Secretary:   Mrs Katy Davis

Address:   Honeysuckle House Lower Fifehead Dairy Sturminster Newton Dorset DT10 2AP

Contact Details    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 23rd January 2023 12.30pm

Races:   Hunt (South Dorset & Wilton), 4,5 &6yrs Open Maiden (2m 4f), Ladies Open, Mens Open, Restricted, Maiden 7yrs+, CA/PPORA Members Conditions (Level 2)

First Race:   12.15pm 

The Wessex season continues away from Larkhill when the South Dorset hold their fixture at the popular Milborne St Andrew course situated between Dorchester and Blandford on Sunday. The meeting has been rewarded with a fantastic entry of 148 horses and this has resulted in the first race being divided and an earlier planned start of 12 noon. With the weather forecast giving a thaw from the current frosty conditions the signs are encouraging for a great day’s racing to enjoy and the current going report is good and good to soft in places. There will be a number of trade stands to browse, food and drink outlets and the  bookmakers to place a wager.

The highlights of the meeting are the two Open races and the first of these the Ladies Race has attracted a high quality entry of 18 horses. Headed by the veteran Caid Du Berlais who has now celebrated his fourteenth birthday who remains unbeaten in his eight point to points to date he will be partnered by Natalie Parker who is his regular rider. It will take a good rival to lower his colours but Born Survivor the winner on his pointing debut at Larkhill might give him a battle if he decides to swerve his entry at Larkhill the day before. A classy horse under Rules he was the training partner of Santini last season but he has the chance to give Chloe Emsley another notable victory. Others to consider are the consistent Beau du Brizais who is likely to be ridden by promising Molly Landau but this will be his seasonal debut, Sixteen Letters who won Ladies races last season for Lucy Turner, Rhythm Is A Dancer who will improve for his seasonal debut at Larkhill, the ex-Kim Bailey trained One For Rosie now with Jason Maguire who won two of his four chases and the course specialist Tom Barton who has yet to show his best form this season. Caid du Berlais is the selection.

An equally competitive Men’s Open race follows and both One for Rosie and Sixteen Letters hold entries in this race. Singapore Saga won well at Wadebridge and was the only one to give Envious Editor a race at the first Hunter Chase at Taunton earlier this month. Kaproyale was no match for Famous Clermont at Larkhill but does not meet a potential rival of that level in this race. Trio for Rio was in good form last season but pulled up on his seasonal debut at Knightwick. Pride of Lecale is the potential pointing training  debut for former jockey Noel Fehily and this winning chaser is worth noting. Country Legend has a good record at Milborne and won on her seasonal debut last season and will certainly give a good account of herself. Will Biddick may introduce the ex French trained Macklin and this gelding owned by John Studd who also owns the Cheltenham Hunter Chase winner Porlock Bay is definitely one to watch. Kaproyale is chosen to frank the form from his run behind Famous Clermont.

The meeting begins with a two and a half mile Maiden Race for which 28 horses were entered and as a result this race has been divided. The first division may mostly involve Highway Hero, Katopop and The Ballybreen Fox who have all been placed this season. Highway Hero who was fifth in a competitive race at Larkhill where the fourth horse has since won may be too good for Katopop who was placed at Dunsmore and The Ballybreen Fox narrowly beaten at Larkhill. Of the newcomers Coolattitude trained by Chris Barber and Saved by Sam trained by Pauline Harkin are ones to note as is Yes and Yes now trained by Will Biddick owned by Don Constable who has a good record with his Maiden horses

The second division includes Cooler Than Me who was second at Badbury Rings when Highway Hero was third and he should be on the short list. He’llstopatthetop was an excellent third to Salt Rock at Charlton Horethorne last season and a repetition of that run may be good enough. The ex Irish Ihandaya is an interesting recruit for owner Clive Hitchings and trainer Sam Loxton. Lucarne is the daughter of Carrie On a prolific winner for Audrey Goodwin and her debut will be interesting. The ex J P McManus owned Putemunderpressure is now with Mickey Bowen and market support for him should be noted.

The Hunt race may give Dawn Sunrise the chance to replicate his victory in this race in 2022. He did not feature on his seasonal debut at Larkhill but should have come on for that race. Imogens Thunder was in  tremendous form at the end of last season winning four races in a row and if he is still in the same vein of form he will be hard to beat. Who’s My Jockey has run in Open races this season and may give Imogens Thunder the most to do.

