Secretary: Mrs Oona Hickson
Contact Details Mob: 07932 733332
Email: oonahickson@gmail.com
Entries to: The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd
Entries close: Monday 24th November 2025 12.30pm
Races: 4 and 5 year old Maiden (2m4f), Ladies Open, Mens Open, Restricted, Conditions (L2), Maiden (NWFAA)
First Race: 12.00 noon
ENTRY FEES £50 per entry per race - NB. Online entry fees £50 2nd entry same horse £25 (Non refundable in event of abandonment)
The busiest point-to-point course in the country, Larkhill on Salisbury Plain, holds the first of its seven meetings when the Hursley Hambledon hosts their meeting on Sunday 30th November with the first of its six planned races due to begin at 12 noon. The course is reported to be in fine shape for its opening meeting with the recent rain keeping the forecast going as good all round. In addition to the racing there will be trade stands to check out, bar and food outlets and the bookmakers to have a bet or two with. Early bird tickets are available at £15 per person until 6pm on Thursday 27th on the GB Pointing website gbpointing.co.uk and thereafter £20 per person either online or on the gate. Under 16s can enter without charge accompanied by an adult. The course can be found 5m NW of Amesbury. What3Words ///tubes.driveway.conquests.
The two feature races are the Open races the first of which is the Ladies Open over the full three miles. Chris Barber has entered his stable star Famous Clermont in this race and his gelding has previous history of being ridden by a lady having won the Hunter Chase at Stratford for the past two seasons when partnered by Izzie Hill. If this race is chosen he will be hard to beat. Izzie Hill has the option of riding IK Brunel trained by her father-in-law Alan and he would be the second choice on his seasonal debut. Of the remaining entries Myth Buster has been a good servant to the Bradstock family, Somptueux was a respectable second at Badbury Rings behind Another Furlough and the former chaser Major Dundee last seen when finishing sixth in the Eider chase at Newcastle. He may appreciate the drop in class to point to points. Paint The Dream returned to pointing at Lower Machen and may come on for that outing.
The Mens Open sponsored by Ward Thomas Removals also has an entry for Famous Clermont but his stable is potentially represented by the leading horse at Larkhill in 2024 namely Grace A Vous Enki. Transferred by his owner Joan Hitchings to Chris Barber he boasts an unbeaten record in seven appearances at the Wiltshire course and will be strongly fancied to record an eighth victory even over the shorter trip of 2 and a half miles. Of his potential opponents the most interesting is Douglas Longbottom trained locally by Bea Coward who won his last four appearances culminating with a victory in a Hunter Chase at Cheltenham in May. He is still improving and if there are any chinks in the armoury of the likely favourite he may be able to capitalise. Beat Box previously with Dan Skelton is the winner of nine races over shorter trips and may give the sponsor a good outing on his point to point debut. Dibble Decker who won three races for Tom Lacey is now in the care of Michael Kehoe and is another interesting recruit to pointing. Due de Bourbon is another who has a good record at Larkhill and A Jet of Our Own who will appreciate the trip certainly adds to the mix of a potentially fascinating race.
The meeting opens with a Maiden race over two and a half miles for 4- and 5-year-olds. Kailipso His was still in contention when unseating Lily Bradstock at Badbury Rings and will be seeking compensation for that mistake. Cue Jump was placed in a Maiden at Larkhill in 2024 and a Maiden at Trebudannon in 2025 and this lightly raced 5 year old looks one to follow. Chris Barber has entered the ex-Irish Carrillo and with his stable already in good form he should be considered. River Don should come on for his debut at Lower Machen but a chance is taken with the newcomer Uncle Boss a half brother to Caius Marcius the winner of 17 races in a very lengthy career. Trained and ridden by Will Biddick he will have been well prepared for his debut.
The Botley Commercial Spraytek sponsored Restricted race may be at the mercy of the Francesca Poste trained Glancing Hill who won two races at the end of last season and this five year old is clearly progressive. Of his rivals O’Hallorans Castle won his Maiden at Larkhill last season but was well beaten by Glancing Hill on his final outing. Tim Underwood does well with his horses at Larkhill and his representative Song for My Father comes into the reckoning having won two races last season. Fongs Way won at KIlworthy and if travelling from Devon he should be considered.
