Secretary:   Mrs Susie Old

Contact Details Mob: 07967 589543  

Email:   aandsold@gmail.com

Entries to:   The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd

Entries close:   Monday 7th November 2022 12.30pm

Races: 4 and 5 year old Maiden (2m4f), Mixed Open, Conditions (L3), Restricted, Conditions (L2) Novice Riders+, Maiden (NWFAA)

First Race:   12.00 noon

The Wessex Point to Point season opens at Badbury Rings near Wimborne when the Portman hold their annual fixture on Sunday 13^th November. There are scheduled to be 21 Wessex meetings during November to May 2023 across 10 different courses within Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset. The breaking news from yesterday that the future of Larkhill which is due to host 7 of those meetings has been secured thanks to the intervention of the Secretary of State for Defence, Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP is a fantastic fillip for the Wessex area and grateful thanks to him and the Larkhill Committee for the work involved in reaching this brilliant outcome.

Badbury Rings, like Larkhill, is another course that can absorb rain and despite the heavy rain over the last couple of weeks the course is in excellent condition with the forecast going description of good and a level racing surface. Racing is due to start at 12noon but before that there will be family dog racing in the paddock starting at 10.00am, a silent auction of 46 fabulous lots, a shopping marquee and as this is Remembrance Sunday there will be a 2-minute silence at 11.00am. A big screen will add to the enjoyment of the 6 scheduled races. Entry £15 per person on the day. A special note for owners is that there will be checks of horse passports and for jockeys back protectors and skull caps during the day.

The feature race of the day is the Mixed Open for which a quality entry of 10 horses has been received. Last year’s winner Le Ligerien owned by David Churches and trained by Marie McGuiness seeks a repeat but the potential competition looks stronger than the 2021 renewal. Alan Hill has entered Normofthenorth who finished his season winning a Hunter Chase at Fakenham and this progressive eight-year-old might be answer. Moratorium won four races last season and finished runner up in a Cheltenham Hunter Chase in May. Rio Quinto boasts winning course form from last year and was one of only two horses to beat The Big Sting in 2022. Highway One O One was a model of consistency and should give a good account of himself for Molly Landau. It would be unwise to discount Tom Barton who is another course specialist who has got better as he has advanced into veteran status. Myth Buster won a Hunter Chase at Musselburgh but might find a couple of these two speedy. A tremendous race looks in prospect.

The two principal supporting Conditions races are the Novice Riders race for which there are seven entries and the Conditions race (Level 3) where six horses are entered. Molly Landau looks to have a very strong chance of winning the Novice Riders race as she is likely to partner the Jenny Gordon trained Commanche Red who won two of his four outings last season including a Novice Riders race at Garthorpe. Tim Underwood has acquired the former William Easterby trained Demain des L’Aube who was placed in a short Hunter Chase at Stratford when last seen. Bistouri d’Honore is another to have changed stable since last season and will now be partnered by her owner Alice Procter. Minella Encore brings winning National Hunt form but is saddled with a penalty of 10 lbs. extra. Imperial Esprit won a Chase for Harry Fry last season and is now with Roger Varnham.

The Conditions race may see the point-to-point debut of I K Brunel formerly with Olly Murphy but now in the hands of Alan Hill. The winner of a Newbury handicap chase last December he may have too much class for his rivals. Blakerigg ran some good races in defeat last season and should find a race before too long and the same comments apply to Finisher who was an excellent second to Country Legend at Cothelstone in May. Trappist Monk won a modest event at Aldington before finishing sixth in a Hunter Chase at Cheltenham.

The meeting begins with a Maiden race to be run over the shorter distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs. A number of promising types are entered from the leading stables of Tom Ellis, Bradley Gibbs, Chris Barber and Myles Osborne and it will be no surprise if the winner does not come from one of these. Tom has entered the unraced Vinnie Sparkles and is likely to be the mount of Jack Andrews who has returned to amateur ranks and will be looking to secure an early winner for the season. Bradley has the unraced Askaden and the once raced Mugs of Champagne who was last seen falling at the last in a race at Edgcote. He should be considered. Chris Barber has the ex-Gordon Elliott trained Great Schema who was last seen running in a Perth Bumper in August. Chris will know about another of his potential rivals as he trained Andy du Pierres to be a close runner up at Bratton Down but has moved to Julie Wadland’s stable and is the likely mount of champion rider James King. Mention should be made of Cooler Than Me from Myles Osborne’s yard and a likely first runner for new trainer Harry Ryall who was Chris Barber’s assistant last year but launches his career with Highway Hero who was with Chris last season.