The Seven year old and Over Maiden race is next with the biggest entry of the day with 33 horses entered so there is a risk that this race will be divided on the day. A Tipple or Two would not be winning out of turn as she has finished second in five of her eight races and deserves to get her head in front for trainer Caroline Keevil. Furioso Des Bordes was ridden by a novice last season but now with George Hiscock his placed form from last season would   give  him chances. Go Sacre Go had good form under Rules but did not show much on his debut with Sally Alner. Takeabid was second at Dunsmore whereas Tipsy Hall was third at Wadebridge. Millstone has some good form when trained by Tom Ellis in 2021 and is now with Teresa Clark whereas Right Hand of God trained locally by Hannah Clarke put in a much better performance on his seasonal debut.

The Restricted races has some promising sorts amongst its nineteen entries headed by Regatta de Blanc who demolished his rivals when winning a Maiden at Larkhill and is one to follow. Cossack Dancer was third at Chaddesley Corbett and could run into a place. Cuzzicombe was well beaten at Larkhill behind Rabble Rouser but is another with each way prospects. Jetmeoutofhere won two races last season for trainer Dean Summersby and is another to consider. Hannah Clarke has entered both Monmouth Hill and Schiap Hill and her choice should be noted. 

The meeting concludes with a Conditions race for eight years and older for which 21 horses have been entered. Dr Rhythm won three races last season and should be noted on his seasonal debut. Fiston des Issard has won both his outings this season but this is a step up and the same comments apply to Field Exhibition who has won both his outings this season for Ella Herbert. Coco Live is entered in the Hunt race at Larkhill but if this race is preferred he would have chances. Reflex Action won an eighteen runner Maiden at this meeting last year and then won a Restricted. Bold Conduct was impressive winning a Restricted at Larkhill but is another who holds an entry at Larkhill the day before. Paloma Blue was second at Larkhill behind Viroflay and he might be able to go one better in a very competitive looking finale. 

Milborne St Andrew racecourse is to be found off A354 between Dorchester and Blandford Postcode DT11 0JX .First race 12 noon . Cost of entry £15 per person with under 16s free 

Race 1:            4,5, and 6 YO Maiden 2m4f Div 1 

1^st         The Ballybreen Fox

2^nd        Highway Hero

3^rd        Yes and Yes 

Runners:          8                      Distances:        15l, 6l                          Time: 5m 31s

Race 2:            4,5, and 6 YO Maiden 2m4f Div 2 

1^st         Ihandaya

2^nd        Scoresby

3^rd        Cooler Than Me 

Runners:          6                      Distances:        11/4 l, 6l                      Time: 5m 40s

Race 3:            Hunt Members 

1^st         Imogens Thunder

2^nd        Aunt Lily

3^rd        Famoso 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        hd, 12l                         Time: 6m 45s

Race 4:            7yr+ Maiden 

1^st         Go Sacre Go

2^nd        Arv Way There

3^rd        Melvyn 

Runners:          18                    Distances:        10l, 1 3/4l                    Time: 6m 37s

Race 5:            Restricted 

1^st         Sake of Secrecy

2^nd        Between You and Me

3^rd        Imitation Game 

Runners:          8                      Distances:        4l, 10l                          Time: 6m 47s

Race 6:            Ladies Open 

1^st         Caid du Berlais

2^nd        Tom Barton

3^rd        Sir Jack Yeats 

Runners:          9                      Distances:        7l, 4l                            Time: 6m 35s

Race 7:            Mens Open 

1^st         Millbank Flyer

2^nd        Lakota Warrior

3^rd        Gran Paradiso 

Runners:          7                      Distances:        nk, 7l                           Time: 6m 38s

Race 8 :           Conditions Level 2 8yrs +    

1^st         Paloma Blue

2^nd        Reflex Action

3^rd        Ellipsism 

Runners:          8                      Distances:        2l, 5l                            Time: 6m 41s 

N/A

It was a red letter day for rider Natalie Parker who works as pupil assistant to National Hunt Trainer Paul Nicholls when she rode her first ever career treble at the South Dorset point to point. Prior to the meeting Natalie had never been able to record a double so broke that missing point of her career and then went to cap it with a third victory. Having started her riding career almost 14 years ago to the day aboard Algenon in a Novice Riders race at Chipley Park for her parents Kevin and Tracy she is now one of the leading Ladies in the Wessex area. After riding her double she confided that ‘ I had a book of four good rides today and was hopeful of riding at least one winner and perhaps more’- this proved to be an underestimation of her day.

She began her day when steering Clive Hitchings new acquisition Ihandaya trained by Sam Loxton to a length and a half success in Division 2 of the Two and a half Maiden from Scoresby. Bought at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale for £58K having been placed in two Irish Maiden races Sam described his charge as being very green with plenty of scope for the future. Natalie stated that he had ‘ given her a hell of a thrill’ and wanted to say a big thank you to Clive Hitchings for allowing her to ride him.

