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 17th February 2025 12.30pm

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

First Race: 11.25

ENTRY FEES  £50 per entry per race   2nd entry same horse £25

Badbury Rings hosts its second meeting on Sunday when the Countryside Alliance Club (Wessex) hold their meeting. Always a popular meeting with owners, trainers, jockeys and racegoers an exciting afternoon of racing is assured. The current going report is good and after the last meeting in November the course has gone back well and is level. In addition to the racing there will be plenty of tradestands, food stalls and beer tent and the bookmakers. Gates open at 10.00am with Family Dog Racing starting at 10.30am. The first of the six scheduled races is due off at 12 noon – The course is situated alongside the B3082 from Wimborne to Blandford Postcode DT11 9JL

The highlight of the meeting is the Wessex National Mens Open race and a strong entry for this race has been received. Bardenstown Lad won a Hunter Chase at Fakenham  on his last appearance and if he opts for this race he should be considered. Jeremy Pass won his Hunt race at Milborne St Andrew and this well travelled gelding is an interesting contender. Trevada was the model of consistency last season and is sure to run well. Punches Cross won a Division of the Conditions race at Milborne St Andrew but this is a higher quality race. Dr Rhythm always runs well at Badbury and having had two outings this season should be able to make his fitness tell. Norton Hill is an interesting recruit to pointing for Harry Ryall – he won two Hurdles for Anthony Honeyball but this will be his debut over fences. John Dorse’s mare Walkin Out was in tremendous form at the end of last season but might need this race. Dr Rhythm is chosen to return to winning ways.

The Conditions race which opens the meeting may see another appearance at Badbury Rings by Southfield Lily who was successful at the first meeting. However she has only had three rivals in her  two races to date and this race looks stronger. Scoresby looked the winner at Milborne  until being collared on the run in by Punches Cross and looks the likely winner. His main rival may be Llandinabo Lad who won a competitive Novice Riders race at Chaddesley Corbett and goes well for his Novice rider. Holiday Fund has reeled off two victories this season for the in form Josh Newman stable and there may be more improvement. Sforza Castle is another improver and is the likely ride for Samuel Scott who recorded his first win at Milborne St Andrew.

The Conditions Race for Grass Roots Riders (who have not ridden more than 20 winners) has attracted fourteen entries including Llandinabo Lad mentioned above and Punches Cross who is entered in the Mens Open. If the latter opts for this race he would be one of the fancies. Teescomponentsfly won a race at Larkhill over two and half miles last season and if ready for his seasonal debut would have each way chances. Another who may appreciate the course is Footloose ridden by Arron Butterfield who has returned to race riding this season. Both Canastero and Finisher finished behind Footloose at Milborne but Finisher may reverse the form as he had been off the course for a long time. He is the each way selection.

The Ladies Open race looks another strong heat. Switch Hitter found his form at Larkhill when winning last weekend and if reappearing he may take some beating. Anna Johnston formed a good partnership with the mare Walkin Out and if this race is chosen she must have chances. Sixteen Letters now in the ownership of Josh and Kayley Newman had his seasonal outing at Larkhill and ought to run well at this course. Reikers Island has changed hands since last season and this six time winner ought to give her new rider a good experience. King’s Quay has not been seen since November 2023 but if in good form he may be one to challenge Switch Hitter.

The Restricted race may see another victory for Up Killoughey the winner of a Maiden at Milborne ridden by Rian Corcoran and looks progressive. Another winner this season is Talimar Pearl who won at Wadebridge and comes into the reckoning. Laurel Girl won at Cocklebarrow but this looks a stronger race. Boys Will Be Boys was fifth at Milborne and should be considered as should Shanroe Smooch who was fourth in his Hunt race at the same meeting. Up Killoughey is the selection.

The meeting concludes with a Maiden where Don’t Ask Aiden trained by Ed Walker placed at Milborne may be one of the fancied horses. Frogman was third at Milborne over the shorter trip and if staying the extra half mile he has chances. The unraced Land Of Punt trained and owned  by Tom Lacey receives all of the allowances as a four year old and this son of a twice winning Hurdler may be too good for his rivals. Avada Kedavra was previously owned by J P McManus and trained by Nicky Henderson but did not show much. Now with Joanne Priest it will be interesting to see how he takes to fences. Land of Punt is chosen with Frogman the danger.