The Restricted race may provide Cuzzicombe with a follow up success to his victory at Badbury last season. Owned by John Pearn and John Dorse and trained by Ed Walker he won a competitive Maiden race but was not seen again after that run. Monmouth Hill won at Kingston Blount on his final outing in 2022 and this home bred gelding is on the upgrade. Nowo is still a Maiden but ran two good races last season. Southfield Lily was second at Charing last December but did not run again. The most interesting horse is the Chris Barber trained Fiston des Issard previously trained by Gordon Elliott. The winner of a Maiden in Ireland on his debut for Colin Bowe in October 2019 he beat no less than Boothill now running successfully for Harry Fry. Although placed over Hurdles in Ireland he did not achieve much for his well-respected Irish trainer so it will be fascinating to see what Chris Barber can do with his new charge.

The meeting concludes with a 3-mile Maiden race for which 15 horses are entered. Jimmy Tew has had many chances to win a race and it is likely that there will be others to beat him again. The ex-Irish Sleek ‘n’Chic trained by Bradley Gibbs is one to put on the short list along with the ex-Nicky Henderson trained Go Sacre Go now in the capable hands of Sally Alner. Placed twice over Hurdles he looks a good prospect for pointing. Famoso was last seen in a two-mile Hunter Chase at Cheltenham and is now in the care of George Hiscock. Alkademon was placed in Maidens at the end of last season whereas Harry Ryall has acquired Another Furlough who finished fourth in a Bumper at Garthorpe. 

First Race 12 noon. Badbury Rings is 4miles NW of Wimborne on B3082 Postcode DT11 9JL

Entry Costs £15 per person by Cash or card on the gate 

Race 1:            4 & 5 year old Maiden 

1^st         Great Schema

2^nd        Cooler Than Me

3^rd        Highway Hero 

Runners:          6                      Distances:        nk,  9l                          Time: 5m 31s

Race 2:            Conditions (Level 2) Novice Riders 

1^st         Minella Encore

2^nd        Bistouri d’Honore

3^rd        Demain des L’Aube

 Runners:          5                      Distances:        6l, 25l                          Time: 6m 15s

Race 3:            Conditions (Level 3)

 1^st         Trappist Monk

2^nd        Finsher

3^rd        

Runners:          3                      Distances:        4l,                                Time: 6m 23s

Race 4:            Mixed Open 

1^st         Highway One O One

2^nd        Tom Barton

3^rd        Who’s My Jockey 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        15l, 2.75l                                 Time: 6m 03s

Race 5:            Restricted 

1^st         Southfield Lily

2^nd        Monmouth Hill

3^rd        Jimmy Tew 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        12l, 30l                        Time: 6m 06s

Race 6:            Maiden (NWFAA) 

1^st         Another Furlough

2^nd        Laurel Girl

3^rd        Famoso 

Runners:          9                      Distances:        6l, 1.5l                         Time: 6m 13s

N/A

A very balmy and sunny day brought many racegoers to Badbury Rings near Wimborne last Sunday to enjoy the Portman Hunt point to point. It felt more like an April spring day (when the Portman used to hold their meeting) rather than Remembrance Sunday in November. The quicker going did deter some who brought horses to run but there were still six competitive races held at the Dorset course. It was a day of firsts for an owner, rider, and trainer as well as an impressive performance in the feature race, the Mixed Open.