The meeting had begun with a very impressive win for The Ballybreen Fox ridden by Charlie Marshall in the first Division of the shorter Maiden who had twelve lengths in hand at the winning post. Owned by a partnership consisting of various members of trainer Hannah Clarke’s family and long term owners Mr and Mrs David Duncombe- Anderson he had been acquired at Doncaster last year. Hannah said that ‘ I  fell  for him at the sales and despite paying more than I had wanted I was delighted to have purchased him’ Describing him as ‘ a very raw individual’ he had clearly benefited from his debut at Larkhill and showed a real turn of foot as he left his rivals in his wake after the second last fence.

The Hunt race produced the closest finish of the day when Imogen’s Thunder ridden by Charlie Sprake just held off the late challenge of Aunt Lily ridden by Chloe Emsley by a diminishing head. Owned by Wendy Jarrett and trained by Mary Tory this was his seasonal debut and was on the back of winning his four previous outings last season . He is the only horse trained by Mary but has established a strong relationship with Charlie who was able to confirm that he plans to remain as an Amateur this season to which Mary was able to say that ‘ Imogen’s Thunder will be delighted to hear this’. Charlie who now works for Paul Nicholls knows the gelding well and further successes may follow this season.

Natalie brought up her first ever double when the Sally Alner trained Go Sacre Go easily won a competitive looking 18 runner Open Maiden for older horses. Acquired from his breeder Graham Porter privately by Sally he had shown pieces of form for previous trainer Nicky Henderson who Sally said that ‘ Nicky had been very helpful with advice about the horse and had recommended that he should run on good ground’ . Owned by a partnership headed by Patsy Todd and including Annie Tory who sadly missed the victory as she had not been well but hopefully the news of the gelding’s victory will have proved to be a tonic. His saddle had slipped at Larkhill which explained the reason why he was pulled up on his pointing debut.  The nearly 17 hands gelding is a nephew of the brilliant Sprinter Sacre and looks one to follow in 2023.

There was somewhat of a surprise in the Restricted race when Sake of Secrecy ridden by Darren Edwards beat his seven rivals and had four lengths in hand at the line from Between You and Me ridden by Josh Newman. Owned by Stan Rawlins and trainer Harriet Waight he had not shown very much on his first outing at Larkhill this season and was reported not to ‘have blown out a candle after that race’. Acquired from Neil McLean’s stable after last season having won a Maiden at Great Trethew he seemed to benefit from Darren’s handling. Recalling his last ride for Harriet at the course  nearly 6 years ago Darren remembered parting company with Bee Crossing when the mare hit a bale after jumping the ditch. 

Natalie completed her treble when Caid du Berlais maintained his pointing unbeaten record when comfortably winning the Ladies race by five lengths from Tom Barton ridden by Chloe Emsley. Now at the advanced age of 14 years he continues to belie that figure and has now secured nine consecutive victories in point to points. Sporting first time cheekpieces he was soon in his favourite position in front and despite an effort from the evergreen 13 year old Tom Barton the result was not in doubt from some way from home. Likely to remain pointing this season his main owner Colm Donlon was happy for Sam Loxton to bring him back into training for 2023. Natalie has now secured four victories on the gelding who is  a real credit to connections. 

The Man’s Open race produced another close finish with Millbank Flyer ridden by Edward Rees just holding the effort of Lakota Warrior ridden by Darren Edwards by a neck. Millbank Flyer had set off for home from the last ditch and looked to be a sitting duck until Lakota Warrior made a bad mistake at the last fence and lost much of his momentum. Despite a renewed effort on the run in the post came in time for Millbank Flyer and his enthusiastic novice rider who was stepping up considerably in class having won a Maiden at Great Trethew  and a Restricted race at Wadebridge. Previously trained by Harry Fry, who Edward works for, he is still in the part ownership of Richard Wilkin who lives locally at Cerne Abbas . This was Edward’s third career victory and he currently leads the leading Men’s Novice Championship at this early stage. 

The meeting concluded with a competitive Conditions race in which Natalie was seeking a fourth winner aboard Bold Conduct for Sally Alner. He was in front after the second last but he was swallowed up by rivals at the final fence. Held up to get the trip Josh Newman aboard Paloma Blue stayed on well on the flat to deprive Reflex Action ridden by Heidi Stevens. Acquired from Ireland where he had had some good form he had been runner up in his two English races at Dunsmore and Larkhill for the Paloma Picnickers Partnership. Headed up by Stephanie Jones, sister to Kayley Woollacott, she explained that he needs to go left handed and dropping him into point to points has cheered him  up. She added that ‘ there are still two shares available in him for sale’.