Secretary:   Mr A Connell

Address:   Ingle Nook Wylye Road Hanging Langford Salisbury Wilts SP3 4NW

Contact Details    Mob: 07771 503533  

Email:   zen201559@zen.co.uk

Entries Secretary:   Mr P Hodson

Address:   Amphora Allington Salisbury Wilts SP4 0BW

Contact Details:  Tel: 01980 610764   Mob:  07790 660071

Email:   philipra@aol.com

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

Entries close:   Monday 15^th January 2024 12.30pm

Races:  Larkhill Fixtures Hunts, 4, 5yr Flat, Restricted, 5yrs+ Maiden, Mixed Open, Conditions Level 2 (Novice Riders), 5yrs+ Conditions Level 2

First Race:   11.30pm 

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

Larkhill hosts its fourth meeting of the season when the Royal Artillery hold their meeting on this coming Saturday. They have received a total of 80 entries for the 7 planned races which is scheduled to start at 11.30am. The current going is good and following the last meeting all of the fences and bends have been moved to fresh ground. There will be the usual trade stands and food outlets to enjoy and the bookmakers will be present for racegoers to have a bet or two.

The opening Hunt race is open to the Hunts that hold their meetings at Larkhill and from the six entries Sake of Secrecy owned by Stan Rawlins and Harriet Waight would be a popular local winner. Very consistent last season he ended being runner up to Palmaria at Chilfrome and a repeat of that form on his seasonal debut may be good enough. The veteran Captain Bucks trained by Jenny Gordon may be his main rival for his novice rider Peter Matthews who is seeking his first career victory. Miss Benjo flies the flag for the New Forest and she should have come on for her outing at the end of December. Get Out The Gate won 6 races under Rules but has not been seen since June 2022. 

The biggest entry of the day is the Open Maiden race for which eighteen horses are entered. Tim Vaughan has entered three horses for his son Ed to ride and of these both Jean Genie, third at Badbury Rings and Ocojohn, second at Wadebridge boast current season form whereas the other entry Galudon placed under Rules for Harry Whittington looks a good prospect for a Maiden success. Bellshazzar placed at the last meeting showed a lot of promise as has Dorset Diamond in two races at Larkhill this season. Coconut Twist was placed in five consecutive races for Brian Barr and now in the capable hands of Chris Barber will come into calculations. Special John went into a number of notebooks on his racecourse debut and he should certainly have each way prospects.

The Novice Riders race looks like an intriguing contest with several ex-NH horses meeting the progressive A Jet of Our Own who won at the last meeting for Fred Philipson-Stow. Gats and Co owned and trained by David Brace has won four chases under Rules having previously won two points. Mr Glass has won two Hurdles for Paul Nicholls and now with Will Biddick his pointing debut will be watched with interest. Poli Roi won at Ampton last weekend and if running again would come into the reckoning. The Jacqueline O’Neill trained The Composeur is another to consider. A Jet of Our Own is selected to continue his progress.

The Conditions race may see the return of Deise Aba who won a similar race at the last meeting and this looks a weaker race. Montanna will improve for his seasonal outing and ought to be a potential challenger to Deise Aba. Chenery won his last three outings in 2023 but has not run this season. Footloose has a good record at Larkhill and if fit would have chances. Deise Aba ought to be good enough.

Famous Clermont has an entry in the Mixed Open race and after his seasonal debut last month he should strip much fitter and should be able to dominate this field. Southfield Theatre will set off in front and ensure that there will be a proper pace to the race allowing Chris Barber’s stable star to use his pace at the end of the race. Looknowtlikebrian looks likely to be his main rival having won his last four races in 2023 and this tough individual will not go down without a fight. Viva Lavilla ran well at the last meeting and may be placed again. 

