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

Contact 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 27th January 2020 12.30pm

Races:   Hunt (South Dorset & Wilton), 4,5 &6yrs Open Maiden (2m 4f), Ladies Open, Mens Open, Restricted, Open Maiden, CA/PPORA Members Conditions (Novice Riders)

First Race:   12.15pm 

Trade Stand Secretary: Mrs Clare Tredrea, Delcombe Manor, Milton Abbas. DT11 0BT. clare@delcombe.co.uk

Tel: 01258 880901 Mobile: 07866 498300

The popular Milborne St Andrew course hosts the first of their two meetings when the South Dorset hold their fixture this coming Sunday. Last year the meeting succumbed to firstly snow and secondly equine flu but hopefully there is nothing in store for this year’s renewal. An excellent entry of 118 horses have been received and with one of the races already divided there will be at least eight races for racegoers to enjoy. The going has been described as good and good to soft so it should be perfect ground to race on. The first race has now been brought forward to 11.45am. . There will be lots of local food available, a craft tent, bouncy castle and a licensed bar as well as bookmakers in attendance. 

The W and S Recycling Mens Open race has attracted a quality entry headed by the Tom Malone trained Art Mauresque and the likely mount of Will Biddick. Already an easy winner of a similar race at Cottenham this may prove a stiffer test particularly if he is opposed by Earth Leader. Unbeaten in his last six races including a Mens Open at Larkhill in December he is very much on the upgrade. However he does hold entries in Hunter Chases this week at Hereford and Wincanton and may swerve this race. Of the other entries it is good to see the return of the popular mare Fishy Story who missed all of last season. The winner of eight races already including at this course she should be watched with interest. Ramble On if he travels from Wales is another who might play a part in the part as might the improving Sixteen Letters owned by John and Floss Symes. Woodfleet has run well at the course but was disappointing on his seasonal reappearance. Art Mauresque is the selection. 

The Wyatt Homes sponsored Ladies Race may be an easier option for Ramble On but he may not be able to beat the consistent Moscow Prices who will be ridden by his part owner Lucy Mager. Chosen Lucky is sure to give a good account of himself for novice rider Charlotte Summersby and is looking for his fourteenth win in points. Danseur du Large should improve for his outing in December at Barbury Castle in December and the same comment applies to Tom Barton who ran in a competitive race at Larkhill in January. Moscow Prices is chosen to keep up his good record. 

The Open Maiden over two and a half miles sponsored by Symonds and Sampson has been split into two divisions and in the first division those with form include So Socksy and Lagonda both placed in different races at Barbury Castle in December, Queens Legacy placed at Wadebridge and Baignard a full brother to Grandouet and placed at Larkhill in January. Gearoid Costello has two entries in the race both unraced four year olds named Any Albis and Indigo Breeze and his chosen representative should be watched with interest bearing in mind the recent success of Grand Knight at Larkhill. 

The Second Division may also produce some promising horses for the future. Ones particularly to note are the unraced Tom Lacey owned Velasco, the Christopher Barber trained Revels Hill and the Gearoid Costelloe trained Make a Deal. Of those with form Fat Sam was fourth at Buckfastleigh, Reflex Action was placed in two Bumpers last season and King’s Quay was running well before running out at Upcott Cross. Tom Lacey’s horses often run well here and Velasco is selected. 

The Hunt race open also to Wilton qualified horses may see a return to form for the Mary Tory trained Imogens Thunder. He has been racing in better races and ought to be able to beat his rivals. Of those Arcal Fifty ran well on his seasonal debut at Larkhill, Doctor’s Differ prefers faster going and of Harriet Brown’s four entries both Montarlot and On Raglan Road have been placed in Maidens and have each way chances. 

The Open Maiden over three miles sponsored by GCS Agriculture has attracted 31 entries so with a safety factor of 18 there is the possibility that this race may divide on the day. Tristan de Gane was a promising third on debut at Wadebridge and is a tentative selection. Others to consider if this race is chosen are Lagonda, Montarlot, On Raglan Road and Queens Legacy who all boast place form in Maidens. Loodeen has been placed in Maidens and there ought to be a Maiden race for him during this season. 

