Secretary:   Mr T Campbell Hill

Address:   32 Boulsbury Cottages Damerham Fordingbridge Hants SP6 3JD

Contact Details Tel: 07792 394065

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 13th March 2023 12.30pm

Races:  Flat Race for 4 & 5yrs about 2m, Open Maiden 5yrs+ (2m4f), Restricted, Mixed Open, Veterans Conditions (Level 2), PPORA Intermediate (2m 4f)

First Race:   12.30 pm

This Saturday racing returns to Milborne St Andrew courtesy of landowner Michael Miller for the second time this season when the Wilton stage their meeting.  Tickets can be purchased in advance for £10 each until Thursday on www.pointingwessex.co.uk or on the gate for £15 (under 16 free). Organisers are also holding a silent auction and this can be found on Silent Auction 2023 (jumblebee.co.uk)  

There are 12 entries for the Maiden race sponsored by The Ladies of the Wilton Hunt in memory of Phyllis Felton. Highway Hero was a decent second to Joe Cotton who has since gone on to win at Cothelstone and he could go one better for new trainer Harry Ryall.  In recent seasons, Tom Malone has introduced some decent types purchased from the Irish pointing field and it would be no surprise to see his In Limbo improve on his two third placings on this, his UK debut.  Chris Barber’s Ping Pong Paddy ran a nice race on seasonal debut when second at Larkhill and will come on for the race as should Sara Bradstock’s Idols’s Eye a good third to Kayf Taoi at Cocklebarrow.  Alan Walter’s Banzigkane finished second on his only start here in a Flat race last season and could also figure. 

Nine entries for the NFU Mutual Restricted race include The Ballybreen Fox who won smoothly here at the last meeting and could confirm his liking for the course while Shanroe Smooch won a point in Ireland before not progressing under Rules. However he ran promisingly on his UK point debut at Badbury Rings and could improve. Leading trainer Tom Ellis has Captain Biggles in here who was another who didn’t shine under Rules, but he won in taking fashion on his second start at Garthorpe and would be of interest if appearing here.  Pocatello got up close home to deny Itsnotcosiownhim at Charlton Horethorne and should go close here. Former Irish point winner Glancing Glory has been second on her last two starts and would be one for the places.  Cuzzicombe always runs well and would be an each way suggestion. Donny’s Fortune won well at Bratton Down last season but may need this run. 

Fourteen entries have been received for the Woolley & Wallis Mixed Open and there are some eye-catching names amongst them Famous Clermont who is well-fancied for the Foxhunters at Cheltenham on Friday. Were the ground to be too soft there, he may well be re-routed here and he could take a lot of beating following facile Hunter Chase wins at Haydock and Wincanton. The Bradstocks have done exceptionally well with veteran Southfield Theatre but his advancing years may leave him vulnerable and they may opt for the Veteran race instead. A similar comment may apply to the equally consistent and classy Monsieur Gibraltar. Country Legend put in a rare poor display here at the last meeting but connections felt she didn’t enjoy the slower ground. Back on a quicker surface she took the Hunt race at Charlton Horethorne two weeks ago and should again run well. Dawn Sunrise showed a liking for this course dominating when taking the Hunt race in 2022 but like Oistrakh Le Noir was no match for Viroflay at Charlton Horethorne.  Sixteen Letters did well for connections last season but may not enjoy this climbing finish so much. 

In the Veteran’s Race, several of the 12 entries are entered elsewhere on the card but of those not mentioned, Field Exhibition has been in great form winning her three starts this season. Tom Barton won the Mixed Open here last year but ran into the top class Caid du Berlais at the January meeting here while Paloma Blue has taken well to pointing and was unlucky to be caught at Charlton Horethorne by an unexposed type in Macklin who could be destined for greater things. Paloma Blue won here at the last meeting and again should go well.  Champion Chase has done well since joining Fran Poste and returned to winning ways taking a Ladies Conditions race last time at Larkhill while Pont Aven has joined a shrewd yard and should improve on his seasonal debut.

