The Official Point-to-Point Website for the Wessex Area
New Forest 24 @ Larkhill
Date: 15/12/2024
Pony Racing: No
Course: Larkhill Racecourse
First Race: 12.00
Extra Info

Secretary:   Mr James H Young

Contact Details Tel: 01590 623043   Mob: 07771 540919

 Email:   james-young01@outlook.com

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

Entries close:   Monday 9th December 2024 12.30pm

Races:   4 & 5 years old Flat,4 & 5 year old Maiden 2m4f, Mixed Open 3m, Restricted, Conditions (Level 2), Condirions Maiden

First Race:   12.00 noon

 

ENTRY FEES  £50 per entry per race, £50  2nd entry same horse £25 (non refundable in event of abandonment)

Preview

The New Forest point to point takes place next Sunday 15th December at Larkhill.  A Bumper entry of 127 horses has been received and as a result two of the races have been divided meaning that there are now eight races and in addition before the scheduled point to point races there are 2 charity races starting at 9.45 and 10.15 before the first race over the fences at 11.00. It will be a great day to enjoy the horse racing at the premier point to point course in the country.

There will be a bar and food outlets as well as some trade stands plus the bookmakers to have a bet with. Entry costs are £15 person, under 16s free. Racecards are £3. Access from the west to the course may be preferable to avoid the worst of the potholes.

The course is in ‘great nick’ according to the Course Inspector Robert Fear after their first meeting and despite all the problems created by Storm Darragh no problems are anticipated. The course has been rolled and the bends moved out and the latest going report is good, good to soft in places.

The meeting begins with a divided flat race over two miles with ten entries in each division. The race was to be sponsored by Merlin Ferris. There is little form to be viewed but of those that have run Mrs Pen finished second at Great Trethew so should not be short of fitness and Perseo was third at Godstone last season. Of the newcomers Defying Gravity from the shrewd David Phelan yard, Green Bonnet from Myles Osborne’s stable and He’s A Ripper from Kelly Morgan’s yard should be on the short list.

The second division features Fayrely Fruitful who was placed in a similar race at Chaddesley Corbett last season and if making the trip from Shropshire looks to have every chance. The rest are virtually all newcomers so the well-bred Fountains Blenhein trained by Teresa Clark, South Sands trained by Mark Grant who has a good record in these races and the Christopher Barber trained Kalimalka Chest should be considered.

The two and a half Maiden race sponsored by GPG Law has attracted an entry of seventeen horses. Of those with form this season Codetalker ran well to be second at Dunsmore and a repeat of that form may be good enough. Ted The Thief from the in-form Josh Newman yard should be considered on his English debut and Wait at the Gate trained by Stuart Payne ran a very promising debut in England when finishing third at Stafford Cross last season. Will Biddick has entered both Good Boy Eric and Sienna Earth and his chosen representative should be considered. Dave’s Sister was placed in Bumpers on her two visits to Larkhill last year and if able to transfer that ability to fences she would have chances.

The feature race, the Southwick Court Fine Wines sponsored Mixed Open, is headed by the prolific Grace A Vous Enki who will be seeking his seventh consecutive success at the Wiltshire course. It will take a good horse to lower his colours but this race does also an entry for his exciting stablemate Ihandaya who would be well supported but whether they will both run is the question. Il Pino created a very favourable impression when winning his point to point and then a Hurdle for Paul Nicholls but has now returned to Will Biddick for a point to point campaign this season. Time Leader from the in form Hannah Roach stable easily won a Ladies race at Hexham but this race is much stiffer. Saint Calvados, My Drogo and Lord du Mesnil all bring good Rules form but the choice of trainer Nicky Sheppard would be the selection.

The Restricted race sponsored by Fawcetts features Bushtucker Park who looked unlucky when closing down Calidad at Badbury until falling at the third last and will be looking for recompense. Snap Fish won his Maiden at Badbury in good style but he had little to beat. It’s A Diamond won a Maiden at Dalton Park and now with Will Biddick it will fascinating to see him perform in this race. Rocky Creed improved throughout the season and the same comment can be made about the Gordon Treacy trained  Holkham Hall who won at Upcott Cross. Carryonaway brings course form having won a Maiden last season and this lightly raced gelding has each way chances. 