The Clayson Scaffolding Restricted race for which twenty horses are entered may see the in form Fleur Du Pommier already winner of two races at Larkhill for Harriet Waight and Stan Rawlins reappear. She may have the most to fear from So When trained by Christopher Barber and now owned by Pam Pengelly, Tomb Storme who won at Cothelstone last season, Dr Kananga placed at Ffos Las in December, Arcal Fifty placed at Larkhill and the lightly raced Truly Spoken. A chance is taken on the last named each way. 

The meeting concludes with the Novice Riders race run in memory of the late Norman Tory. Lip Service boasts winning form for Fergal O’Brien when owned by Malcolm Denmark and is now trained by Sally Randell and will be ridden by Katie Sinclair. If fully fit he could be too good for his eight rivals who are headed by the former Dan Skelton trained Shelford who is now in the care of Stuart Penny and Bonds Conquest formerly with Seamus Mullins. 

Milborne St Andrew racecourse is to be found off A354 between Dorchester and Blandford Postcode DT11 0JX .First race 11.45am. Cost of entry is £10 per person.

 Race 1:                        Open Maiden Div1 2m4f 

1^st             Queens Legacy

2^nd             To Be Sure

3^rd             Mr Woody (Ire) 

Runners:            7                        Distances:            12l, 25l                                    Time: 5m 55s

Race 2:                        Open Maiden Div2 2m4f 

1^st             Velasco (Ire)

2^nd             Reflex Action (Ire)

3^rd             Parable 

Runners:            10                        Distances:            Dist, 30l                        Time: 5m 38s

Race 3:                        Hunt Members 

1^st             Imogens Thunder (Ire)

2^nd             Bricks and Beams (Ire)

3^rd             Our Henrietta (Ire) 

Runners:            8                        Distances:            hd, ½ l                                    Time: 7m 01s

Race 4:                        Open Maiden Div 1 

1^st             Lagonda

2^nd             Baignard (Fr)

3^rd             Jimmy Tew 

Runners:            10                        Distances:            25l, hd                                    Time: 7m 00s

Race 5:                        Open Maiden Div 2 

1^st             Port O’Clock (Ire)

2^nd             Tristan de Gane (Fr)

3^rd             Wotasnip (Ire) 

Runners:            9                        Distances:            4l, 25l                                    Time: 7m 4s

Race 6:                        Restricted 

1^st             Fleur Du Pommier

2^nd             Premier Magic (Ire)

3^rd             Un Huit Huit (Ire) 

Runners:            12                        Distances:            2 1/2 l, 16l                        Time: 7m 01s

Race :                        Ladies Open 

1^st             Tom Barton

2^nd             Moscow Prices (Ire)

3^rd             

Runners:            5                        Distances:            Dist                                    Time: 6m 57s

Race :                        Mens Open 

1^st             Fishy Story

2^nd             Sixteen Letters (Ire)

3^rd             Art Mauresque (Fr) 

Runners:            4                        Distances:            sh, 20l                                    Time: 7m 00s

Race :                        Condition (Novice Riders) 

1^st             Mister Dick (Fr)

2^nd             Dan’s Wee Man

3^rd             

Runners:            8                        Distances:            20l,                                    Time: 7m 29s

N/A

There was some excellent racing at the popular Milborne St Andrew course on Sunday with a total of nine races for racegoers to enjoy. A large crowd encouraged by the sight of the sun as the time of the first race drew near flocked to the South Dorset meeting and they were certainly rewarded with some high class racing. Both Open races drew quality horses and with both Will Biddick and Tommie O’Brien recording riding doubles and the latter notching up a memorable landmark there were numerous highlights. A first riding winner for Scott Malson in the final race after a dramatic conclusion to the Novice Riders race was a fitting end to a memorable day. 

The Ladies Open race was won in convincing fashion by Tom Barton ridden for the first time in public by Millie Wonnacott. Setting off in front the ten year old hardly saw a rival as he jumped from fence to fence for his talented pilot. Recording his ninth career victory Tom Barton clearly enjoys the front running role and with Millie on board this looks like a partnership to follow in Ladies races for the rest of the season. She did say that she had schooled him about a year ago when she brought Liam Harrison down to Sally Alner’s stable (before Liam passed his driving test) but did not imagine that she would get a chance to ride him in public. The victory should have given Sally Alner a tonic as she missed the win as her husband Robert is not at all well. 

