Secretary:   Mrs Susie Old

M:  07967 589543

E:  susieoldpoint2point@gmail.com

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

Entries close:   Monday 12th February 2024 12.30pm

Races:   CA Members Conditions Level 3,  Maiden, Ladies Open, Mens Open, Restricted, CA Members Conditions Level 2 (Novice Riders)

First Race: 11.25

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

The loss of Buckfastleigh last weekend and the abandonment of Knightwick has led to a bumper entry being received at the Countryside Alliance Club (Wessex) meeting scheduled for this coming Sunday at Badbury Rings near Wimborne.  A total of 158 entries have been received and as a consequence the Maiden race has been split into four divisions and the start of racing brought forward to 11.25am and currently there are nine races scheduled with the possibility of another division on the day. The course has taken the rain well and the current going report is good with all of the bends being moved since the previous meeting in November. There will be many trade stands and food outlets as well as the usual Family Dog Racing. Disabled parking adjacent to the Paddock with good viewing of the Big Screen.

The main headline sponsors for the meeting are Savills and Howden Insurance and a donation is being made to the Injured Jockeys Fund from the sponsorship of the Maiden race. There will be a minute’s silence in memory of Keagan Kirkby before the first race.

The meeting begins with a Conditions race for which an entry of 24 horses have been received. The veteran Raven’s Tower had a pleasing seasonal debut behind Wagner at Cocklebarrow and he has a good relationship with Megan Fox. Minella Jab won easily at Wadebridge and is in good form. Montanna was second at Larkhill and should come into the reckoning. Harry Ryall has entered both the course winner Another Furlough and Scoresby a good winner at Milborne St Andrew. Another Furlough is likely to take up this entry and a repetition of his impressive victory at the November meeting should be good enough. Perfect Pirate may be the first runner for the recently retired jockey Luca Morgan and his move to the training ranks will be followed with interest.

The Mens Open race looks a highly quality event with Deise Aba the winner of two of his three starts this season enjoying his racing between the flags. He has built a good relationship with Zac Baker and is likely to put up a good show in this race. Highway Jewel ran well at Milborne but had no answer when Macklin swept by but had Dr Rhythm behind her. Keith Cumings charge has a good record at Badbury and may reverse the form with Bradley Gibbs’ mare. Captain Tommy won a Hunter Chase at Ludlow but this looks a tougher assignment. Both Lift Me Up and Marcle Ridge are high class horses but neither have run this season so far so may need the race. Duc de Bourbon won well at Milborne St Andrew and this former useful chaser may be capable of more and is a tentative selection.

The Conditions Race for Novice Riders may see another victory for Itacare already the winner of two similar races for Rian Corcoran and this combination are worth following. For Rita has run well for her rider Abigail Henry and comes into the reckoning. Minella Jab holds an entry in this race and if chosen he should be on the short list. Westhill secured a hat trick of wins two seasons ago but missed last season and pulled up on his seasonal debut. Now in a new yard he is another to consider. Rocheston is another coming back from an absence and his rider Purdy Peaster gets on with him and could be one to run well.

The Ladies Open race features the course specialist Tom Barton who showed his best form when narrowly beaten at Milborne St Andrew by No Comment. A repeat of that form would bring him into the mix. Another runner up at Milborne was Eritage ridden by Ella Orttewell and the lower weight should help him. A similar comment applies to Walkin Out who has yet to show her best form from last season but she should not be disregarded. The veteran Wotzizname may need the race as might Hybery but if Montanna opts for this race rather than the opening Conditions race he may be the one to support. 

The Restricted race has attracted the biggest entry of 25 horses. Chris Barber has entered both Coolattitude who has yet to run this season and the lightly raced Potters Magic who was fourth at Larkhill on his last outing. An improved performance will be expected from him. Scoresby was an easy winner at Milborne St Andrew and is clearly on the upgrade. He dead heated with The Sumba Island at Cotley last season and that rival may reoppose. Quickcharge ran well behind Wagner at Cocklebarrow and looks to have a good chance. Red Nika won his Maiden at Woodford for Sophie Lacey and was then placed over Hurdles and is an interesting recruit back to pointing. Sake of Secrecy won his Hunt race at Larkhill and Great Colewood took his Hunt race at Milborne St Andrew and of the two is preferred. The Bradley Gibbs trained Dondiam won at Kingston Blount last season and if ready for his seasonal debut is the selection. 

