Secretary:   Jonathan Brooking

Contact Details Tel: 07775 017340

Email: jonathanbrooking@gmail.com

Entries Secretary:   Gemma Brooking

Address:   The Post House Great Elm Frome Somerset BA11 3NY

E Mail:         jonathanbrooking@gmail.com 

M:               07787 299662

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

Entries close:   Monday 30th January 2023 12.30pm

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

First Race:   12.00 am

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

Larkhill hosts its second meeting of 2023 following the cancellation due to frost for last weekend’s meeting when the Combined Services look forward to welcoming all their Point-to-Point in aid of the Service Charity SSAFA. This year’s race sponsors are Caterpillar, QinetiQ, Sopra Steria, Stable, IBM and BMC, and the organisers thank them for their generosity.  There will the usual mix of trade stands catering for food, drink, clothing and pets and this year will also see some live music and the chance to look around a Challenger 2 tank.  Access to the course is signposted off the Amesbury to Marlborough A345 and there is plenty of room for parking. The first race is scheduled to start at 12.45pm. Entry is £15 per person with under 16s admitted free. 

With 70 entries, the meeting is famed for its Coronation Cup for which 18 entries have been received and it looks to be a very strong renewal.  The Waley-Cohen family won this last year with Maitree Express and they are keen for a repeat and have Igor entered. He may have needed his run on debut in November but didn’t build on it next time back here and others may have better chances. Ballotin has good winning form under rules and hunter chasing but has been off course for some time.  Born Survivor also had decent form under Rules when with Dan Skelton and took a fair scalp when downing winning machine Southfield Theatre around here last month under a driven ride by Chloe Emsley.  Olive Nicholls is jocked-up for four in this race, two of which are also entered in the Ladies Race. The other two, Shantou Flyer and Rhythm is A Dancer are in great form this season. The former dead heated with Commanche Red here in November and then beat the Aintree Foxhunter winner, Latenightpass at Chaddesley Corbett the following month. Rhythm is a Dancer won very easily at Cocklebarrow last weekend so this race may come too quick.  Sixteen Letters runs well at this track but was no match for the top class Famous Clermont here last time. He could be a decent each way choice while Zamparelli may need the run 

The meeting kicks off with a Novice Riders race and entries include Second Time Around who won a restricted here three years ago but hasn’t regained that form in two starts for new connections.  Another Stowaway did not show much on his first start pointing but won twice for trainer Tom George and could improve for his debut. It’s for Alan showed up well for a long way at Chaddesley in December before fading. Doldido has some fair placed form in these sort of events including a second to Envious Editor here in November. Commanche Red forced a dead heat with Shantou Flyer here back in November under an excellent ride by Molly Landau and a repeat of that could make him hard to beat. Max Comley introduces an interesting newcomer in Oscar Montel who won twice for Charlie Longsdon and he could pose a danger as could Belami des Pictons who is now with Sam Loxton. A recent recruit from the Venetia Williams yard, he won six times and achieved a rating of 148 under Rules. Coco Live is a four time winner around Larkhill but is making his seasonal debut, while Spectacular Rival should improve on his here on New Year’s Day. 

The Restricted features the very impressive Regatta de Blanc who blew her rivals away on her debut under Will Biddick here in a maiden at the beginning of January. On that day Happy Day Emery won the other maiden under a good ride from Martin McIntyre beating The Ballybreen Fox (won next time at Milborne) and would be her biggest threat. Access Granted may opt to go to Horseheath while Cuzzicombe could be one for the places. 

Olive Nicholls has the choice of two in the Ladies race, the first being Virolay for her mother, Georgie and My Way for Sam Loxton. Virolay has already shown his liking for the course when beating subsequent winner Paloma Blue here on New Year’s Day with Not A Role Model back in 3rd. That form is looking strong. Her other ride, My Way won once under Rules. Now transferred to Sam Loxton’s yard, he ran in a Taunton Hunter Chase three weeks ago.  Montanna won three times for trainer Peter Bowen but has not been seen for a while and is best watched.

 The Maiden Conditions race could go to Ping Pong Paddy for the Chris Barber team. He ran twice in Ireland and ought to improve on his UK debut last season when he was 5^th at Cothelstone being out of a dual winner, herself related to the useful St Pirran.  Teresa Clark has acquired Millstone from Tom Ellis for whom he was a close second on his final start at Garthorpe. That however was 18 months ago and he should be noted in the paddock. City Storm ran well here on debut when third behind Matchadam and is of interest.

 The finale is a Maiden with 13 entries, two of which come from Chris Barber whose youngsters are always of interest in these races. The 4 year old, Machu Picchu is out of a winning mare and has a useful weight allowance.  His other entry, Itsnotcosiownhim, is by sire sensation Blue Bresil and is a half-brother to the useful Fou et Sage who had Listed form in France over hurdles. Fran Poste is also another trainer to farm these races and she has Delta Wing, a half-brother to three time winner Morraman who is trained by Donald McCain. Of those to have run the best looks to be Hold Me Tight who posted two good seconds at Flete Park last season while Oscara was a distant second to high-class Regatta de Blanc, likely favourite for the Restricted.

