Secretary:   Mrs Susie Old

Contact Details Mob: 07967 589543  / 01258 817101

Email:   susieoldpoint2point@gmail.com

Entries to:   The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd

Entries close:   Monday 6th November 2023 12.30pm

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

First Race:   12.30 pm

ENTRY FEES  £50 per entry per race - NB. Online entry fees £50  2nd entry same horse £25

The first of 21 meetings scheduled for the Wessex point to point area will be held this coming Sunday when the Portman hold their fixture at the very popular Badbury Rings course situated between Wimborne and Blandford. The course has been in existence for more than 70 years and during its time has seen many successful horses, riders and trainers racing over the Dorset turf. As it is situated on chalk it is quick draining and has been able to cope with the amount of water which has fallen over the past few weeks. The latest going report is good, good to soft in places so all is set for an excellent days racing. The first race is scheduled to be underway at 12.30pm and there will be six races on the afternoon for which there are a total of 71 entries. There will be a number of trade stands to browse including food outlets, the bookmakers to have a bet with and a big screen near the paddock to watch all of the action unfold.

The meeting begins with a Maiden race for 4- and 5-year-olds over the shorter trip of two and a half miles. Most of the leading stables have entries amongst the 11 horses with Chris Barber having two entries with the once raced Two Becomes One placed at Kilworthy in March and the unraced Machu Picchu who is out of a mare who won a Bumper for Willie Mullins. Tom Ellis has entered the unraced A Law to Himself and he should be on the short list. Joe Hill has the unraced Kingston Blount named after the point-to-point course. Of those who have raced Chief Hopper has the best form in an Open race at the end of last season whilst the Bradley Gibbs trained Reine des Tartes was placed on his last outing. Chris Barber won this race last season and his representative is the selection.

The Conditions Race for Grassroots Riders (who have ridden less than 20 winners) has attracted 12 entries headed by the veteran Give Me a Copper who boasts Hunter Chase form from 2022 but has not been seen since. Robert Varnham has entered the prolific Count Simon and Imperial Esprit and his representative is likely to be ridden by Daniel Kyne. Moratorium brings good form and is likely to be partnered by his trainer Myles Osborne and he may be the one to beat. Oneupmanship won a Hurdle for Jack Barber and is now with Chris Barber and he looks an interesting ride for Jack Instance.

The Conditions race holds an entry for the Robert Varnham trained Trappist Monk who won 4 races last season including at this meeting last year and he boasts the best form. Wagner has good form including winning a Hunter Chase at Wincanton in 2022 and he may prove the main threat. Captain Woodie won at Kingston Blount at the end of last season under Charlie Marshall and he is another to consider.

The feature race of the day, The Mixed Open, looks a classy race on paper with a number of highly rated horses including the evergreen Southfield Theatre who keeps his enthusiasm despite now reaching the age of 15 years old, the prolific Paloma Blue who culminated his season when winning a Hunter Chase at Cheltenham, King’s Quay who won a Hunter Chase at Exeter last season and Normofthenorth who was runner up in a Hunter Chase at Stratford. Tom Barton is a regular at Badbury but if making the journey from Cheshire Time Leader winner of 4 Hunter Chases last season may prove the likely winner. He finished fifth in the Aintree Foxhunter Chase and a repeat of that form should be good enough.

The Restricted race has received 14 entries with another winner from last season’s meeting namely Another Furlough being one to consider even with a 5 pounds penalty. Fusionice won two races for owners Matt and Fliss Hampton and is progressive. Iskander Pecos won his last two races in 2023 and could be another winner for new trainer Hannah Roach. Urban Grit from Alan Hill’s stable looked promising when last seen and Chato Santana when last seen won a Restricted at Bratton Down and the stable had a winner at Dunsmore last weekend. Fusionice is the selection. 

The meeting concludes with a Maiden race with no weight for age allowances. Chief Hopper and Reine des Tartes hold entries in this race as well as the first and the first named may find this race easier. Tim Vaughan has entered both Getaway Cory who was placed over Hurdles for Kayley Woollacott and Jean Genie who brings a lot of experience over fences and either should give his 16-year-old son Ed a great chance of that first winner. Jet Smart placed in an Irish point to point was then runner up for David Pipe at Worcester and now in the capable hands of Dean Summersby he could the one in an open looking race. 