The first division of the Maiden may see a victory for Glenmount runner up in both his races this season for trainer Julie Wadland. Keepitfrombecky showed a great improvement on her runs under rules when runner up at Chipley Park and may be the main danger. All Night Parking was runner up at Larkhill but pulled up on a return visit to the Wiltshire course. Sforza Castle has place form under rules for Ben Pauling and this drop to points may bring about an improvement. Chris Barber introduces a four-year gelding Till You Can’t and he should be on the short list.

The second division may see a first victory for Dorset Diamond already placed twice this season. The booking of Will Biddick for Rachel Bartlett’s gelding catches the eye and he would not be winning out of turn. Getaway Cory has run well for Ed Vaughan and may be the main danger. Killard Point was third in an Irish point and his English debut should be watched. Both Pillar to Post and Look At Mee ran with some promise on their debuts and are open to improvement.

Rowdy was heavily fancied on his debut at Milborne St Andrew and although disappointing he will be expected to show a much better performance  in the third division. Of those that have raced Get Cracking has been placed twice this season and Hallowed Rose was runner up twice last season. The two unraced entries My Hera a half sister to My Drogo and No Drama This End a 4-year-old Walk in the Park gelding should both be considered and it would be no surprise if either were to triumph. 

The final division of the Maiden may allow the thrice runner up Deep Purple to break his duck. Runner up to the progressive Wolf Walker he should be too good for his rivals. Comonilean and Bud Succes were third and fourth in a Maiden at Milborne St Andrew and will have place possibilities. Special John ran a race of promise at Larkhill and might be the one to chase Deep Purple home. 

First Race 11.25am. 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:            Conditions (Level 3) 

1^st         Another Furlough

2^nd        Punches Cross

3^rd        Oneupmanship 

Runners:          15                    Distances:        10l, 20l                        Time: 6m 28s

Race 2:            Mens Open

 1^st         Dr Rhythm

2^nd        Lift Me Up

3^rd        The Kings Writ 

Runners:          10                    Distances:        10l, 4l                          Time: 6m 33s

Race 3:            Conditions (Level 2) 

1^st         For Rita

2^nd        Westhill

3^rd        Rocheston 

Runners:          16                    Distances:        1/2l, 11/2l                   Time: 6m 38s

Race 4:            Ladies Open 

1^st         Montanna

2^nd        Walkin Out

3^rd        Sizing Cusimano 

Runners:          8                      Distances:        12l, nk                         Time: 6m 30s

Race 5:            Restricted 

1^st         Red Nika

2^nd        Trevada

3^rd        Great Colewood 

Runners:          12                    Distances:        12l, 2l                          Time: 6m 35s

Race 6:            Maiden Div 1 

1^st         Glenmount

2^nd        Sforza Castle

3^rd        All Night Parking 

Runners:          14                    Distances:        25l, 15l                        Time: 6m 44s

Race 7 :           Maiden Div 2 

1^st         Dorset Diamond

2^nd        Trendy Lady

3^rd        

Runners:          11                    Distances:        23l, l                            Time: 6m 42s

Race 8 :           Maiden Div 3 

1^st         No Drama This End

2^nd        Rowdy

3^rd        Navegaon Gate 

Runners:          12                    Distances:        23l, 8l                          Time: 6m 34s

Race 9 :           Maiden Div 4 

1^st         Hurricane Deal

2^nd        Assassins Lullaby

3^rd        

Runners:          10                    Distances:        30l, l                            Time: 6m 44s

N/A

The sun shone at Badbury Rings after heavy rain in the previous 24 hours and this made the going on the soft side and a number of horses found this too testing. However, the ground played to the strengths of a couple of course specialists and the two leading riders in the country were able to secure wins in five of the nine races with Will Biddick securing three victories and James King two successes. Elsewhere there was a first riding triumph for Abby Henry and a first course success for Murray Dodd.

The Bryanston School Club Members race provided the third course success from four visits for Harry Ryall’s stable star Another Furlough. Ridden as usual by Rob David he bided his time until making up ground on the second circuit and by the time the field reached the cross fence he was in front. Despite getting a little lonely in the home straight he had too much in hand over Punches Cross ridden by Will Biddick. A delighted trainer said ‘he will move up to Open company next with a race at Cothelstone being considered’ with the ultimate goal this season being the Intermediate Final at Cheltenham in May.

The Savills Wessex National Mens Open was a high-quality race with victory going to another course specialist in the form of Dr Rhythm ridden by Will Biddick ahead of Lift Me up ridden by Jack Andrews and The Kings Writ the mount of Josh Newman who is the usual rider of Dr Rhythm. Will sitting on Tina Dunsford and Peter Clarke’s gelding for the first time secured a number of good leaps from him and showed the benefit of his outing at Milborne. This was his third career victory at Badbury in the last three years and a delighted Keith Cumings was thrilled with the performance of his stable star.