 The PPORA and ER Sampson & Sons Farriers Intermediate is headed by Tigerbythetail who has posted two from two this season including easily taking a Restricted at Kingston Blount for trainer Tom Ellis and could  be hard to beat here.  Ed the Red is also two from two for trainer Chloe Newman having easily won his Restricted at Charlton Horethorne two weeks ago.  Will Biddick’s Regatta de Blanc is also thrown into the mix, herself also a dual winner this season.  Liberty Rock won a couple last season for Dean Summersby both at Upcott Cross but has yet to fire this season possibly due to the slower ground he has encountered.  Sake of Secrecy was third in what could turn out to be a fair Conditions race at Charlton Horethorne. 

The finale is a Flat race sponsored by Equine Dental Clinic Ltd with 17 entries and includes several unraced horses. Of those to have raced Les Jefford has Blazing Litten who ran well when 5^th at Larkhill just behind King’s Consort with Bouncer further back. Several of these met at Buckfastleigh in a similar race including Ed Walker’s Madame Pompadour who is a half-sister to Gold Cup runner-up, Santini. Fran Poste’s unraced Global Survivor is out of a dual winning mare and comes from the family of Long Run.  Teresa Clark’s Fountainspinklady is a half-sister to Fountains Windfall and should come on for her one run last season. Unraced 4 year old, Musique de Fee also boasts a decent pedigree being related to Champion Chaser, Master Minded, while it would be unwise to underestimate the Bradley Gibbs trained Saunton Surf 

The Shetland Pony Dash is at 12 noon with the first race at 12.30pm.  There are plenty of trade stands, excellent refreshments and bar as well as the silent auction and of course well-behaved dogs on leads are most welcome.  The course is situated off the A354 between Blandford and Dorchester. 

Race 1:            Maiden 5YO 2m4f 

1^st         Highway Hero

2^nd        Bella Noche

3^rd        Ping Pong Paddy 

Runners:          8                      Distances:        7l, 1l                            Time: 5m 32s

Race 2:            Restricted 

1^st         Monmouth Hill

2^nd        Shanroe Smooch

3^rd        Donny’s Fortune 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        13/4l, 15l                     Time: 6m 42s

Race 3:            Mixed Open 

1^st         Tom Barton

2^nd        Ballotin

3^rd        

Runners:          2                      Distances:        12l,                              Time: 6m 49s

Race 4:            Veterans Condition Level 2 

1^st         Paloma Blue

2^nd        Too Many Diamonds

3^rd        Duc Kauto 

Runners:          3                      Distances:        15l,Dist                        Time: 6m 32s

Race 5:            Intermediate 2m4f 

1^st         Tigerbythetail

2^nd        Ed the Red

3^rd        Sake of Secrecy 

Runners:          3                      Distances:        5l,20l                           Time: 5m 33s

Race 6:            Flat Div 1 4 & 5 YO 

1^st         Fountainspinlody

2^nd        Blazing Litten

3^rd        Roxhill 

Runners:          6                      Distances:        2l, 2l                            Time: 4m 37s

Race 7:              Flat Div 2 4 &5 YO 

1^st         Hypersonic Missile

2^nd        Stowford

3^rd        Madame Pompadour 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        4l, 3l                            Time: 4m 41s

N/A

The Wilton Point to Point staged its meeting on Saturday at Milborne St Andrew and organisers were relieved that the weather held for most of the day with only a brief shower arriving for the last two races.  A surprising drop in the number of runners didn’t deter the standard of racing on offer and racegoers were treated to some good finishes. A riding double for Martin McIntyre, two former Rules horses showing how much they are enjoying the drop to Pointing and a consecutive Mixed Open win for veteran Tom Barton were highlights from the day. The popular Shetland Pony Dash which preceded the main racing also resulted in a repeat win for jockey Harlow White riding Shelcroft Cloudy. 