First Race 12,30pm . 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:            Maiden 2m4f 

1^st         Reine des Tartes

2^nd        Machu Picchu

3^rd        A Law To Himself 

Runners:          10                    Distances:        2l, 5l                            Time: 5m 21s

Race 2:            Condition (Level 2) Grassroots 

1^st         Morarorium

2^nd        It’s For Alan

3^rd        Sir Sholohov 

Runners:          8                      Distances:        21/4l, 13/4l                 Time: 6m 23s

Race 3:            Conditions (Level 3) 

1^st         Captain Woodlie

2^nd        Wagner

3^rd        Craigmor 

Runners:          6                      Distances:        1l, 15l                          Time: 6m 25s

Race 4:            Mixed Open 

1^st         Time Leader

2^nd        Imperial Esprit

3^rd        Southfield Theatre 

Runners:          10                    Distances:        10l, 8l                          Time: 6m 12s

Race 5:            Restricted 

1^st         Another Furlough

2^nd        Urban Grit

3^rd        Iskandar Pecos 

Runners:          13                    Distances:        12l, 4l                          Time: 6m 22s

Race 6:            Maiden (NWFAA) 

1^st         Jay Bee Whiskey

2^nd        Horizon d’Aimnay

3^rd        Jean Genie 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        10l, 1 1/2l                    Time: 6m 32s

N/A

An excellent day’s racing took place at Badbury Rings on going described by jockeys as being the best ground that they have raced on at the Dorset course for many years and although the weather deteriorated as the meeting progressed this did not stop some impressive performances being registered. The highlights were the success of Time Leader in the Mixed Open and Another Furlough in the competitive Restricted race which marked a notable double for the Ryall family.

10 out of the 11 entries for the opening NFU Mutual Maiden race over the shorter trip faced the starter and with all of the leading stables represented it looked a strong race and as the field approached the last Will Biddick aboard the newcomer Machu Picchu had the lead but Freddie Mitchell riding Reine Des Tartes timed his challenge to perfection and draw two lengths clear at the line. Trained by Bradley Gibbs for owners TS Equine formerly Ratkatcha Racing Bradley described this as a ‘brilliant ride’ by Freddie who rides out for him once a week. Freddie, who is based in Lambourn and rides out for Clive Cox described the filly as ‘she will only get better with her racing and gave me a great feel’. Both the winner and the runner-up will next be seen at the Tattersalls sale at Cheltenham on Friday.

Moratorium boasted the best form in the Greenhaven Landscapes Conditions race for Grass Roots Riders and so it turned out with his rider and trainer Myles Osborne steering his mount to a two lengths victory over It’s For Alan. Recording his third career victory Myles was delighted with the success saying that ‘good ground is essential for him’ and ‘he has to be produced at the last minute’ His parents Simon and Laksami missed the victory as they are away in Thailand but Myles was certain that they would be chuffed with his success. Based at Ben Pauling’s old yard at Bourton on the Water Myles hopes to have about 12 horses to run this season. Moratorium may take in a Hunter Chase or two in the spring.

Captain Woodie produced a bit of an upset in the Coane Construction Conditions race when beating the favourite Wagner ridden by James King. Owned and trained by Lewis Morgan based at Lambourn he was partnered by Charlie Marshall who was renewing his acquaintance with the gelding who he rode to victory at Kingston Blount last season. Lewis who works for Nicky Henderson and does the work with the gelding in his spare time did have a couple of rides on him last season but decided he should concentrate on the training as the priority.

The Savills Mixed Open race attracted a strong field of ten horses with the evergreen Southfield Theatre setting off in front with his usual enthusiasm under Lily Bradstock. However, as the field approached the final fences Huw Edwards riding Time Leader eased his way to the front and quickly drew away to record an easy ten lengths victory. Trained by Hannah Roach and watched by delighted part owners Miles and Caroline Kennerley from Sandbach, Cheshire he is likely to be aimed at the Aintree Foxhunters where he finished fifth last season. Paying their first ever visit to Badbury Miles and Caroline were complimentary about the course and the going which they described as similar to Stratford where the gelding recorded a facile victory last season. 

The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Restricted race attracted the biggest field of the day when 13 horses set off in limited and murky visibility. There was a strong pace and with the going becoming testing very few managed to get home. Rob David anchored his mount Another Furlough at the rear and gradually moved forward and drew clear after to last to record an easy victory. Trained by Harry Ryall for the Empire Racing Partnership he was recording his second win at Badbury having won the Maiden race at the corresponding meeting last year. Harry was keen to state that this victory was dedicated to the memory of trainer David Brown who died earlier this month. Harry had started his introduction to racing with David and was very grateful for the help and support he received from him. In addition to this win there was further good news from his brother Tom who had just been appointed as the new Clerk of the Course at Wincanton having been the Clerk at Warwick and Nottingham.

The Hendy Jaguar Land Rover Maiden race provided compensation for trainer Max Comley whose Wagner had been beaten earlier when Jay Bee Whiskey ridden by James King recorded a seven lengths win over Horizon D’Ainay ridden by Toby McCain-Mitchell. Previously owned by James, he was sold at the end of last season to Kevin Crawford who sadly missed the win as he was away on holiday. Max currently has 30 horses in his yard at Naunton Gloucestershire and explained that he had been very hopeful that this gelding would go well for his connections.