Secretary:   Mr T Campbell Hill & Miss C Vivian

Address:   32 Boulsbury Cottages Damerham Fordingbridge Hants SP6 3JD

Contact Details Tel: 07792 394065 or 07495 559318

Email:         tomchill@hotmail.co.uk

Entries Secretary:   Mrs Katherine Elgar

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

E Mail:           wiltonp2p@btinternet.com      01722 718368

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

Entries close:   Monday 18^th March 2018 12.30pm

Races:  JRL GROUP Flat Race for 4,5,6 yrs about 2m

Open Maiden 5yrs+ (2.4m), Restricted, Mixed Open, CA Members Conditions, Point to Point Conditions (Small Keepers and Jockeys with winners less than 15)

First Race:   12.30 pm

The Wilton Point to Point which is scheduled for Saturday at popular Millborne St Andrew, has been rewarded with a large entry of 132 for their 7 race card which include a first pointing Flat race for the course and indeed the Wessex Area. The racing however is preceded by the Forfarmers sponsored Shetland Pony Dash which will raise money for Salisbury Hospice and will have 10 ponies going to post. 

The JRL Flat Race (or “Bumper”) aged for those horses between 4 and 6 years, is part of the national series and has attracted a huge 33 entry. Some of these have already met in similar contests with Exhibit A finishing 2^nd at Great Trethew in front of The Devon Dumpling in the considerably faster division there. In that race favourite Tango Charlie slipped up when in touch and could be of interest. In the second division Reflex Action ran a promising race beaten only 2 lengths with I Prefer Diamonds in 4^th. Of the unraced entries it could pay to look at the breeding. Filthy Lucca is out of a 4 time winning mare on the Flat; Full of Blossom is a half-sister to a Group 2 Flat winner in Germany; Getaround is a half-brother to Kim Baileys’ useful Novice Chaser Dandy Dan; Grumpy Charlie cost £52,000 last year at Goff’s and is a half-brother to Harry Fry’s Air Horse One; Midnight Annie is out of the prolific Miss Midnight herself a 7 time pointing winner; Neil the Legend is a full-brother to 3 time winner Passing Call. 

Country Legend tops the ratings for the NFU (Salisbury) sponsored Restricted Race. She had to settle for 3^rd behind the promising Tuff Nano last time at Charlton Horethorne and in her previous race had had to give weight to the Lacey trained Tea Clipper at Larkhill. She could make amends today. Goldbury won nicely at Wadebridge while Gerties Garter finished one place in front of Dragon de la Tour when blundering at the last at Ottery. She had to settle for 2nd that day and would be of interest. Shanoule Wood won a steadily run race at Parham but has done nothing wrong in his six runs to date. Hon the DJ progressed nicely from his debut 3rd at Larkhill with a smooth win at Badbury Rings and could take some beating.

The Clarke and Partners Conditions race has 18 entries and River Myth went into a few notebooks after a promising run behind Navanman at Charlton Horethorne. She could be peaking at the right time and would enjoy the quicker ground. The Flying Doc is another consistent mare who will also appreciate the drying ground and comes here off the back of a comfortable win at Didmarton for trainer Ed Walker. Ed also has the equally consistent Kernel Victor as well as former Irish trained Act of Synergy who should come on for his run at Chipley Park where he pulled up behind Jack Snipe. On Your Max finished 4^th on that occasion. Sally Alner has Flights and One Big Love representing her while Annie Bacon’s Little Billy Boy took a Novice Riders contest at Badbury Rings. Doctor’s Differ took the scalp of the much improved Coco Live last season and should build on his seasonal debut. 

The Woolley and Wallis Mixed Open features 11 with Jack Snipe top rated. A useful recruit to the pointing field, this former Tom George gelding won in a canter last time at Badbury Rings and is clearly thriving. Moscow Prices made amends last time when also winning at that course taking the Ladies Open. He prefers going left handed and the course should suit. Robin de Boss is seeking a hat-trick after wins this season at Larkhill and Charlton Horethorne and has a course win to his name having won a Conditions Race here at this meeting last year. Apples Queen too has a course win here but disappointed last time at Charlton Horethorne. Woodfleet would enter calculations on his Hunter Chase win at Wincanton last season as would Vasco du Mee on his Hunter Chase form. 

