Secretary:   Jonathan Brooking

Address:   Cambrai House Bovington Wareham BH20 6LL

Contact Details Tel: 07775 017340

Email: jonathan.brooking745@mod.gov.uk

Entries Secretary:   Gemma Brooking

Address:   Cambrai House Bovington Wareham BH20 6LL

E Mail:         twigletmouse@gmail.com

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

Entries close:   Monday 10th February 2020 12.30pm

Races:   CS Members Conditions (Novice Riders),  Mixed Open (Coronation Gold Cup), Restricted, Combined Services Members Conditions (Ladies), Open Maiden Conditions (2m4f), Open Maiden

First Race:   12.00 am

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

This Sunday’s rearranged Point to Point meeting at Larkhill is hosted by the Combined Services and is run in aid of the Services Charity SSAFA.  There is a good entry of 92 for this year’s event and this unique meeting includes the prestigious Coronation Gold Cup, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery Club Member’s Race and the inaugural running of the Ladies Conditions Race which has been kindly sponsored by Lockheed Martin. The current going is good and with rain in the forecast it may be on the softer side of good. 

The Novice Rider Conditions Race has attracted ten entries including Captain Buck’s from the bang in-form Rose Loxton yard. A three time winner under rules for Paul Nicholls, he made his pointing debut at this course in early January putting up a strong performance only to be headed on the line. Leading Novice Rider, Angus Cheleda has struck up a good partnership with Rose this season and looks likely to take the mount.  Multiple course winner, Storm Lantern could be one to threaten Captain Buck’s and easily took a similar event at the last meeting here. Roc d’Apsis is a six time winner under Rules and looks an interesting recruit for his owner/jockey but he did run at Badbury Rings last Sunday while Ballykan achieved a 141 rating and has posted two solid seconds this season at Cottenham and Barbury.  Theatre Evening won a match here last season but may prefer quicker ground as might According to Harry, an easy winner at Trebudannon last season.  Larkhill regular, Thereyarsee still hasn’t regained his earlier form and is best watched. 

The Restricted Race has fifteen entries including Byzantium Lad who was gifted his maiden here last time when the likely winner unseated at the last.  Ed Walker’s horses often improve for their first run and Dancing Dave is better judged on his maiden win at Flete Park last season when he dead-heated. He was fourth in a similar race at Badbury last Sunday.  Gottagottagetaway unseated early on here last month but made amends at Buckfastleigh last time under Sam Jukes. He should improve again.  Rookie trainer Willy Twiston-Davies certainly hit the ground running when Panic and Run trotted up at Cocklebarrow and he should prove very hard to beat if reproducing that run.  Second Time Around won a NH Flat race for Alan King and should be noted. 

The ten entries in the Ladies Conditions Race include former Paul Nicholls trained Ptit Zig now in the care of Lucy Felton. A high-class horse at his peak, he won the French Champion Hurdle in his prime and although off the course since February 2018, would be a serious prospect if connections have managed to get him back to full health.  Champagne Lilly was a good winner at Badbury last Sunday and may not reappear so soon. Captiva Island may have needed the run here last time while Inch Rock is consistent and would be of interest for a place. 

The day’s feature race, the Coronation Cup has attracted a quality entry of nineteen.  Southfield Theatre’s jumping is a joy to watch round here under regular pilot Lily Bradstock and he was unlucky to just be denied last time by Virak. However he won at Higham last Sunday so this might come too soon. Ravished was just beaten by Southfield Theatre here giving the winner 3lbs but had looked so impressive at Cottenham either side of that run and could be forgiven his defeat at Bangor on heavy ground. Chameron was an impressive winner here of a conditions race last month for Rose Loxton. This former Paul Nicholls inmate also won twice in France over hurdles and he looks to be enjoying his new career.  Marcle Ridge bumped into Caid du Berlais on seasonal debut but last year took a Hunter Chase at Cheltenham as well as a Conditions race here.  Monbeg Gold has won four under Rules for Jonjo O’Neill and is now in the care of his wife.  He made his debut in this sphere in a Hunter Chase when he was a good second to The Dellercheckout.  Wick Green ran an excellent race to just deny Captain Buck’s here last time while Green Winter stays well and was a running on 2^nd to Shantou Flyer here and boasts two wins here including an Open. 

The Maiden Conditions could go to Famous Clermont who was desperately unlucky not to win here three weeks ago when stumbling at the last. He should make amends and Chris Barber’s horses are in excellent form.  Shells And Shingle makes his British Pointing debut for the powerful Nimmo yard having had four runs in Ireland.  My Bobby Dazzler was a good second here to Fedelta while Smoking Pigeon unseated when running well in early January. Smoking Pigeon was then was a close second at Cocklebarrow with Bespoke Cave in 4^th.  Cranbrook Causeway was a distant second at the same venue behind the useful Panic And Run. 

The finale is an Open Maiden and Francesca Nimmo has three entered including   Glen Mooar a beautifully bred son of Presenting out of a full-sister to Supreme Prince. He had one run in an NH Flat race for Tim Easterby prior to joining Francesca.  Easy Bucks is trained by Mickey Bowen and he too has had just one start under Rules before trying Pointing.  Of those with form pointing, Loodeen should come on for his seasonal debut but has already had a number of chances.  

