Secretary:   Mrs Mandy O'Hare

Address:   Collins Farmhouse, 55 High St, Durrington, Salisbury, Wilts, SP4 8AQ

Contact Details Tel: 01980 655556   Mob: 07789 544498  

Email:   mandyohare@btinternet.com

Entries to:   The Secretary or The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd

Entries close:   Monday 30th December 2024 12.30pm 

Races:   Conditions Level 2, Ladies Open, 5 years + Maiden, Mens Open, Restricted, Conditions Level 3 (Novice Riders) Maiden Conditions (2m 4f)

First Race:   11.30

ENTRY FEES  £50 per entry per race,  2nd entry same horse £20

Hunter Cert deadline is Midday Thursday 19th DECEMBER

The first meeting of 2025 takes place at Larkhill on Sunday with the running of the Larkhill Racing Club meeting. This is a golden opportunity to shake off any excesses from the post-Christmas and New Year festivities and enjoy the spectacle of an afternoon’s racing at the very popular Wiltshire course where 95 horses have been entered for the seven scheduled races due to start at 11.30am. The course is in great shape after the two previous meetings with the current going reported as good with rain forecast for Wednesday. The bends have been moved since the last meeting and the racing line has been rolled.

There will be hot and cold food available, a bar and a variety of trade stands plus the Bookmakers to have a bet with. Entrance cost is £15 per person with under 16s free and racecards at a cost of £2.50, Located 5 N of Amesbury and signposted off A345 and from the West off A 303.  What3Words///tubes.driveway.conquests.

The meeting begins with the Godfrey Maundrell Memorial Conditions Race run in the memory of Godfrey who was a keen supporter of racing at Larkhill until his death in 2018. Of the 12 horses entered most will be making their seasonal debut so it may pay to side with two that have already raced this season namely All Loved Up trained by Olive Nicholls and to be ridden by Hugh Lillingston and Sake of Secrecy trained by Harriet Waight. The former gave Hugh his first career victory and a repeat victory would not be unexpected. The veteran Doc Pugh who will be celebrating his fourteenth birthday will be a popular winner but normally needs his debut run and similar comments apply to Pink Eyed Pedro who is of a similar vintage. For Rita goes well for her owner Abigail Henry and should be considered. Viva Lavilla was only seen once last season when third to Viroflay and a repeat of that form would be good enough to win this race. Marcle Ridge is the class act in the field and if back to his best could give his owner Clive Bennett another victory.

A high class fifteen horses are entered in the Paul Nicholls and John Bolton sponsored Ladies Race headed by the Aintree Foxhunters winner in 2023 Famous Clermont. Partnered in his last outing at Stratford by Izzie Hill he could run up a sequence in Ladies races this season if this is a route his trainer Chris Barber plans to take. Already the winner of three races at Larkhill it would be no surprise to see him score for the fourth time at the course. Of his potential rivals Duc de Bourbon brings winning form this season and should not be discounted, Paul Nicholls has entered both Switch Hitter and Oscars Moonshine and the choice of his daughter Olive has place chances. Precious Bounty easily won at Badbury Rings but this is a much tougher assignment. If Famous Clermont swerves this race Izzie may still ride the winner with I K Brunel expected to come on from his debut last month.

The We Do Vans sponsored Maiden race may see a repeat of the clash between Five Quarters and Glancing Hill which took place at the first meeting this season when they finished runner up and third. With Josh Newman’s stable in such good form Five Quarters is selected to break his duck. Far Out West ran well when runner up to Crawter and he should be in the mix. The ex-Irish Mount Anglesby brings place form from Hurdling and if adapting to fences he could be of interest. Josh Newman has also entered Ted The Thief runner up to Good Boy Eric at the last meeting and if the stable choice then the hint should be taken.

The Southern Counties Auctioneers sponsored Mens Open race contains an entry for the prolific Grace A Vous Enki who will be seeking his eighth consecutive victory at Larkhill. Already the winner of his two outings this season he is in such good form and he is hard to oppose. Famous Clermont holds an entry in this race and if declared it will be fascinating to see how he gets on. My Drogo ran well on his pointing debut and he may give the favourite the most to do. One For Rosie ought to come on for his seasonal debut but he may only be playing for minor honours.

The Restricted race sponsored by Alec Jarrett Limited has attracted twelve entries with four recent winners amongst the prospective field. Crawter won his division of the Maiden at the last meeting whilst Southfield Scope won the other division and was the more impressive in his victory. Kilfilum Woods won his first Restricted race at the first meeting and now carries a 5lb penalty whereas Talimar Pearl won his Maiden at Wadebridge and is on the upgrade. All Star Boy won his Maiden at Larkhill last season and created a favourable impression and could be the one to challenge Southfield Scope.

The Woolley and Wallis sponsored Conditions Race for Novice Riders may see the seasonal debut for Sixteen Letters already the winner of fourteen point to points and a Hunter Chase. Now in the ownership of Kayley Woollacott and the likely mount of promising novice Hannah Morgan he would have to carry a 10lb penalty but his class may tell. Similar comments apply to Precious Bounty who provided Marina Bealby with her first winner when easily winning at Badbury Rings. Fan Club Aulmes was a promising second at Knightwick after a lengthy absence of over 900 days and he should be on the short list. Ping Pong Paddy is returning to racing after a long gap and this Fran Poste trained gelding is another to consider. Striking Out was placed in a Chase at Uttoxeter in May when trained by Henry Oliver and is now in the hands of Joanne Priest.

The meeting concludes with a Maiden Conditions race over the shorter trip of two and a half miles for which eleven horses have been entered. Glancing Hill and Ted The Thief both entered in the other Maiden hold entries and look the two principals if they opt for this race with the latter preferred. Shikantsen Enki was second at Badbury but unseated his rider at the last Larkhill meeting. The ex-Irish Riskamatriak was fourth on his second outing and now with Mike Vanstone he should be considered. Tom Malone’s Celtic Harmony was in the process of running well when being brought down at the third last but he is also entered at Horseheath.

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