Secretary:   Emma Watkins

Address:   

Contact Details    Mob: 07837 070922  

Email:   ej.watkins@hotmail.co.uk

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

Entries close:   Monday 13^th January 2025 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 -  2nd entry same horse £25

After the sad loss of the Larkhill Racing Club meeting due to the cold weather there has now been some relenting of the icy snap and all indications are that the Royal Artillery will be able to hold their meeting on Saturday. They have attracted 89 entries for their seven races so there should be some excellent racing to enjoy on Salisbury Plain. The latest news from the course is that all the fences and bends are being moved since the last meeting in December and the forecast going is for good ground.

Entry costs remain at £15 per person with under 16s accompanied free. Race cards are £3 and £5 for two. There will be an AS90 armoured artillery vehicle with volunteers from the Royal Artillery Museum who will be able to show guests the inner workings of the vehicle and generally chat to the public about military life and the equipment they've operated over the years. There will be a number of trade stands including food stalls and a fully licensed bar plus the bookmakers to have a wager or two with. There will also be volunteers with charity buckets fundraising for Children with Cancer UK.

The Pinkham Equine Veterinary Services sponsored Hunt Members race opens the card at 11.30am. This is a race for all Hunts that race at Larkhill and has attracted a total of 9 entries. This is headed by the venerable Southfield Theatre who has just celebrated his seventeenth birthday. When last seen he won his Hunt race at Lockinge last season and despite his age he will be the one to pass if he sets off in front as usual. It would be a great training success for Lily Bradstock if he can beat his rivals. These are headed by the two Barrow Street stablemates of Douglas Longbottom and Gran Paradiso. The first named ran well behind Givega at the last Larkhill meeting and would be the one to give Southfield Theatre the most to do. Harriet Waight has entered both of her stable with Crawter having won his Maiden at the course and Sake of Secrecy but this is much tougher for both of them.

The Ladies of the RA Hunt have sponsored the Maiden race which contains an entry for Sienna Earth who was still leading when unseating his rider at the second last in December. Will Biddick his rider and trainer will be keen to seek recompense for his Masked Marvel mare who did look unlucky. Dorset Dazzler was no match for Snap Fish at Badbury but has place chances. Couer d’Alene ran a race of promise at Stafford Cross when finishing fourth   and similar comments apply to Schiapars Magern who was third at Kimble. The ex- Irish pair of At Mangan Bridge and Impakt St Georges come into the reckoning as both have form in that country. At Mangan Bridge was runner up in a point to point at Borris House in December and is now in the capable hands of Michael Kehoe. Impakt St Georges was placed in a point to point and hurdles before moving to Josh Newman’s yard and with his stable in such good form he should be considered.

The Novice Riders race sponsored by Simon Prout raising Money for Children with Cancer UK is headed by Acey Milan who won at Larkhill in December 2023 but was not seen again. At his best he should give his young rider Will Higgs a good ride. Sixteen Letters is another making his seasonal debut and in this class he may be too good for his rivals. Step Back is now at the veteran stage but still   should give Daniel Williams an each way chance. For Rita goes well for Abigail Henry and is another to consider. Midnight Midge is an interesting recruit to pointing and this three times chase winner should be a good ride for James Shaw. Sixteen Letters is the choice.

The Moore Barlow LLP sponsored Conditions race also contains an entry for Douglas Longbottom and if this race is chosen over the Hunt race he would be the selection. Of his rivals both Pink Eyed Pedro and Step Back are in the veteran stage and may find younger rivals too speedy. Duc be Bourbon won well at the first Larkhill meeting beating Paper Mill who may reoppose and may be the main danger to Douglas Longbottom. Viva Lavilla was third behind Viroflay last season but has not run since and may need the race.

The Mixed Open race sponsored by Nimrod is the target for the prolific Grace a Vous Enki who is seeking his eighth success at the Wiltshire course. He clearly enjoys the wide-open spaces of Larkhill and will be very difficult to beat. My Drogo made a pleasing point to point debut when third behind Givega and this former classy individual may be the one to give the favourite the most to do. Bardenstown Lad chased home Master Templar at Chaddesley Corbett and Oscars Moonshine trained by Olive Nicholls are others who may have place possibilities.

The Restricted sponsored by Cordings looks a race full of promising horses. Snap Fish demolished a good Restricted field at the last meeting and a repeat of that run will be hard to beat. Talimar Pearl had good place form under Rules and broke his Maiden status at Wadebridge. Kilfilum Woods has already won twice this season including at the last meeting and is on the upgrade. Both Good Boy Eric and L’Aventara have only run twice but won their respective Maidens so are clearly on the upgrade. All Star Boy won two races last season for Chris Barber and is another who is improving. Boys Will Be Boys improved as the season progressed last year and he is worth keeping an eye on. Snap Fish is the selection.

The meeting concludes with the Flat race over two miles where there is little form to go by. Askdaddy trained by Bradley Gibbs was runner up in a similar race last May at Chaddesley Corbett and may be able to put her experience to good use. Defying Gravity ought to come on for his run in December when he finished fourth. Of the newcomers the well related Blue Skies Ahead trained by Graeme McPherson, Tombereau trained by Michael Kehoe and Hard Stare trained by Anthony Honeyball are three to check on in the paddock and with the bookies.