The Conditions race sponsored by Le Mieux has attracted a strong entry of twenty-three horses and several entered in the Mixed Open also hold entries in this race. My Drogo may opt for this race for his point-to-point debut but there are still many strong potential rivals for him. Kayf Hernando won well at Dunsmore for Tom Hutsby and trainer Justin Brotherton, and he should be on the short list. Switch Hitter may improve for his seasonal run earlier in the month as should Diligent and Millbank Flyer. . All Loved Up ran well for rider Hugh Lillingston last season as did Douglas Longbottom for local trainer Bea Coward. Hung Jury had some good form last season and Yippee KI Yay from Nicky Sheppard’s yard should not be discounted. Kayf Hernando is the selection. 

The final race, the Maiden Conditions, sponsored by Earlcote has been divided into two divisions of fourteen horses. In Division One Celtic Harmony was travelling well when brought down at the third last with Always Force It running on well to finish second and they may reoppose. Ted the Thief is also entered in this race and if chosen then he should be considered. Far Out West ran out at Dunsmore but has place form in Ireland. Ideal Du Tabert has place form under Rules in Ireland and is an interesting contender. Crawter trained locally has form at the course and is another to consider.

The second division may go to Southfield Scope a half brother to the prolific Southfield Theatre. Runner up to Holkham Hall at Upcott Cross he has the best form. King Orry was placed in an Intermediate at Dunsmore but drops back to Maiden company. Codetalker who is also entered in the short Maiden is progressive and the same comments apply to I Think He Is who was fourth at the last meeting. The last named may be the toughest rival Southfield Scope has to cope with. 

The racecourse is signed off the A345 and can also be accessed off the A303 and the postcode for Sat Nav is SP4 8QR. 

Results

Race 1:            Flat Race 4 & 5 YO Div 1 

1st         Perseo

2nd        Green Bonnett

3rd        He’s A Ripper 

Runners:          6                      Distances:        21/2l, 7l                       Time: 3m 57s

 

Race 2:            Flat Race 4 & 5 YO Div 2 

1st         Five Bar Gate

2nd        South Sands

3rd        The Last Warrior 

Runners:          9                      Distances:        3/4l, 6l                         Time: 3m 58s

 

Race 3:            4 & 5 YO Maiden 

1st         Good Boy Eric

2nd        Ted The Thief

3rd        Wait At The Gate 

Runners:          12                    Distances:        31/4l, nk                      Time: 5m 22s

 

Race 4:            Mixed Open 

1st         Grace A Vous Enki

2nd        Time Leader

3rd        Il Pino 

Runners:          8                      Distances:        7l, 1l                            Time: 6m 7s

 

Race 5:            Restricted 

1st         Snap Fish

2nd        Calidad

3rd        Finding Freedom 

Runners:          11                    Distances:        30l, nk                         Time: 6m 5s

 

Race 6:            Condition ( Level 2) 

1st         Givega

2nd        Douglas Longbottom

3rd        My Drogo 

Runners:          16                    Distances:        21/2l, 5l                       Time: 6m 8s

 

Race 7 :           Maiden Conditions Div 1 

1st         Crawther

2nd        Far Out West

3rd        Who’s Houdini 

Runners:          8                      Distances:        5l, 13/4l                       Time: 6m 18s

 

Race 8 :           Maiden Conditions Div 2 

1st         Southfield Scope

2nd        Up Killoughey

3rd        Taghadoe

Runners:          11                    Distances:        15l, 1/2l                       Time: 6m 15s 

Pony Results

N/A

Report

History was made at Larkhill when Will Biddick rode his 600th career point to point victory aboard Five Bar Gate in the second division of the Bumper. He was warmly welcomed back into the winners enclosure by the large crowd who had hoped to be present to celebrate this fantastic achievement. Will then showed the ups and downs of the sport by unseating from Sienna Earth at the second last fence when leading and after returning in the ambulance he did not ride again due to a badly bruised left arm.

The meeting had begun with two well supported charity races which raised the excellent sum of 10K for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and all participants should be congratulated for their sterling effort to raise this sum.

Other highlights from an excellent day’s racing were riding doubles for champion jockey James King and Fred Philipson-Stow (his first) , another victory for the course specialist Grace A Vous Enki, an early birthday present and a winner for veteran owner Angela Yeoman after previously attending the first day at the reopened Windsor National Hunt course. An initiative to provide hospitality to winning owners and trainers in the Queen’s Building was well received and is likely to be repeated at the remaining meetings at Larkhill.

