Secretary:   Mrs Dinah Webb-Bowen

Address:   Sycamore Farm, Stoke Trister, Wincanton, Somerset BA9 9PE

Contact Details Tel: 01963 31647   Mob: 07977 069273

Entries Secretary:  James Symonds

Address:  Willowbrook House, 41 Corton, Warmnster, Wiltshire, BA12 0SZ

Contact Details Tel:  01985 850883   Mob:  07990 707139

Entries to:   The Secretary or The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd

Entries close:   Monday 21st February 2022 12.30pm

Races:   4yr Maiden, 5yrs Open Maiden, Mixed Open, Restricted (2m4f), Conditions Race for Horses 10yrs +, Conditions Race for Novice Riders,(Level 3).

First Race:   12.00pm

Larkhill has survived the recent storms and is ready to hold its sixth meeting of the season when the South and West Wilts hold their annual point to point. The Clerk of the Course has reported that the current going is good and on the soft side of good in places. A total of 129 horses have been entered for the meeting.  Fences 1-6 have all been moved as well as fence 12 and the bends have all been adjusted to provide fresh ground. In addition to the seven scheduled races which start at 12.00 noon there are going to be a total of three charity races the first two at 11.00am and 11.30am for thoroughbred and the final one after racing for non-thoroughbreds. The principal beneficiary of the charity races will be the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and it is hoped that a good sum of money will be raised for this valuable charity.

The feature race of the day is the Mixed Open for which there are 15 entries headed by the veteran Southfield Theatre unbeaten in his three races this season. A real credit to his owner Angela Yeoman and his trainer Sara Bradstock he is sure to put in another bold front running performance. Potential opponents include Sixteen Letters who has already won twice this season at Larkhill for Josh Newman and Lucy Turner, Dandy Dan who was runner up to Sixteen Letters at the last meeting and was given a good ride by the novice Lauren Keen-Hawkins, Dawn Sunrise who won at Milborne and Cheltenham de Vaige who won at the first Larkhill meeting of the season. Calett Mad has good form when trained for Isaac Souede and Simon Munir but has not yet run this season. L’Incorrigible won a Bumper and a Hurdle when trained by Tom Lacey but now under the care of his owner Clive Boultbee-Brooks he is a very interesting recruit to pointing. Fifty Shades won the Lord Ashton of Hyde Mens Open at Cocklebarrow and he is the selection for this race.

The meeting opens with the Veteran Horse Conditions race for 9-year-olds and over. Sixteen Letters holds an entry for this race and if this is his chosen race, he may be able to continue his winning ways. Highway One O One was second at Badbury last weekend and this race may come too soon for him. Arcal Fifty finally won his Restricted race and always runs well at his favourite course. Wotzizname had good form last season when piloted by Megan Bevan and may give a bold show on his seasonal debut. Clondaw Rigger won a Novice Riders race at Horseheath but this is a stronger race. Blairs Cove won a Conditions race at Bratton Down last season but he is another without a run this season.

The other Conditions race is for Novice Riders and includes a number of regular competitors in this type of race. Olive Nicholls would appear to have the choice of either Monsieur Gibraltar or Old Guard and whichever is declared is likely to be one of the favourites. Dandy Dan holds an entry in this race and may provide Lauren Keen-Hawkins  a chance to ride her first winner on only her second race. Coco Live, Galop du Bosc and Highway One O One all ran at Badbury and their exertions last Sunday may mean that this race has come too soon. Clondaw Rigger beat For Rita at Horseheath but the last named may turn the tables as that was his seasonal debut.

The Restricted race over the shorter trip of two and a half miles has attracted an entry of 21 horses. Nuova Vita won his Maiden well at the course and was then runner up to Lagonda in January. A repeat of that performance may be good enough. Finistere won a Maiden over this trip at Charing whereas Bloodstone won his Maiden at Horseheath. Access Granted won a four runner Maiden in Ireland in November and would be making his UK debut. Dawnie Boy won a Maiden under Bradley Gibbs at Barbury Castle in December 2020 but has not been seen since. He may be the one to give Nuova Vita the most to do. 