The Restricted race looks another strong race with Maiden winners this season at the course Our Brother John and Wolf Walker potentially meeting. Wolf Walker was impressive and was an easy winner and seems very progressive. Chabichou Dupoitou ran well at the last meeting whereas Myunclecharlie was runner up at Dunsmore for Ed Vaughan. The ex-Irish Boys Will Be Boys trained by Mike Felton looks an interesting prospect and the ex-Oliver Sherwood trained Trevada now with Fran Poste is another to consider. Douglas Longbottom was runner up to the subsequent Hunter Chase winner Regatta De Blanc at the end of November and a repetition of that form would probably be good enough.

The meeting concludes with a two-mile flat race and from the previous flat race run in December Land Girl’s Luck, Isla Getaway and Batsman who finished third, fourth ands fifth potentially reoppose. However, the majority of the other entries are all unraced so a watching brief in the paddock should be made. Clever des Mottes trained by Chris Barber, Colin Hobbs trained by Tom Scudamore and Getaways Gift trained by Anthony Honeyball are all four-year-olds and get a weight allowance. Impecunious was second in his only race at Great Trethew and might take advantage of his racecourse experience against the newcomers. 

Larkhill Racecourse is to be found 5m NW of Amesbury, Nr A303, A345 and A360 – Postcode SP4 8QR. First race 11. 30 am Entry Costs on race day £15 per person by cash or card, children under 16 go free.

Race 1:            Hunt Members 

1^st         Sake of  Secrecy

2^nd        Captain Buck

3^rd        Jarlath 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        nk, 15l                         Time: 6m 23s

Race 2:            Maiden 5YO & Up 

1^st         Coconut Twist

2^nd        Dorset Diamond

3^rd        Crawter 

Runners:          13                    Distances:        13l, 1l                          Time:6 m 13s

Race 3:            Conditions Level 2 Novice Riders 

1^st         Ask Nile

2^nd        Oneupmanship

3^rd        

Runners:          2                      Distances:        14l, l                            Time: 7m 2s

Race 4:            Conditions Level 2 5yrs + 

1^st         Ryans Fancy

2^nd        Montanna

3^rd        Footloose 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        3l, 4l                            Time: 6m 27s

Race 5:            Mixed Open 

1^st         Famous Clermont

2^nd        Teescomponentsfly

3^rd        

Runners:          2                      Distances:        Dist                              Time: 6m 10s

Race 6:            Restricted 

1^st         Wolf Walker

2^nd        Douglas Longbottom

3^rd        Chabichou Dupoitou 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        4l, 15l                          Time: 6m 19s

Race 7 :           Flat Div 1 

1^st         Colin Hobbs

2^nd        Swingonthesteel

3^rd        Iala Getaway 

Runners:          8                      Distances:        4l, 5l                            Time: 3m 59s

Race :              Flat Div 2 

1^st         Batsman

2^nd        Land Girl’s Luck

3^rd        Dave’s Sister 

Runners:          7                      Distances:        5l, 9l                            Time: 3m 57s

N/A

The rearranged meeting of the Royal Artillery point to point took place at Larkhill on a dry afternoon with several notable performances  including a riding treble for Will Biddick and a training treble for Chris Barber, a first ever training victory for a recently retired jockey and a double for the stallion Jack Hobbs in the divided Bumper race.

The Cordings Limited sponsored Larkhill Hunt race opened the meeting with the locally trained Sake of Secrecy expected to provide owners Stan Rawlins and Harriet Waight with an empathetic victory but although the gelding managed to secure a neck victory over the veteran Captain Buck’s it was hard work. His rider Charlie Sprake had a number of worrying moments and his jumping was far from fluent but a relieved Charlie exclaimed ‘at least he put his head down and got the job done’ on dismounting. Stan described him as ‘not a Larkhill horse despite where he is trained’ (in sight of the course) and he is likely to be campaigned away from the Wiltshire course for the rest of the season.