The Mixed Open race provided to be a real spectacle with the three principals Grace A Vous Enki, Time Leader and Il Pino all in contention at the third last. Grace A Vous Enki and Time Leader then duelled from the next fence until James King obtained more effort from his willing mount and drew away to record a six lengths victory. Recording his seventh consecutive win at Larkhill, he clearly relishes the wide-open spaces of the course and is a real credit to his owner Joan Hitchings who sadly was not in attendance and his trainer Nicky Sheppard. He will be returning to the course in 2025, and the question is who will be able to lower his colours.

The two divisions of the Bumper were both won by horses who had already had an outing last season. Firstly, Perseo ridden by Anna Johnston and trained by Caroline Keevil outstayed his main rival Green Bonnet ridden by Will Biddick. Home bred by her owner Lady Fiamma Sutton the gelding had been working well at home and Caroline was hopeful of a good run. The gelding’s future is over fences and he is reported to have already schooled well.

Five Bar Gate trained by Matt and Fliss Hampton had shown some form in his outing at Garthorpe last season and was backed as if defeat was out of the question for Will. He stayed on well to beat South Sands ridden by Daniel Kyne, Bought as a 3 year old in Ireland he had been sent to Matt for breaking and then left with him to train for the Osbornes. Will reported that this was only his second ever ride for Matt and that had also been a winner. Having ridden against Matt over many years Will reported that ‘ I am delighted to have ridden this nice big horse and given Matt a winner as a trainer’

Sienna Earth still looked to have every chance when unseating Will in the 2 and a half Maiden race but this left the race between Good Boy Eric, Ted The Thief ridden by Josh Newman and Wait At The Gate ridden by Charlie Sprake, Fred Philipson-Stow riding Good Boy Eric  for his boss Will Biddick stayed on well to record a two lengths victory at the post. He is a home bred gelding owned by Steve Bowditch out of a mare named Hallingdal who won four flat races in her career. Fred, 19, is now in his second season at Will’s stable and said that’ I am relishing the opportunities I am being given and am grateful for the knowledge Will is passing on to me’ 

The most impressive winner of the day was Snap Fish successful under Robbie David in the Restricted race. It looked a competitive race on paper but once Robbie had passed long time leader Calidad after the final ditch the race was over and the winning margin was judged to be a distance. The winner of a weak Maiden at Badbury last month he looks exceptional value for the 15K Harry Ryall spent on him last May for his syndicate of owners. Harry joked in the winner’s enclosure that ‘ it is Robbie’s 30th birthday tomorrow and this winner will mean that I do not have to get him a birthday present’  It was a fast run race and the winner looks one to follow for the rest of the season .

The biggest field of the day, 16 runners, took part in the Conditions race which was won by Givega trained by Luca Morgan and provided James King with his second winner of the day. Always prominent the ex-Gary Moore trained gelding held off the challenges of Douglas Longbottom and My Drogo to record a length and half victory. Trained by Luca at his base near Warwick for a group of his father’s friends and other family friends, Luca explained that the gelding was recommended to him by Jamie Moore as a prospective pointer. He had raced over minimum trips under Rules but proved that he stayed three miles under a good ride by James who was quick to give credit to Luca’s training and identified him as an up-and-coming trainer to follow.

The first division of the Maiden race was won by Crawter ridden by Josh Newman. One of only two horses trained close by to Larkhill by Harriet Waight he stayed on to beat Far Out West ridden by Charlie Sprake. Previously trained by Fran Poste he had been noticed by joint owner Stan Rawlins when he ran at Upcott Cross in May 2023 and through Josh Newman a deal was struck to acquire him from Fran’s yard. A full brother to the five-time winning mare Only By Night trained by Gavin Cromwell, he should be able to progress this season.

Southfield Scope provided Fred Philipson-Stow with his ever double when winning the final race. Given the opportunity to take over from his sidelined boss he grasped the chance and recorded an easy success for the home bred gelding who is a half-brother to the prolific Southfield Theatre. Watched by his proud owner fresh from attending Windsor she was delighted to see him in the winner’s enclosure and pleased with the ride Fred had given him.