The Mens Open race was expected to be a clear cut victory for the Tom Malone trained Art Mauresque ridden by Will Biddick. After his easy win at Cottenham he was sent off a short price favourite to follow up. However he was a beaten third after the second last fence and the race became a duel between the mare Fishy Story ridden by Darren Andrews and Sixteen Letters ridden by Josh Newman. They were together all the way up the run in and flashed past the judge virtually in unison. After some deliberation the mare was given the verdict by the narrowest of margins, a short head, to the delight of connections who let out a great cheer in the paddock. This has been a tremendous training performance by Stuart Sampson to get the mare back on the course as she had not been seen since May 2018. Recording her ninth career victory for owner Martin Tucker she is a credit to all connections and her dam who is also responsible for her full sister River Myth. 

The shorter Maiden had already been divided when entries were received and the first division produced another easy winner in the form of Queen’s Legacy which was the first leg of Will Biddick’s riding double. Bred by his owners June Fear and Jackie Abbott and trained by Will her dam never raced but she is the daughter of Panda Shandy and granddaughter of Panda Pops who was the dam of the prolific Hops and Pops. 

The other division of the shorter Maiden was won in facile fashion by the Tom Lacey owned Velasco ridden by Tommie O’Brien. As the only four year old in the field he made full advantage of his weight allowance of at least a stone and won by a distance. Bought by Tom at the Tattersalls August sales in Ireland for 32,000 Euros as a three year old he is a son of Bilboa who won five hurdles for Francois Doumen and has already produced five individual winners under rules. Tommie advised that this was his 100^th career winner consisting of 61 point to points in England, two in Ireland and 37 under rules. Recalling the start of his successful link with the Lacey stable he had phoned Tom for rides and this has soon developed into a formidable partnership. 

There was an eventful conclusion to the Hunt race won by Imogens Thunder giving Will his second winner of the day. Jumping the last fence in the lead he looked to have the measure of his rivals but then hung sharply right allowing both Bricks and Beams and Our Henrietta another chance to challenge. He just held on and then deposited Will on the turf a few strides after the line. Trainer Mary Tory was rather relieved to welcome her charge into the winner’s enclosure. 

Tommie O’Brien completed his double in the first division of the divided on the day Open Maiden race when winning aboard Trea Newell’s mare Lagonda. Previously third in a Maiden at Barbury in December she put that experience to good use and despite the attentions of Baignard ridden by Fergus Gillard from the second last she drew right away on the run in to win very comfortably. As a home bred she is likely to remain in Trea’s ownership but plans are uncertain if she will continue pointing or have a career under rules. 

The second division of the Open Maiden was won by Port O’Clock who was given an enterprising front running ride by Darren Edwards. Trained by Dean Summersby who was paying his first visit to Milborne he was bought by Dean and then sold to his owners John Gardener and Torbyn Hughes, mine host at the Clovelly Inn at Bratton Clovelly. Dean described his charge as being a bit quirky and in need of the hood he wore and the experience of Darren who bounced him out from the start. Despite the effort of the favourite Tristan de Gane ridden by Martin McIntyre he still had five lengths in hand at the winning post. 

Another first time visitor to Milborne was Alex Edwards who made the eight hour round trip from his Shropshire base to partner Fleur du Pommier in the Restricted race. Already twice a winner this season at Larkhill she showed that she is still a progressive mare and Alex explained that ‘ she seems to keep something back in the tank when she is challenged’ after recording another victory from her eleven rivals. Trained by Harriet Waight and owned by Harriet and Stan Rawlins she was bred by Wally Sturt and Jim Old and raced by the late Godfrey Maundrell with limited success. 

The most dramatic outcome was saved for the final race, the Novice Riders race. Lip Service ridden by Katie Sinclair and trained by Sally Randell had dominated the race throughout and had drawn clear of his two remaining rivals who were struggling in his wake. However the combination got the final fence wrong causing Katie to be unseated and the whole complexion of the race changed. Markers were placed in the fence so Mister Dick ridden by Scott Malson and Dan’s Wee Man ridden by Georgina Davies then had a slow motion finish which Mister Dick won. Owned and trained by Jason Warner he was giving Scott, 29, his first career winner after three seasons of trying to break his duck. Describing himself as a work rider for Luke Price and Peter Bowen and also a carpenter he was delighted to have ridden that elusive first winner.