Race 1:            Hunt 

1^st         Douglas Longbottom

2^nd        Sake of Secrecy

3^rd        Gran Paradiso 

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

Race 2:            Maiden 5yrs+ 

1^st         Impakt St George

2^nd        Bulletofexpresion

3^rd        Mythe Bridge 

Runners:          8                      Distances:        4l, 5l                            Time: 6m 38s

Race 3:            Conditions (Level 2) Novice Riders

 1^st         Midnight Midge

2^nd        Acey Milan

3^rd        All Loved Up 

Runners:          11                    Distances:        sh, 5l                            Time: 6m 7s

Race 4:            Conditions (Level 2) 5yrs+

 1^st         Duc de Bourbon

2^nd        Paper Mill

3^rd        Viva Lavilla 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        2l,20 l                          Time: 6m 29s

Race 5:            Mixed Open

 1^st         My Drogo

2^nd        Oscars Moonshine

3^rd        Edison Kent 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        12l, 24l                        Time: 6m 9s

Race 6:            Restricted 

1^st         All Star Boy

2^nd        Good Boy Eric

3^rd        Crawter 

Runners:          11                    Distances:        3/4l, 1l                         Time: 6m 21s

Race :              Flat 4 & 5 yrs 

1^st         Hard Stare

2^nd        Tombereau

3^rd        Geordies Betty 

Runners:                                  Distances:        l, l                                Time: m s

N/A

It was cold but remained dry and clear at the Royal Artillery point to point at Larkhill where some competitive racing took place with the highlights being a riding double for Will Biddick, a classy performance by My Drogo, a winner for a jockey having his first ever ride at the Wiltshire course and an unusual double for a mare with two of her progeny.

The Hunt Members race was well supported by three of the Hunts that race at Larkhill during the season with the South and West Wilts representative now having bragging rights over the other Hunts for another year. Bea Coward’s day did not begin well with her lorry not starting but eventually did and her progressive seven year old Douglas Longbottom proved too good for his five rivals. Ridden by Martin ‘Fly’ McIntyre he sat behind the trailblazing Broadford Publican until leading at the fourth last fence and drew clear from the second last. Owned by Catherine Mitchell who rides him in some of his work at home he had run an excellent when runner up on his seasonal debut but this race was chosen by Bea to ‘give him an easier race as he always runs his heart out’ . No immediate plans were outlined but Hunter Chasing later in the season may be on the horizon.

The in-form stable of Josh Newman shows no sign of slowing with his latest new recruit Impakt St Georges proving too strong for his seven opponents in the Open Maiden race. Purchased privately in Ireland by his owners John and Floss Symes following placings in an Irish point and Hurdles Josh explained that ‘ he had taken a long time to build up after his arrival last summer’. The race was run at a slow pace until it became a sprint over the last four fences but the winner was always in command from the third last. Josh described that ‘he jumped for fun’ and that’ there should be more to come’

The Novice Riders race proved to be a very close finish with only a short head separating Midnight Midge ridden by James Shaw and Acey Milan ridden by Will Higgs. They were together at the second last and with Acey Milan being a recognized stayer he looked the most likely to prevail. James, however, had other ideas and despite being headed on the run in his willing mount rallied near the post to just prevail. Riding in his first ever race at Larkhill James was delighted with the outcome and was keen to thank his parents who were present for their support along with Sue and Lucy Gardner for whom James works during the week. He has been riding out on a Friday for trainer Robert Chanin and has been schooling this Midnight Legend gelding. Owned and bred by Ron Hodges along with Lorraine Kelly and Tony Worth he had won six races under Rules all over much shorter trips in a long career under Rules but this was his first try over three miles. Robert explained that ‘everything was  in his favour with the better ground and James gave him a great ride’

Duc De Bourbon followed up his previous course win last month when once again beating Paper Mill in the Conditions race. Ridden by Charlie Sprake he was in command from the second last fence and was pushed out on the run in . Trained by Sam Loxton at Bruton he runs in the name of the Bruton Club who are a group of Sam’s local friends. He may be seen in Hunter Chases later in the season but Sam did mention a potential tilt at the Coronation Gold Cup at the next Larkhill meeting.

My Drogo was too good for his four rivals in the Mixed Open when giving Will Biddick the first of his two victories on the card. Tracking long time leader Oscars Moonshine ridden by Olive Nicholls until the third last he sauntered into the lead and soon drew clear to record an easy victory. Trained by Ed Walker for owners Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes this one time Grade 1 winner for Dan Skelton when victorious at Aintree was recording his first win since 2021 and as Ed wife’s Polly explained afterwards it was all about ‘giving him confidence and to enjoy his racing again’ He had shown on his first outing that he still retained ability and this win reinforced that opinion. Ridden by Will who is not noted for being voluble during a race he said that ‘ I have never talked to a horse so much as this one in the race which was mainly ‘whoa’!

A competitive Restricted race went the way of All Star Boy ridden by James King who just beat Good Boy Eric the mount of Will Biddick. Trained by Chris Barber this was Chris’s first winner from his new Herefordshire base and in the winners enclosure afterwards he was relieved as well as delighted to have seen his charge break his duck from the new yard. Chris was keen to say that ‘ I cannot thank my owners enough for staying loyal to me after moving from Dorset’ Two of these are Paul and Sara Thorman who acquired this gelding in the summer as a fun horse and to remain point to pointing. Already a progressive sort his future looks bright as he moves up in class.

The meeting concluded with a Bumper over two miles. The short priced favourite Hard Stare bought as a foal by Rachael Honeyball duly obliged to give Will Biddick his second winner on the day. Ridden by Rachael at home she explained that she and her husband Anthony like to support point to pointing and rather than running him under Rules she thought that a point-to-point Bumper would be a good education for him. He does hold an entry in the Goffs Bumper at Newbury in March but it is not certain he will go for that race. He is by Passing Glance out of a mare called FarewellatMidnight who happens to also be the dam of Go Go Geronimo who was a winner today this time at Revesby Park.