The remainder of the card is made up of two Maiden races and a Flat race over two miles. The first Maiden over the shorter trip of two and a half miles is exclusively for four-year-olds under the TBA Early NH Racing Initiative. The only one of the entries that has run before is Boy de La Vis for Charlie and Fran Poste who was second at Sherriff Hutton and his racecourse experience may be crucial. Chris Barber has entered Campsie Linn and his newcomers should always be respected and the same comment applies to Bradley Gibbs two entries of Casa No Mento and My Little Toni. This may be a race to watch and see how the youngsters look in the paddock.

The biggest entry of the day is the 29 horses for the Maiden for 5-year-olds and over. Festin d’Un Soir would be an appropriate winner as he has looked like being involved in the finish in two races this season only to lose his rider at Knightwick and then fall at the last at Milborne when alongside the winner.  Spectacular Rival and Mithmaar were second and third in a maiden at the last Larkhill meeting and again may be involved in the finish. Fubar was placed in five Hurdle races for Kim Bailey and could easily win a Maiden. Night Combat was owned by Gigginstown in Ireland but changed hands last year. Keaden Hill only ran in an Irish point to point last month but is now in the capable hands of Bradley Gibbs and should be watched.  Fran and Charlie Poste have entered the unraced Mooloolah and he should be noted. 

The Flat race has an entry of 23 horses with only 4 of these having run before. Saxon Diamond stayed on well to be third in a similar race at Larkhill last month and brings the best form. Ontherunagain had Red Rumble behind him in another Bumper in December and should be able to confirm that form. Of the newcomers Talimar Pearl owned by Tom Malone, Rock d’Ete owned by Will Biddick, Lisnasallagh Ruby owned by Maurice Linehan and Arctic Stream owned by Heather Dunn are four to consider. 

Larkhill Racecourse is to be found 5m NW of Amesbury, Nr A303, A345 and A360 – Postcode SP4 8QR. .  First race 12.00pm  Etickets from   www.pointingwessex.co.uk Entry Costs on race day £12.50 per person by cash or card, race cards £3, children go free

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A bright sunny early Spring day brought out an enthusiastic and large attendance to watch a total of nine point to point races plus 3 charity races at the South and West Wilts Hunt Point to Point at Larkhill on Sunday. The charity races in aid of Racing Welfare and Wiltshire Air Ambulance were well supported with a total of 29 horses taking part and, in the process, raising over Fourteen Thousand for the charities. The Point-to-Point races were competitive events with the highlights being riding doubles for Zac Baker and Freddie Gordon, a training double for Jenny Gordon and another success for the veteran Southfield Theatre.

Ridden as usual by Lily Bradstock Southfield Theatre belies his fourteen years of age and continues to retain his unbeaten record this season when winning the Lycetts Mixed Open Race. Setting off in front as usual he was chased all the way by Zamparelli and Cheltenham De Vaige but despite their efforts he was not for passing and had a length to spare over Zamparelli at the line. Watched by his owner Angela Yeoman he relishes the good surface and will not be asked to run on a softer surface. Ridden at home by his trainer Sara Bradstock he is described as ‘not being easy’ and will continue to race in Ladies Open or Mixed Open races whilst his enthusiasm remains at the same level.

Highway One O One was the first leg of the double for Freddie Gordon and his mother Jenny in the Pat Awdry Memorial Conditions race. Pat who was a stalwart supporter of the South and West Wilts Hunt died last summer and it was fitting that a race was run at Larkhill in his memory. Highway One O One had only run at Badbury Rings seven days ago but despite this and the admission that Freddie’s father Chris had admitted that he had told Freddie that he had to jump the last fence three times at the Dorset course (it is only twice) he was a convincing winner of the race. Freddie who is still at school at Gregg School Southampton is starting to make a name for himself and this was his second victory on the gelding who had been suffering from the handicapper under Rules but is relishing his role as a schoolmaster.