The second Conditions race is for those trainers who have less than 7 horses in their care and has attracted 22 entries. Of these Blackwater Bramble catches the eye for shrewd trainer Alex Dunn. A 3 time winner this season he didn’t look to enjoy the much quicker ground at Didmarton last time. He’s going to need to be on his game to cope with Navanman who sidesteps the Open for this. He beat River Myth last time (Saroque in 3^rd) at Charlton Horethorne to record his 4^th win of the season and should go close again. Robin de Boss, Little Billy Boy and Moscow Prices also hold entries. Gingili has had two 2nds for his young rider, Luca Morgan and has chances on his NH form. 

The Open Maiden is sponsored by MJ HPPS Property Services and Graham Dimmer MOT Centre and there are 28 entries. Of these Jade Barber has Ballyjim who wasn’t beaten far at Larkhill last time while Les Jefford relies on Merchant House, a bumper winner at Barbury who then finished 2^nd at Buckfastleigh. Where’s Wilma was a close 2^nd to Soul Kaliber at Ottery when Rare Ould Times pulled up possibly not enjoying the ground. It would be unwise to dismiss anything from the Mitford-Slade yard and they have Normandy Soldier who should build on his one run while Five Gold Bars ran a promising first race when 2^nd behind Presence of Mind at Charlton Horethorne. The Flat-bred Ichifoot is a half-brother to a Grade 2 horse in the US and Patrick Picton-Warlow saddled a nice maiden winner at Cothelstone last weekend.

The Joint Hunt race has been transferred from the South Dorset meeting after it was lost due to the shut down in February for Equine Flu. At their meeting last year Boher Call got the better of Creative Inertia, while on that occasion Imogen’s Thunder was pulled up. Creative Inertia was 3^rd in a Hunter Chase behind hot-pot Monsieur Gibraltar in February while Imogen’s Thunder won on seasonal debut at Chipley Park before a 2nd behind the improving Coco Live and 3rd behind the decent Virak last time. Doctor’s Differ could be re-routed here from the earlier Conditions Race. 

The Shetland Pony Dash is at 12 noon with the first race at 12.30pm. Entry is £10 per person (U16s free). There are plenty of trade stands, a craft tent and bar as well as a silent auction and children’s amusements. The course is situated off the A354 between Blandford and Dorchester. 

Race 1:                        Flat Race 2m (Div 1) 

1^st             Grumpy Charlet

2^nd             The Galloping Bear

3^rd             I Prefer Diamonds (Ire) 

Runners:            9                        Distances:            1l, 12l                                    Time: 4m 15s

Race 1:                        Flat Race 2m (Div 2) 

1^st             Getaweapon (ire)

2^nd             Tango Charlie (Ire)

3^rd             Tile Tapper (Ire) 

Runners:            10                        Distances:            5l, 2l                                    Time: 4m 21s

Race 1:                        Flat Race 2m (Div 3) 

1^st             Petit Petard

2^nd             Henry’s regime

3^rd             Sobre Reflection 

Runners:            9                        Distances:            3l, 1l                                    Time: 4m 23s

Race 2:                        Restricted 

1^st             Country Legend

2^nd             Arcal Fifty (ire)

3^rd             Dragon de la Tour (Fr) 

Runners:            8                        Distances:            hd, 6l                                    Time: 6m 23s

Race 3:                        Conditions 8yrs+ 

1^st             River Myth (Ire)

2^nd             Althreeothree (Ire)

3^rd             One Big Love 

Runners:            7                        Distances:            4l, ½ l                                    Time: 6m 24s

Race 4:                        Mixed Open 

1^st             Jack Snipe

2^nd             Woodfleet (Ire)

3^rd             Apples Queen (Fr) 

Runners:            5                        Distances:            hd 5l                                    Time: 6m 12s

Race 5:                        Conditions 

1^st             Navanman (Ire)

2^nd             The Dapper Fox

3^rd             Saffron Wells (Ire) 

Runners:            9                        Distances:            1l, 1l                                    Time: 6m 22s

Race 6:                        Open Maiden 5yrs+ 2m4f 

1^st             Normandy Soldier

2^nd             Ballyjim (Ire)

3^rd             Taken By Force (Ire) 