The Hendy Jaguar sponsored Mixed Open race was a high-quality event with all five runners having won last season. Rio Quinto ridden by George Hiscock set off in front and was still leading at the second last. However, his stamina soon faltered and allowed Highway One O One ridden by Molly Landau to sweep by and record a fifteen lengths victory over course specialist Tom Barton ridden by Natalie Parker. Successful four times last season when ridden by Freddie Gordon he retains his form well and looks to be forging a new partnership with Molly. Trained by Jenny Gordon for owner Anthony Ward-Thomas he enjoys the top of the ground going and may well run up a sequence this season. Molly, 17, who works for Chris Gordon full time, was recording her fourth career victory having already won two races under Rules. Jenny commented that ‘Molly gave him a lovely ride’ and hopes to support her further this season.

The meeting began with the NFU Mutual Sturminster Newton sponsored Maiden race for four and five year olds run over two miles and four furlongs. Great Schema ridden by Will Biddick and Cooler Than Me had a good battle over the final two fences and despite jumping left-handed Great Schema held his rival by a diminishing neck at the line. Trained by Chris Barber for new owner Christine Wall from Keinton Mandeville who helps Chris at his stable at Littlewindsor it was a first victory for the four year old’s owner with her first runner. Bought by Chris at Doncaster in September he went to look at another horse from Gordon Elliott’s stable, but Gordon recommended this gelding to him as being a suitable candidate for pointing. Chris did express that the victory was ‘very unexpected,’ but he had taken him to the opening meet of the Cattistock and had jumped more than twenty obstacles during the day. Winning rider Will described his mount as ‘a little pocket rocket’ who acted on the faster ground.

The Domvs Estate Agents sponsored Conditions race for Novice Riders will be a race Talor Hopkins will never forget. Aboard her father Leighton’s Minella Encore Talor pulled away from main rival Bistouri D’Honore ridden by Alice Procter to record a comfortable success by six lengths. It was Talor’s first winning point to point ride and she was quick to give praise to her boss Sam Thomas for all the help he gives her at his Welsh stable. Talor, 18, hails from Newport and this was her fourth career ride and according to her proud parents she always wanted to ride horses at a very early age. Bought by Leighton at Doncaster in May from Dr Richard Newland’s stable this ten year gelding already the winner of five races under Rules looks certain to give Talor some enjoyable rides this season.

Robert Varnham brought three horses to the Dorset venue from his base in the South East and was rewarded when Trappist Monk ridden by Daniel Kyne beat Finisher ridden by Charlie Sprake in the Coane Construction sponsored Conditions race. They had the race between them from a long way from home and Trappist Monk had four lengths in hand at the winning post. Daniel who is based with Mark Grant at Lambourn was recording his ninth point to point success and he did win the Amateurs Derby at Epsom in August aboard Saratoga Gold for Charles Hills. 

Southfield Lily made all to win the Symonds and Sampson sponsored Restricted race and her bold jumping under Lily Bradstock was spectacular on occasions. Market rival Monmouth Hill ridden by Charlie Marshall tried valiantly to tackle the mare but the weight difference of seven pounds between them proved decisive. Owned by Angela Yeoman who was watching one of her other horses Southfield Harvest run in the Southern National at Fontwell the mare was described by her trainer Sara Bradstock as being’ very quirky.’ Not keen on allowing anyone in her box Sara leaves Lily to catch her and recognizes that her charge as being ‘an alpha mare.’ A winner of the Maiden race here a year ago the mare is clearly a force to be reckoned with at Badbury. 

Rookie trainer Harry Ryall, 23, had saddled Highway Hero to finish third in the first Maiden but was delighted to train a winner on his first day with runners when Another Furlough ridden by Josh Newman won the Two Scoops Consulting Maiden Race. Trained for his father Nicholas and Nicholas’s boss Paul Rothwell who runs Empire Property Concepts in Doncaster Harry had bought the five year old gelding at Ascot in September from David Phelan’s yard. Originally from Yorkshire he and his brother Tom (now the Clerk of the Course at Warwick and Nottingham) came down to Seaborough to work for Harry Fry some six years ago and then became Chris Barber’s assistant for the last two seasons. Deciding to branch out on his own he is based at Peckmoor Farm, Crewkerne where he runs a satellite yard for Anthony Honeyball and in addition, he also hopes to run six pointers. Thrilled with the ride given to the gelding by the highly experienced Josh Newman Harry was able to celebrate his initial victory with his father and brother who were both in attendance.