The first race is the Kings Troop Race at 12 noon with the Coronation Gold Cup at 2.30pm. In addition to the racing there are over 20 trade stands.  The course is 5m NW of Amesbury nr A303, A345 and A 360 – SP4 8QT – and follow signs) Admission Cost £10 per person Under 16s Race Cards £3

 Race 1:                        Novice Riders Conditions 

1^st             Ballykan

2^nd             Heaven Scent

3^rd             Storm Lantern 

Runners:            5                        Distances:            15l, 3l                                    Time: 6m 35s

Race 2:                        Restricted 

1^st             Rien Du Tout

2^nd             Aclassagold (Ire)

3^rd             Panic and Run (Ire) 

Runners:            7                        Distances:            5l, 10l                                    Time: 6m 31s

Race 3:                        Ladies Conditions 

1^st             Faraway Star (Fr)

2^nd             Captain Buck’s (Fr)

3^rd             

Runners:            2                        Distances:            Hd                                    Time: 6m51s

Race 4:                        Mixed Open (Coronation Cup) 

1^st             Cameron (Fr)

2^nd             Green Winter (Ire)

3^rd             Pauls Hall (Ire) 

Runners:            7                        Distances:            10l, 3l                                    Time: 6m 20s

Race 5:                        Maiden Conditions 2m4f 

1^st             My Bobby Dazzler

2^nd             Famous Clemont (Fr)

3^rd             Bespoke Cave (Ire) 

Runners:            10                        Distances:            11/2 l, 20l                        Time: 5m 25s

Race 6:                        Open Maiden 5yo and Up 

1^st             Happy Larry (Ire)

2^nd             Noughty Ghome (Ire)

3^rd             Ifyoucanseemenow (Ire) 

Runners:            9                        Distances:            5l, 8l                                    Time: 6m 29s

N/A

A keen wind blew across Salisbury Plain but it remained dry for the Combined Services point to point on going described by several riders as perfect. The highlight of the meeting was the Fujitsu Coronation Gold Cup won in impressive style by Chameron trained by Rose Loxton and other notable achievements was a training double for Shropshire trainer Philip Rowley, a real turn up in the Ladies Conditions race, a masterful ride by Will Biddick in the Restricted race and a welcome winner for Michael Kehoe in the final race of the day. 

The highlight of the Larkhill season, the Coronation Gold Cup, attracted a quality field of seven runners and all were still in contention as they jumped the fourteenth fence. Pauls Hill ridden by James King had made much of the running and was still in front approaching the second last but he made a mistake and handed the advantage to Chameron ridden by Angus Cheleda who had been tracking him. Angus asked his mount to quicken and the response was instantaneous and he soon drew away from his field to record a ten length victory. Greeting their winner joint owners John Bolton and Paul Nicholls (along with the absent Harry Cobden) thoughts were being made for season concluding targets with Hunter Chases on the agenda. In the meantime John Bolton was looking forward to having the Coronation Gold Cup on his mantelpiece in Glastonbury. 

The Ladies Conditions race looked a tailor made race for Captain Buck’s who had been narrowly beaten by Wick Green at the beginning of January and with Wick Green franking the form at Horseheath on Saturday this looked a formality. However although Captain Buck’s ridden by Natalie Parker edged ahead after the second last his sole rival Faraway Star ridden by Paige Topley had other ideas. Taking the inner course the mare kept finding more for her rider and was level again at the last. Duelling together on the run in Faraway Star prevailed from her rival by a head giving her owner/trainer Tracy Williams a welcome winner. Explaining that this season she had changed her bedding to shavings from straw and this has been a factor to her improved well- being. Paige, riding her third career victory, works for Ben Pauling and had rung Tracy last week for the ride on the mare at Badbury Rings but the partnership only lasted five fences. Loyally Tracy offered Paige the ride again today and this time there was a very happy outcome. 

Philip Rowley’s training double began with the Novice Rider Conditions Races when Ballykan beat his four rivals by fifteen lengths. Ridden by Ben Bromley, 17, the son of owner Anthony Bromley he had won six races for Nigel Twiston-Davies and had already run well in his previous two point to points but this time he was too good and had little trouble in beating Heaven Scent ridden by Amber Jackson-Fennell. Ben who works for Philip was securing his fifth career win and is likely to be remaining in the amateur ranks for the time being. 

Philip’s second winner came courtesy of My Bobby Dazzler in the Maiden Conditions race over two and a half miles when ridden by Alex Edwards. Ignoring the strong pace set by the favourite Famous Clermont ridden by Will Biddick he made up ground after the third last and as the leader faltered approaching the last Alex drove his mount in front on the run-in. Owned and bred by Bob Barrett from Wolverhampton he added that the dam was due to produce another foal this time by Telescope any day. His wife Helen added that she had not expected to witness the gelding’s victory as she was due to be in a golf match but the wet weather had put paid to this. 

Will had previously notched up another career winner when catching long-time leader Aclassofgold ridden by Zac Baker in the Restricted race. Riding Charlotte Budd’s Rien du Tout he winged the second last and drew away to win by   five lengths at the winning post. Charlotte’s initial comment was ‘I can’t believe it’ but she then added that he had been going well at home so the victory was not a total surprise. Asking Will how his knee was after standing down at Badbury Rings last week the response was ‘much better after that’ 

Happy Larry won the finale, the Open Maiden, for trainer Michael Kehoe and ridden by Sam Lee. Owned by Michael’s mother-in-law Joy Tetley with Harry Dolan he is one of two point to point horses that Michael trains at his base near Leighton Buzzard. Naughty Gnome ridden by Matthew Fielding looked a dangerous threat at the second last but could not find any more on the run in with three lengths being the winning margin. Placed in two Irish Maidens the winner had been a promising third behind Raised with Praise at Larkhill in December but had rather lost his confidence after a fall at Cottenham. 

Prior to the day’s racing the annual King’s Troop race was held and this year it was won by Sauvignon by a distance ridden by Gunner Bronwyn Cooper, 19 from Ipswich. Riding in her first King’s Troop race her rivals fell by the wayside leaving the ten year old gelding to win very easily.