Race 1:            Conditions (Level 2) Novice Riders 

1^st         Doldido

1^st         Another Stowaway

3^rd        It’s For Alan 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        DH, 2l                          Time: 6m 9s

Race 2:            Restricted 

1^st         Regatta de Blanc

2^nd        Rock The Hill

3^rd        Cuzzicombe

Runners:          7                      Distances:        hd, 10l                         Time: 5m 59s

Race 3:            Ladies Conditions (Level 2)

 1^st         Montanna

2^nd        Not a Role model

3^rd        Perpignan

Runners:          9                      Distances:        2l, 13l                          Time: 5m 53s

Race 4:            Mixed Open (Coronation Cup) 

1^st         Viroflay

2^nd        Sixteen Letters

3^rd        Born Survivor 

Runners:          10                    Distances:        2.75l, 9l                       Time: 5m 50s

Race 5:            Maiden Conditions 2m4f 

1^st         Great Colewood

2^nd        Ping Pong Paddy

3^rd        City Storm 

Runners:          7                      Distances:        15l, 8l                          Time: 5m 6s

Race 6:            Maiden 

1^st         Sir Shelby

2^nd        Marton Abbey

3^rd        Oscara

Runners:          7                      Distances:        4l, 3l                            Time: 6m 4s

N/A

A high-quality field took part in the Stable sponsored Coronation Gold Cup Mixed Open at the Combined Services point to point.  A good crowd was able to enjoy sunshine and some very competitive racing which included a dead heat with a unique twist, a dramatic conclusion to the Restricted race, a riding double for Chloe Emsley and a training double for Edward Walker and a first winner after 50 years of owning horses.

The feature race, one of the Classic point to point races of the season, did not disappoint and produced an impressive winner in the youngest member of the ten strong field namely Viroflay owned by Paul Nicholls and John Bolton and trained by Georgina Nicholls and ridden by Olive Nicholls. Only a 6 year old and having his third point to point race he took up the running after the eighth fence and although hard pressed by Sixteen Letters ridden by Josh Newman from the second last he asserted on the run in and had three lengths in hand at the winning post. The apple of his trainer’s eye he jumped for fun for Olive which she described as a ‘real thrill’. There are no immediate plans for him, but Paul did say that he may well be going Novice Chasing under Rules next season but will need the ground to be no faster than the good going he encountered at Larkhill.

The meeting began with the Caterpillar Combined Services Conditions Race for Novice Riders for which Another Stowaway made most the running under Lawrence Jordan and looked like he was going to hold on until he was joined on the line by Doldido ridden by Ollie Ayton. The judge could not split them and declared a dead heat. Whilst that was unusual the fact that both of the riders were recording their first ever career victory made the result more remarkable. Another Stowaway a former inmate of Tom George’s stable was giving his trainer Saraana Jordan from Ledbury  her first ever winner and her husband Will a starter under rules was present to lead up to make a real family triumph. Lawrence, 22, who was riding in his eighth race explained that he had joined Will Biddick’s stable a couple of months ago and wanted to thank Will for his help and advice but wanted to give full credit to his parents for the work on training the horse. Ollie, 27, was riding in his tenth race on his father John’s Doldido on whom he had been placed second at the first Larkhill meeting behind Envious Editor. Sadly his father John missed the victory as he was flying at exactly the same time as the race. Ollie who is a Product Manager explained that part of the credit should be given to John Lovejoy who is assistant to licensed trainer Lydia Richards.

The Qinetiq Restricted race looked to be heading for a close finish between Happy Day Emery ridden by Martin ‘Fly’ McIntyre, Regatta de Blanc ridden by Will Biddick and Rock the Hill ridden by Daniel Ellis. The first named was still leading at the last but made a mistake and despite a valiant attempt Fly was unseated leaving the other two to fight out the finish with Regatta de Blanc just prevailing by a head. A very impressive winner on her debut she showed some strong battling characteristics  to defy her rival. Described by Will as showing ‘ real tenacity and a will to win’ she looked in trouble after the third last but kept finding more when Will asked for her effort. Her delighted owner Rupert Swallow was thrilled with the success and his enthusiasm for the sport as a newcomer continues. Asked if the name of the mare has any connection with the rock band The Police he laughed and said that ‘ I am  a huge fan of the band and as the dam is called Queens Regatta it seemed the logical step to name her after one of their most famous albums’

The Soprasteria Ladies Conditions Race was the first leg of the double secured by Chloe Emsley and Ed Walker when Montanna collared long time leader Not A Role Model ridden by Fern O’Brien at the second last and had a length and a half in hand at the winning post. Owned by Reg Hopkins from Almondsbury near Bristol he explained that he had bought the gelding out of Peter Bowen’s yard at the Ascot March 2022 sale but there had been some issues that had held up his pointing debut including throwing a splint at the end of last year. He added that ‘ I have owned horses for 50 years and this is my first winner’ ‘ I rode for many years including in the Berkeley Hunt race at the age of 65’  Describing himself as a farmer he and his family have played a major part with the Berkeley for many years and one of his sons is currently the Field Master for the Hunt.

Chloe and Ed secured their respective doubles ( the first in Chloe’s career) when Great Colewood beat the favourite Ping Pong Paddy in the IBM Maiden Conditions race. Making most of the running the home bred gelding had four lengths in hand at the winning post. Having only his third race of his career at the age of eight patience has been needed by his joint owners Richard King and Polly Walker who did add that she had taken him hunting to give him some different experience and helped him to grow up. Richard has a half- brother to the winner who he advised is for sale.

The concluding BMC Maiden race provided a success for Sir Shelby ridden by Tommie O’Brien and trained by Shropshire trainer Heidi Brookshaw. Placed in a couple of points in Ireland last season he was bought by his owner Peter Clifton in May last year and thought that he would be a suitable horse for Heidi to train for him. Recording his fourth victory as an owner at Larkhill this season ( his other three all being trained by Joseph O’Shea) he is now a real fan of the course albeit a long way from his home 3 hours away. Heidi who has 12 horses in her stable has also had success at the Wiltshire course and was keen to praise Tommie’s riding as a real asset when he is available to ride for her.