Runners:            12                        Distances:            2l, 15l                                    Time: 5m 20s

Race 7:                        Members (South Dorset and Wilton Hunts) 

1^st             Boher Call (Ire)

2^nd             Imogens Thunder (Ire)

3^rd             Theatre Evening (Ire) 

Runners:            3                        Distances:            2l, 1l                                    Time: 6m 29s

N/A

An enterprising call by the Wilton Hunt to stage a Bumper at their meeting certainly paid off when the race proved so popular it had to be split into 3 divisions. The race is designed to introduce young horses to racing and all three showed some very nice individuals. The first (and quickest) division went to Grumpy Charley and Bryan Carver who looks certain to repay connections handsomely after impressing with his classy display for owner Geoff Thompson and trainer Chris Honour. Geoff used to sponsor Chris in his riding days and was keen to support his training career. The second division went to the Chris Barber trained Getaweapon ridden by Martin McIntyre, who had been shrewdly picked up by co-owner Ed Bailey at Doncaster Sales for £7,000. He knew his job well and will now be offered for sale. The third division went to the less fancied Petit Petard for trainer Ben Clarke and owners Colin and Julie Bright. They had purchased the gelding as a foal from Candy Mathias and were delighted at the turn of foot he showed. All three winners look to be worth following when they progress to going over obstacles. 

Two tough and classy mares by the late lamented Midnight Legend were on show in the following two races and they proved that they definitely weren’t the weaker sex. Country Legend is trained by Frances Bishop and although Arcal Fifty tried to out battle her to the line, the mare had enough determination under Tom Bishop to hold him off to take the Restricted. A lovely looking mare, she showed her run behind the improving Tuff Nano at Charlton Horethorne to be good form and her long term destination will be as a broodmare for the Bishop family. Area Steward Terry Hamlin has long been a “lucky” owner and his River Myth built on her fine second to Navanman last time when cosily taking first Conditions Race under Darren Andrews. River Myth is owned in partnership with John Gardener and he has just purchased her half-sister. Trainer Stuart Sampson spoke fondly of his charge admitting “she wears her heart on her sleeve” and that she had clearly enjoyed the quicker ground. Stuart was also responsible for Athreeothree who was 5 lengths away in second but no match for the winner. 

The Mixed Open looked as though there could be an upset when early leader Woodfleet resolutely refused to let odds-on favourite Jack Snipe adopt his customary front running role. Indeed Jack Snipe’s jockey Will Biddick confessed afterwards that he found it impossible to get past the leader early on but this tough and genuine gelding who is trained by Rob Hawker wasn’t willing to go down without a fight. As Jack Snipe’s delighted owner Pam Pengelly said in the winner’s enclosure, “he stays all day and is now qualified for the Horse and Hound Cup at Stratford” Trainer Rob used to ride the horse out at former trainer Jeremy Scott and has picked up a very willing recruit to the pointing sphere. 

Navanman is another who relishing his pointing this season and by winning the second Conditions Race was taking his tally to 5 wins this term and one ahead in the leading horse title. The eight strong partnership had initially intended to purchase a young horse from the sales but trainer’s son Mikey Heard recommended the purchase of Navanman from David Pipe’s where he works. For jockey Bryan Carver this was his second winner of the day and according to trainer John Heard doesn’t need to be given any instructions on the horse. The horse will probably head to Trebudannon next on Easter Monday. 

The Open Maiden was won by Normandy Soldier for Ces Mitford Slade with perennial bridesmaid Ballyjim once again filling the runner-up spot. A surprised trainer who does so well with horses by the sire of this horse, Apple Tree, hadn’t expected him to have enough speed for the shorter distance but jockey Matt Hampton was full of praise for the horse who was only having his second run. A full-brother to Winter Soldier, he will eventually go under rules. 

The finale was an additional race and brought in after the South Dorset lost their meeting in February. A combined South Dorset and Wilton Hunt Members, it went to Boher Call who had taken the South Dorset event last season and clearly loves this course. With only the 3 runners, Imogens Thunder was made odds-on but in a thrilling finish George Bingham held off the fast finishing favourite with Theatre Evening only another length and a half away. Trainer Kate Bandey said “my horses always seem to run well here! I am just delighted they managed to get the race back on after losing the previous fixture.”