Will and Chris secured the first leg of their respective trebles when Coconut Twist put up an impressive performance in the Maiden race. Tracking the two leaders for most of the race, Will eased his mount into the lead approaching the second last and drew clear on the run in. Owned by Troika Racing and previously in the care of trainer Brian Barr, he had been prepared initially by Daisy Hitchins who had been Brian’s assistant for 12 years before moving to Chris at the beginning of December. Daisy who is awaiting her license to train herself under Rules having completed her modules explained that ‘we have had him for more than two years and he ran a number of good races last summer’ Whether  he returns to NH racing or stays pointing , he looks an interesting prospect.

The Nimrod Sponsored Conditions Race for Novice Riders proved to be a slow race for the two declared horses and there was little between Ask Nile and Oneupmanship until after the final open ditch when Ask Nile drew away from his rival. Walter Barnett riding his first winner for owner Tim Underwood was recording his third career victory and reported that his mount had ‘jumped very well’ and that’ I am   becoming fond of Larkhill as this was my second win at the course this season’. Tim indicated that the gelding is likely to remain in Novice Riders races this season.

There was much stable confidence in the Max Comley trained Ryans Fancy in SDP Farriery sponsored Conditions race and this proved to be well founded. Ridden confidently by James King he had too much in hand to defeat main rival Montanna ridden by Chloe Emsley. Owned by a family partnership headed up by Rebecca Bell who works for Max and hopes to make her riding debut on the gelding later in the season. Bought privately from Caroline Robinson Max thought that ‘the gelding should prove to be a perfect schoolmaster for Rebecca who used to work for Anthony Honeyball in Dorset.’

The Nimrod sponsored Mixed Open race proved to be an exhibition round of jumping from the Aintree hero from last season Famous Clermont apart from the sixth fence where a lapse of concentration caused some concern. Making all from his sole rival Teescomponentfly he crossed the line in a good time with the length of the run in between them. Chris Barber expressed satisfaction with the outing saying, ‘that will put him nearly spot on for his next outing which will be the Walrus Hunter Chase at Haydock’ (which he won last year). He added that ‘he may have some work over poles with Rupert Nuttall to sharpen up his jumping before his February date.’.

Will and Chris achieved their respective trebles when Wolf Walker beat his market rival Douglas Longbottom in the Honourable Artillery Company sponsored Restricted race. Impressive on his debut at the previous Larkhill meeting he was strongly fancied to follow up and despite looking vulnerable after the second last Will had more in hand and drew away to record a four lengths victory. Part owner Robert Fear whilst being delighted with his gelding’s success indicated that ‘he will not be set any fancy targets for this season and it is important to keep the lid on him as he is a real long-term prospect’ Owners Robert and Andrew Ham have much to look forward to. 

The JRL Group sponsored Bumper was divided on the day with 15 of the 17 horses entered declared to run. The first division saw an impressive winner for newcomer Colin Hobbs trained by the recently retired jockey Tom Scudamore with his first ever runner as a trainer. Owned by his breeder Caroline Beresford-Wylie and Richard Kent he is a son of the stallion Jack Hobbs and his dam Colin’s Sister won five Hurdle races and was fourth in Stayers Hurdle in 2018. Tom paying his first visit to Larkhill since a 16-year-old recalled that ‘I do not have good memories here as I only had three rides here when I first started riding and did not get round on any of them including breaking my collar bone but this is brilliant’. Ridden by the leading Novice Rider Ed Vaughan he explained that ‘I had a call a couple of weeks ago from Tom asking me to ride and went and sat on the gelding last week’ He showed a good turn of foot over the final furlong and looks an exciting prospect.

The second division also went to another son of Jack Hobbs this time Batsman bred by the Bradstock family out of Maid of Oaksey who is a half sister to the prolific Coneygree and Carruthers. The Max Comley trained Land Girl’s Luck looked the winner but as the field came into the home straight Lily Bradstock asked her mount to quicken and he responded willingly to her urgings. Delighted to train her first winner of the season and her first ever Bumper winner Sara was pleased that the family winning lineage has been continued.