The Hendy Jaguar sponsored Conditions race for Novice Riders produced the biggest field of the day with sixteen runners lining up. The race looked to be between Westhill ridden by Fred Philipson-Stow and Western Cowboy ridden by Will Badlan who vied for the lead for most of the race with the former looking the likely winner jumping the last. However, Abby Henry had other ideas and producing a strong run from the final fence grabbed victory in the final strides. Abby,23, originally from Ludlow where she had hunted and ridden ponies, now lives in Lambourn and is an assistant to the well-known pre-trainer Malcolm Bastard from Aldbourne near Marlborough. Bought privately out of Fran Nimmo’s yard the mare has already run two good races for Abby this season and is proving to be a good schoolmistress for her. 

The Howden Insurance sponsored Ladies race was expected to give Gina Andrews another winner aboard Ludlow Hunter Chase winner Captain Tommy but once headed approaching the final ditch he soon weakened and was pulled up. The race then developed into a battle between the mare Walkin Out ridden by Anna Johnston and Montanna partnered by Chloe Emsley with the last-named drawing clear on the run in to give owner Reg Hopkins a welcome winner. Explaining that ‘I was worried about the ground for him as he had not run well on his seasonal debut’ he then proudly said ‘I am really chuffed with that performance and pleased for Ed (Walker) who has done a lot with him.’ 

The training performance of the day came from Red Nika ridden by James King and trained by Eamonn O’Donnabhain. Defying an absence from the racecourse of approaching three years he was too good for Great Colewood ridden by Chloe Emsley in the South West Wills and Probate Limited sponsored Restricted race. Previously trained by Tom Lacey he was taken on by Dan Shinton who acts as farrier to Tom’s National Hunt yard and was given time to recover from the injury he suffered on his last racecourse appearance. Dan was keen to give credit to Toni James who had looked after him in that first year when he was off the course. Now owned by the Day Dreamer Partnership who are made up of other clients of Dan the long-term goal for the gelding is the Dunraven Bowl Hunter Chase at Chepstow 

The decision to divide the Maiden race into four races proved spot on with 49 of the 56 entries being declared to run. All supported by the Injured Jockeys Fund the first division provided James King with his second winner of the day aboard Julie Wadland’s Glenmount who easily beat his thirteen rivals. Setting off in front, James soon had his rivals toiling and had twenty lengths in hand from his nearest rival Sforza Castle. Previously runner up at Larkhill and Milborne St Andrew he certainly stayed the three mile trip to give his trainer a welcome winner on her birthday. He looks one to follow this season.

Will Biddick brought up his second winner on the day aboard Rachel Bartlett’s home bred gelding Dorset Diamond in the second division. With his only serious rival Moon Lady unseating her rider Chloe Emsley at the second last Will was able to come home virtually solo. Bred by Rachel out of the mare Bobbys Choice who won two races for Richard Miller both at Badbury Rachel wanted  to ‘thank Richard Miller for giving her the mare’ from whom she has bred this winner and his brother Dorset Dazzler.

Will completed his treble aboard the very smart 4-year-old No Drama This End in the fastest division of the Maiden when easily beating the other 4-year-old Rowdy ridden by James King. By the fashionable sire Walk in the Park this striking grey gelding is owned by Will and Geoffrey Brown from Exmoor. Bought by Will and Geoffrey at the Goffs July Sale for 26K Euros as a first venture by them into buying a store. Explaining the connection Geoffrey said that ‘ I first supported Will when he returned to pointing from Venetia Williams and we have remained friends ever since and when I heard he wanted to venture into buying a couple of stores I decided to be a part of the action’ Known for being a part owner of Lil Rockerfeller trained by Neil King this is his first venture back into pointing for many years. The gelding is next likely to be seen at a forthcoming sale at Cheltenham.

The final division of the Maiden went to Hurricane Deal trained by Tom Britten and ridden by Murray Dodd. Trained in Shropshire by Tom who is assistant to National Hunt trainer Alistair Ralph for owners Mark Bricknell, Mark Edwards, Derek Boughton and himself he explained that ‘ we bought the horse out of Sam Thomas’s yard and thought that he would be good enough to at least win a Maiden’  Murray who also works at Alistair Ralph’s yard was left clear at the last fence to record his first victory at Badbury.