Pointing is all about the F word – Fun!  And this was showcased when Monmouth Hill took the Restricted race for local trainer Hannah Clarke and the Fun For All Club.  With the 4 runners tightly grouped, Martin McIntyre was happy to sit on the inside of the quartet biding his time before challenging the leader Shanroe Smooch after the second last. Donny’s Fortune looked a serious threat for a while but fitness told and he faded into third on this his seasonal debut. He should be noted for next time.  Hannah explained “I set up the syndicate so locals, some of whom are horsey but some are not, could have some fun and the three horses included meant that they are able to go racing most weekends.”  Members of the syndicate present explained how welcome they were made to feel both visiting the horses at home and were plied with the best bacon sandwiches while also enjoying excellent picnics on race days. 

The earlier Maiden race provided young Harry Ryall with his second winner as a trainer when Highway Hero forged clear on the final bend to win by 7 lengths under Rob David.  A delighted Harry said of Highway Hero, “he’s been hitting the cross bar so this was well deserved” Equally deserved was a winner for Rob David who works for Antony Honeyball, had returned to the UK after a spell in Australia and rides out for Harry after work.  The winner is owned in partnership with Colin and Julie Bright of Stantway Bloodstock who have been keen to support Harry in his fledgling training career. 

The Honeyball name kept cropping up throughout the afternoon when both winners of the Flat race divisions had connections to the yard. The first division was won by Fountainspinklady trained by Teresa Clark, herself Anthony’s sister and the mare is a half-sister to Fountains Windfall who won 7 under Rules for Anthony.  The second division was won by Hypersonic Missile, a first ever winner for trainer Maddy Hand who works for Anthony.  Fountainspinklady showed a really determined manner when sticking her head down for a two length victory to give Martin McIntyre his second winner, from a couple of nice types in Blazing Litten and Roxhill. It could turn out to be a decent race.  Hypersonic Missile won the second division in a slightly easier manner under Will Biddick for Maddy whose father Leonard owns the Califet gelding. Maddy is helped out by her boyfriend Kyle James who used to ride for Phil Kirby. 

Tom Barton only faced one other rival in Ballotin when defending his Mixed Open title under regular pilot Natalie Parker. A worried Natalie felt she may have incurred the wrath of the stewards after Tom Barton drifted out on the home bend and bumped the runner-up. However as the winning distance was an easy 12 lengths, the stewards left the result unchanged but fined Natalie the minimum amount in line with the current BHA rules.  Sally who rides the 13 year old gelding out at home said “he’s less of a gentleman at home where he spooks at literally everything, every day!”  This was the gelding’s fourth course win and 13^th win in total for the Four Dames Partnership.  

The Veteran Conditions race gives horses who may have become jaded under Rules to find an easier style of racing and one who has certainly embraced that this season is Paloma Blue. Formerly with Henry de Bromhead and sourced for Josh Newman’s yard by Stephanie Jones, the big Stowaway gelding relished this return to Milborne St Andrew where he had won in January as he happily bowled along in front under Josh before recording a 15 length victory from Too Many Diamonds.  Paloma Blue is part-owned by Coral’s Head of PR, Simon Clare who is more usually found on Rules racecourse and this is his first venture into point to point ownership. A clearly thrilled Simon explained that he may well re-invest in some more point to pointers for next season while Stephanie though this horse could well go for a Hunter chase at some stage, possibly at the Cheltenham Evening meeting in May. 

Tigerbythetail is another who was recently running under Rules for Olly Murphy and he took the Intermediate for Tom Ellis and Gina Andrews for owners Keith Loads and Kate Bowling who had made the trip down from Suffolk.  Tigerbythetail jumped well apart from slightly losing concentration as he passed the paddock on the first circuit but made no mistake taking the same fence again to record a 5 length win over Ed the Red.  Keith explained afterwards “Gina told us that she had never seen a horse improve and gain confidence so much since he had arrived at the yard.”