Secretary:   Mr Peter Wright

Address:   5 The Manor, High St, Highworth, Swindon, Wilts SN6 7EU

Contact Details Tel: 01793 264603  Mob: 07437 437522

Email:   phdwright@outlook.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 11^th February 2019 12.30pm

Races:   CS Members Conditions,  Mixed Open (Coronation Gold Cup), Restricted, Combined Services Members Conditions (novice riders), Open Maiden Conditions (2m4f), Open Maiden

First Race:   12.00 am

The King's Troop RHA Members Race will run at 12 noon

Combined Services Preview

The Coronation Gold Cup is the highlight of the Combined Services meeting to be held at Larkhill this coming Sunday subject to authority being given by the BHA for horse racing to recommence after the outbreak of equine flu last week. One of the Classic point to point races it boasts a total prize money of £2000 with £1000 to the winner making it one of the most valuable point to point races to be held this season. After several days of rain at the Wiltshire course the going has eased and is currently described as good. 114 entries have been received for the 6 scheduled races which are preceded by the running of King’s Troop race which is due off at 12.00. With 30 trade stands booked with lots of food and fresh coffee available all bodes well for a good day’s racing. 

The Coronation Gold Cup which is now a Mixed Open race has attracted a high class entry of 18 horses with trainer Rose Loxton holding a strong hand with both Caid Du Berlais and Monsieur Gibraltar the highest rated horses. Caid du Berlais also holds an entry for a Hunter Chase at Fakenham on Friday and if he is directed to that race then Monsieur Gibraltar might continue his tremendous record at Larkhill. Already with two wins to his name this season he is in fine form and is forming a good partnership with Harriet Tucker. Potential opponents may be last year’s winner Brackloon High but he disappointed on his seasonal debut, Cousin Pete who was third in last season’s Foxhunters but has not found his form yet and Abricot De l’Oasis the runner up to Stellar Notion in a strong Men’s Open in January. Navanman brings some excellent form from his outings this season and he may be the one to give Monsieur Gibraltar the most to do in a fascinating race. 

The opening race, the Conditions for Novice Riders, may give Matthew Fielding another victory for his boss Seamus Mullins who owns Adrenalin Flight trained by Sally Rawlins. The winner of the Hunt race at the last meeting the 13 year old gelding is in fine form and enjoys his racing at Larkhill. Potential opponents amongst the 23 entries include another previous winner at Larkhill Storm Lantern to be ridden by Jennifer Harbison, Thereyarsee, another with a good record at Larkhill and likely to be ridden by Liam Harrison, Network Rouge who was a good second at Cocklebarrow and Chill Factor who ought to improve following his return to racing at Chipley Park after nearly two years off.

The Restricted race for which 19 horses have been entered may see Raging Fire attempt to step up from his initial success in a Maiden at Chipley Park. Part of the riding treble that day for Will Biddick the 6 year old gelding is trained by Mike Felton for his mother Phyllis and Teresa Dufosee and looks a very promising sort. Country Legend won her Maiden at the last Larkhill meeting but this looks a stronger race. Dr Rhythm won well at Holnicote when trained by Tom Malone but was a disappointment when he raced for Paul Nicholls and it will be interesting to see whether Keith Cumings can rekindle his enthusiasm. Desert Retreat and Inmyday are both trained by Alan Hill and his selection comes into consideration. Sophie Lacey adds to the interest in this race with her four year old Stowaway gelding Tea Clipper who would be making his racecourse debut in this race.

The Conditions Race could see another appearance of Blackwater Bramble at Larkhill. Already the winner of two races this season at Larkhill for rider John Smith-Maxwell and trained by his sister Alex Dunn he could complete the course hat trick in this race. Coco Live has already two victories to his name this season but this is tougher. Fly West and One Big Love could be the main dangers to Blackwater Bramble- Fly West will be making his seasonal debut and may need the race whereas One Big Love unseated Liam Harrison at Chipley last month. Robin de Boss was a revelation last season and should be fitter after his seasonal debut at Chaddesley Corbett. 

The Maiden Conditions race sponsored by Caterpillar Defense which is open to horses who have run in at least four point to point races may see Ballyjim finally get his head in front. Trained by Jade Barber and owned by Bill Dupont he was a narrow second in January and that form may be good enough. Sliver Louna looked the winner in another incident packed Maiden until being caught on the line by Hello Jazz. Draft Pick was placed in two Maidens last season and is now in the care of James Ridley. Order in Court was second in three races last season whereas Mahler Style now in the care of Alan Walter has been placed in Maidens in both Ireland and England. 

The concluding race, the Open Maiden, sponsored by Leonardo also holds an entry for Ballyjim but if he opts for the previous race then those for the short list should include Airlander, runner up at Larkhill in December, Mankala who looked very unlucky when unseating Nick Phillips at the second last when well clear last month, Twist on Ginge who was travelling well until stumbling and unseating his rider Jamie Nield at Chipley Park and Schiap Hill placed in three Bumpers to date and will be making his fencing debut. Mankala is the choice to make amends for his unseat last time.  

