part owner of the winner did say that he had made only periodic visits in the past to Badbury but recalled that his first ever winner came with Crazy Slave who won a race at the Wilton meeting in 1969 when ridden by Peter Southcombe. 

Francesca Nimmo, paying her first ever visit to Badbury as a trainer , introduced a smart prospect in the shape of One Touch who won the 2 mile 5 furlongs Maiden race under James King. After Apple Mack had fallen at the third last the four year old Court Cave gelding held off the challenge of Enormouse ridden by Josh Newman. Bought by Francesca and her partner National Hunt jockey Charlie Poste in June last year in Ireland his future will be under Rules as he has already been sold to a patron of Michael Scudamore’s stable and is likely to next be seen in a Bumper. Based near Stratford Francesca was very complimentary about the course and said that she will be making return visits to the track in the future. 

Ed Doggrell secured the first of his three victories aboard the Mike Felton trained Bistouri D’Honore in the Novice Riders race. Deputising for the side-lined Harriet Tucker Ed held up his mount until approaching the second last and soon pulled six lengths clear of the runner up De Boitron ridden by Kiana James-Thomas. Explaining his performance when he was pulled up at Milborne trainer Mike Felton said that the softer ground was not to the gelding’s liking and he had got his reins looped over his head. Ed who previously had ridden a winner for Stuart Penny in 2016 at Littlewindsor had opened his score for this season when winning in Ireland but this was his first English winner in 2018. 

Winner number two for 2018 for Ed followed in the very next race when making virtually all of the running in the Mixed Open race aboard Tom Barton trained by Sally Alner. With usual rider Lorcan Williams riding at Exeter Ed proved to be an admirable replacement and Tom Barton responded with some great leaps and after being headed by Moscow Prices at the third last he rallied well under Ed’s urgings to lead again on the run-in and secure a length and a half victory. Now a four   time winner at Badbury this victory was particularly popular as one of the joint owners Annie Tory was due to celebrate her ninetieth birthday the next day. 

One of the most impressive performances of the day came from Emperor Renard winning the Restricted race under Matt Hampton. Taking it up from stablemate Tackler at the fourteenth fence he maintained a strong gallop all the way to the line and gave trainer Marie McGuinness a one two in the race. Owned by David Churches the winning gelding was being seen on a course for the first time since March 2017 having had some health issues last November. Describing his winner as ‘a horse that likes a bit of a fight’ he will be one to follow for the rest of the season. 

The first division of the Maiden race gave Martin McIntyre the second of his victories when partnering all the way winner Cona River for Ed and Claire Hitch. Although Country Legend chased the winner from the third last the winner still had six lengths in hand at the winning post. Acquired out of Jonjo O’Neill’s stable the eight year old has taken his time to develop but this was a powerful front running performance and there should be more to come as this was only his sixth ever career race. 

The second division of the Maiden gave champion jockey Will Biddick a welcome winner aboard Julian Selby’s mare Who Told You trained by Ed Walker. Beating the only other finisher Truly Spoken ridden by Ed Doggrell by five lengths she was described by trainer’s wife Polly Walker ‘still only a baby ‘and she gave Will instructions to ride her ‘as if it was her first ever race’ although she had finished second on her debut at Great Trethew. Bred by her owner Polly hopes that eventually he will breed from her and did add that she has her half-sister Quite Right in training in her National Hunt yard who she hopes might improve on her performances to date. 

The final race, the Confined, saw Ed Doggrell bring up his first ever riding treble aboard the mare Flights trained by Sally Alner. Despite being headed after the fourteenth fence the mare stayed on resolutely to draw away on the flat from Danandy ridden by Nick Lawton. Ed who now is based in Ditcheat and works for Will Biddick comes from a well -known Dorset family and has been involved with pony club and hunting before starting his riding career as a 16 year old at Badbury Rings aboard Beside the Fire for his grandfather Peter Doggrell. His riding has much improved this season and he was a worthy winner of the Eric Dymott award for the leading Novice rider at Badbury Rings and Milborne St Andrew this season.