Race 1:            Conditions (Level 3) 

1^st         Southfield Lily

2^nd        Move With the Beat

3^rd        Right Hand of God 

Runners:          6                      Distances:        4l, 20l                          Time: 6m 13s

Race 2:            Mens Open 

1^st         Dr Rhythm

2^nd        Trevada

3^rd        Norton Hill 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        21/4l, 9l                       Time: 6m 11s

Race 3:            Conditions (Level 2) Grass Roots 

1^st         Punches Cross

2^nd        Llandinabo Lad

3^rd        Russian Diamond 

Runners:          11                    Distances:        sh, 7l                            Time: 6m 14s

Race 4:            Ladies Open 

1^st         Walkin out

2^nd        Eagle of the Glen

3^rd        King’s Quay 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        31/2l,11 l                     Time: 6m 21s

Race 5:            Restricted 

1^st         Talimar Pearl

2^nd        Hurricane Deal

3^rd        Boys Will Be Boys 

Runners:          12                    Distances:        nk, 12l                         Time: 6m 22s

Race 6:            Maiden 

1^st         A Force To Reckin

2^nd        Frogman

3^rd        Don’t Ask Aiden 

Runners:          11                    Distances:        41/2l, 14l                     Time: 6m 27s

N/A

A lower than usual crowd attended the annual running of the point to point due mainly to the poor weather forecast but the rain stayed away until the fifth race and some competitive racing was the feature of the day. Leading male jockey Josh Newman rode another double and there were winners for two trainers with a single horse in training plus two close finishes with the judge needing a close scrutiny of his iPad.

The meeting began with a dramatic conclusion to the Bryanston School Countryside Alliance Clun Members Conditions race. The favourite Scoresby ridden by Robbie David had travelled well behind the long-time leader Southfield Lily ridden by Lily Bradstock and having taken up the lead at the third last he was in command approaching the last. However, this fence proved the partnership’s undoing with a blunder sending Robbie out of the saddle leaving Southfield Lily to score comfortably. Sara Bradstock, Lily’s mother, acknowledged that it was a fortunate victory but ‘ all the fences have to be jumped’. She added that ‘ my mare loves this perfect ground and really enjoys her jumping from the front’ This was her third course victory and she has become calmer than when she first started. She still wears a hood and is usually kept away from her rivals at the start.

The feature race , the Howden Insurance Wessex National Mens Open, gave Josh the first leg of his double when he steered Dr Rhythm to a two lengths victory over Trevada ridden by Zac Baker. Repeating his victory in this race from 2024 and his fourth course winner he is the only horse trained by Janet Cumings who has taken over the training from her husband Keith and is ably assisted by her daughter Nicky Boundy. Nicky reported that ‘ he loves this better ground and we hoped he would run well as he had been showing all his enthusiasm in his two previous outgoings’ Josh took up the running at the cross fence and reported that ‘ I was very happy how he was going and did not believe that any one would pass him’ This was the gelding 15^th career victory and is the apple of the eye of his joint owners Peter Clarke and Tina Dunsford.

The closest finish of the day came in the Hendy Land Rover Conditions Race for Grass Roots Riders. The favourite Llandinabo Lad ridden by William Badlan had looked the winner after taking up the lead approaching the last from Russian Diamond but Rian Corcoran aboard Punches Cross who had made much of the running conjured a revival from his mount and his willing partner battled back well to snatch the victory on the line by a short head. Owned by  Michael and Heather Sweetland and trained by Danielle Kenealy he was recording his second victory this season. Joe Tickle, Danielle’s partner, said that ‘ Rian has ridden twice for us and both have won and this was a really good ride’ This was Rian’s sixth victory this season and keeps him in a strong position to be champion novice male rider.

The Savills Ladies Open race was won by the front running Walkin Out ridden by Anna Johnston. Settling off in front of her three rivals she was being pressed at the third last when Sixteen Letters fell and the mare maintained her lead to the line. Owned by John Dorse and trained by Leslie Jefford this was her seasonal debut on the back of four victories at the end of last season. Anna who was winning her fifth race on the mare described her as ‘ such a game mare and a pleasure to ride’. There was a very sad postscript to this race when it was reported that Sixteen Letters had been fatally injured. A real stalwart of Wessex pointing since his first victory in 2018 and the winner of fourteen point to points and two Hunter Chases in his career when in the ownership of John and Floss Symes and much loved by all at Blackmore Farm. Sincere condolences to all connected with this very popular gelding.

The Milton Abbey School Restricted race provided another close finish with Talimar Pearl ridden by Josh Newman just prevailing by a neck over Hurricane Deal ridden by Sam Lee. Josh had taken up the lead at the fifteenth fence and looked to be in trouble until  Hurricane Deal blundered at the last. Already the winner of a Maiden at Wadebridge his owner David Churches was sadly not able to present with his friend Liz Dorse reporting with a smile that ‘ David has the plague and is confined to his home’ He did have the race relayed to him and was delighted with the outcome of the race.

As the rain continued to fall the Injured Jockeys Fund Maiden race proved more testing and after tracking the leaders Jack Veysey produced A Force to Reckin to lead at the fourth last and drew away to record a five lengths victory over Frogman ridden by Charlie Sprake. Bought by Jack at Doncaster last year after two non-finishes in Irish points he was sent into training with Chris Honour but after an underwhelming run at Warwick Jack decided to run him in points himself. A farrier from Cullompton this is his only horse which he trains himself and is one of the few owner/trainer/rider that used to be a common feature of pointing 20 years ago.