Larkhill Racecourse is to be found 5m NW of Amesbury, Nr A303, A345 and A360 – Postcode SP4 8QT. . First race 12.45 with King’s Troop race at 12.00. Entry Costs £10 per person, children go free

Race 1:                        Conditions Race for Novice Riders 

1^st             Net Work Rouge (Fr)

2^nd             Crown Theatre (Ire)

3^rd             Susquehanna River (Ire) 

Runners:            6                        Distances:            3l 10l,                                     Time: 6m 15s

Race 2:                        Restricted 

1^st             Tea Clipper (Ire)

2^nd             Country Legend

3^rd             Arcal Fifty (Ire) 

Runners:            10                        Distances:            5l, 5l                                     Time: 6m 9s

Race 3:                        Conditions 

1^st             Robin de Boss (Ire)

2^nd             The Flying Doc (Ire)

3^rd             Bedrock Fred 

Runners:            4                        Distances:            3l 10l,                                     Time: 6m 17s

Race 4:                        Mixed Open  

1^st             Monsieur Gibraltar (Fr)

2^nd             Sarazen Bridge

3^rd             

Runners:            3                        Distances:            12l,                                     Time: 6m 5s

Race 5:                        Conditions Race for Maidens 2m 4f 

1^st             Draft Pick (Ire)

2^nd             Ballyjim (Ire)

3^rd             Milberry (Ire) 

Runners:            3                        Distances:            1 ½ l, 3l                        Time: 5m 22s

Race 6:                        Maiden 5 yrs+ 

1^st             Mankala (Ire)

2^nd             Fleur du Pommier

3^rd             Montarlot 

Runners:            8                        Distances:            20l,4l                                     Time: 6m 5s

N/A

A large crowd enjoyed a pleasant dry afternoon at Larkhill when the Combined Services held their point to point. With the decision made to offer free admission this had some impact on the crowd but there were certainly many in attendance who were enjoying their first point to point. Despite concerns following the recent equine flu outbreak and the need for extra vaccinations before horses could run the six races still attracted 34 horses with some competitive racing. The highlights were a comprehensive win for Monsieur Gibraltar in the Coronation Gold Cup, a first win for rider Andy Llewellyn and a striking performance of Tea Clipper in the Restricted race. 

Monsieur Gibraltar was much too good for his two rivals in the prestigious Coronation Gold Cup when again ridden by Harriet Tucker thus securing Harriet’s first ever success in a Mixed Open race. . Trained by Rose Loxton at Bruton the gelding was notching her first success in the Coronation Gold Cup with only her second ever runner. Now much recovered after her accident she did acknowledge the part her husband Sam has played in getting the gelding back into the rich vein of form he is currently enjoying as he rides him at home in all his work. The next likely outing may be in a Hunter Chase. 

The other Wessex trained winner on the card was Robin De Boss, who ridden for the first time by George Hiscock, won the Conditions Race. Trained by Wincanton Racecourse Chairman Jo Hepburn he returned to the form which led to him winning four races last season and outstayed principal rival The Flying Doc by three lengths. Normally ridden by Jo’s son Jamie he is recovering from damage to his ligaments and hopes that he might be able to resume the partnership later in the season. George proved a very able deputy despite having never sat on the horse before. 

Andy Llewellyn will remember this meeting fondly as he secured his first riding success on only his second ride in the Novice Riders race aboard Network Rouge. Assistant to National Hunt trainer Oliver Sherwood Andy, 35, has come late to race riding and when asked about this he recalled lodging with former champion conditional jockey William Kennedy and decided he did not want to go through with the rigours of becoming a jockey and instead concentrate on training. However he decided this season to have a try at race riding and the former Kim Bailey gelding bought by Bart Ryan-Beswick last November at Ascot has proved to be an ideal schoolmaster.for him and he timed his challenge to perfection by catching Crown Theatre ridden by Elizabeth Knight on the run in. 

Tea Clipper owned by Tom Lacey and trained by his wife Sophie was an impressive winner of the Restricted race. Only a four year old he was making his racecourse debut in the race as he was not eligible for either of the Maiden races on the card but defied the lack of experience to beat the game mare Country Legend ridden by Tom Bishop by five lengths. Bought by Tom at the Derby sales last year for 52K Euros he is related to a number of winners including the prolific Rathlin Rose and Rugged Jack and looks a natural for the transfer to National Hunt racing in the near future.

The Maiden race over 2miles 4 furlongs looked to be at the mercy of Ballyjim trained by Jade Barber and ridden by Martin McIntyre but with the winning post in sight he hung to the left and allowed Draft Pick ridden by Zac Baker to get up and win by a length and a half. The winner owned by Nick Jones and trained at Kinnersley by James Ridley had shown good form last season when trained by Tom Weston and in particular when runner up to Toby Maguire at Charlton Horethorne. Nick who is well known for the exploits of Real Milan who is now enjoying his retirement and the father of Jack who is assistant trainer to David Simcocks. 

The concluding race, the Open Maiden race, was won in decisive fashion by Mankala owned and ridden by Nick Phillips and trained by Elizabeth’Dibby’Brown. An unlucky loser at the course at the Larkhill Racing Club meeting when unseating Nick at the second last he made no mistakes this time when beating Fleur Du Pommier and Montarlot who both ran promising races.. Mankala a lightly raced 9 year old who has suffered several injuries in his life is on permanent loan to Nick from Paul and Clare Rooney and if Dibby can keep him sound there should be more victories for him.