Freddie and Jenny’s double came in the Symonds and Sampson Conditions race for Novice Riders. This time riding Captain Bucks he set off in front and despite the attentions of Monsieur Gibraltar ridden by Olive Nicholls and Dandy Dan ridden by Laure Keen -Hawkins he stayed on to record a head victory at the line. Explaining his improvement in form Jenny advised that first time use of a visor had certainly helped and the front running tactics had given him more enthusiasm. His previous trainer Paul Nicholls had advised Jenny to use waiting tactics but his runs this season had allowed him to doss behind so this change brought about a revival in his form.

The Milton Indoor Storage Services Open Maiden race was divided on the day and rider Zac Baker won both Divisions. Firstly, riding Far from Over for owner/trainer Maurice Linehan he was always prominent and stayed on well to record a two a half lengths victory over Lift Me Up. Bought by his owner who trains at Great Tew in Oxfordshire at Goffs as a 3 -year- old he has given him time but revealed that he had not really asked the five -year- old any serious questions at home. He may be heading for the sales but as Maurice is currently looking to apply for a permit to train under Rules, he may decide to retain the gelding.

Zac quickly doubled his score for the day and three for the weekend when riding Kauto No Risk for owner John Hargreaves and trainer Joanne Priest. This was an easier win than the previous race as he had ten lengths in hand at the winning line. Bought by former jockey turned bloodstock agent Jerry McGrath after running in two Autumn Point to Points in Ireland he had been recommended to Joanne and her owner John Hargreaves. The dam of the winner Kauto Karolyna is a full sister to the mighty Kauto Star and if he has a small proportion of his uncle’s ability, he will be an exciting prospect.

The other Maiden on the card was for four-year-olds only and was sponsored by the Thoroughbred Breeders Association over 2 and half miles. The previously raced Boy De La Vis looked to have the race at his mercy before falling at the third last leaving the unraced filly My Little Toni ridden by Bradley Gibbs to finish alone. Owned by Tim Talbot from Cheshire under the name of Ratkatcha Racing he had arrived at Bradley’s stable last summer having done some work at Oliver Greenall’s yard but has been brought on by Bradley and his partner Claire and their member of staff Natalie.

The biggest field of the day of 12 horses took part in the Woolley and Wallis Restricted race over two and a half miles. Finistere had been prominent throughout under James King and he stayed on to hold off the challenge of Bloodstone ridden by George Henderson by a length. Previously with Dan Skelton he won at Charing earlier in the month and continues to be on the upgrade for owners Julie Wadland and Janet Bird.

The concluding Bumper was also divided on the day with the first division being won in decisive style by Hilltown owned and trained by local National Hunt trainer Seamus Mullins. Ridden by Paddy Barlow who was securing his second ever winner Seamus explained that Paddy comes in to ride out periodically and he wanted to give him an opportunity. As Paddy is a vet student at Nottingham University this is not as often as he would like. Seamus added that Hilltown was acquired in rather unusual circumstances in  that he had gone to a dispersal sale at the Hilltown Stud in Ireland and had acquired a total of 9 horses. This is the last of them to run and he decided to give the name of the Stud to the gelding. He might make a Hurdler in time or could go down the point -to -point route next season.

The concluding division proved to be a much closer contest with Nairobi Girl just holding off the attentions of Rockafela ridden by Bradley Gibbs. Owned and trained by Sarah Bailey at Badminton the mare’s dam had been bought to produce an eventer but she had been showing enough at home to warrant trying her as a racehorse. She has been doing a number of different equine options including hunting with the Duke of Beaufort’s. Given an excellent ride by Luke Scott Sarah advised that he had been recommended to her by James King