The Conditions race may see the reappearance of Givega who trounced a sixteen strong field at Larkhill in December before easily winning a Hunter Chase at Leicester in February. Trained by Luca Morgan whose stable is in good form he may be too good for his rivals. Will Biddick has entered the mare Regatta de Blanc who is unbeaten in her pointing outings but rather lost her way when sent under Rules. Her return to pointing is certainly welcome for her enthusiastic owners the Pendil Partnership. Imperial Esprit is the model of consistency and certainly has each way chances. Yippee KI Yay returns to pointing for the Herbert Family and this six-time winning gelding should not be discounted. Shoal Bay is another consistent sort and has each way possibilities..
The Equestrian Fencing and Timber Limited sponsored Maiden race concludes the meeting. The Will Biddick trained mare Winding Lane runner up at Badbury Rings will be strongly fancied to go one better. Related to Bob’s Worth she should have come on from that race. Of her rivals River Don holds an entry in this race and has each way chances. Who’s Houdini who was third behind Crawter last season should find a race based on that form but might need this outing. Corra Bheinn was a resident of Ben Pauling’s yard last season and now with Francesca Nimmo he will be making his fencing debut. Callmedusty was second in a Hurdle at Punchestown last January and is another one to consider.
Race 1: 4&5 Yrs old Maiden
1st Void
2nd
3rd
Runners: Distances: l, l Time: m s
Race 2: Ladies Open
1st Myth Buster
2nd Jony Max
2nd I K Brunel
Runners: 4 Distances: l, l Time: m s
Race 3: Mens Open
1st A Jet of Our Own
2nd Duc de Bourdon
3rd Doulgas Longbottom
Runners: 6 Distances: l, l Time: m s
Race 4: Restricted
1st Glancing Hill
2nd Dorset Diamond
3rd O’ Hallorans Castle
Runners: 7 Distances: l, l Time: m s
Race 5: Conditions (Level 2)
1st Yippee Ki Yay
2nd Dibble Decker
3rd Mulberry Hill
Runners: 6 Distances: l, l Time: m s
Race 6: Maiden (NWFAA)
1st Dorset Dazzler
2nd River Don
3rd Who’s Houdini
Runners: 6 Distances: l, l Time: m s
N/A
Under a clear blue winter sky at Larkhill the Hursley Hambledon held their point to point which was well attended and racegoers were able to enjoy some high-class racing. There were two short priced favourites who were beaten in the Open races, a training double for Nicky Sheppard, a second riding double for Fred Philipson-Stow and a winner in the mother/daughter training battle that started at Badbury Rings.
The Ladies Open sponsored by Moore Barlow was expected to be at the mercy of IK Brunel ridden by substitute jockey Ellie Holder following the accident to Izzie Hill which will keep her out of action for several months. However, Lily Bradstock and her mount Myth Buster had other ideas and setting off in front this gallant twelve-year-old was able to keep up an even gallop which the three other rivals were never able to overtake and he had seven lengths in hand at the winning post. Speaking after the race Lily’s mother Sara said ‘ he is Mr Vango’s (her stable star who is entered in the Becher Chase next Saturday) work horse and is a real yard favourite and loves leading the string’ She added that’ he has recently taken part in the Cottesmore Hunt scurry and has been team chasing’ Reminding us that he is a half brother to the 2005 Gold Cup winner Kicking King ‘ he did not reach the same heights as his brother due to his back problems but he is still a star to us’
The Mens Open race sponsored by Ward Thomas Removals featured the return of Famous Clermont the winner of six Hunter Chases including the 2023 Aintree Foxhunters and the winner of the last two runnings of the Ladies Hunter Chase at Stratford. Again, starting at odds on he set off in front under James King but was unable to dictate as he was pestered for most of the contest by Duc De Bourbon ridden by Will Higgs (deputising for Charlie Sprake). He was still in front and looked the likely winner until being caught in the final strides and eventually finished fourth. It was reported afterwards that he had struck into himself and it is to be hoped that he will soon make a speedy recovery. The whole complexion of the race changed on the run in with A Jet of Our Own ridden by Fred Philipson-Stow getting up to win ahead of Duc De Bourbon and the fast finishing Douglas Longbottom ridden by Fly McIntyre.
Speaking after the race Fred, 20, said ‘ I was about 5 lengths down and getting a bit twitchy at the last but he found plenty on the run in ‘’ The trip of two and a half miles suited him well and I owe him a great deal for getting me started’ Now the winner of six point to points and a Cheltenham Hunter Chase for Fred and his father Edward Philipson-Stow he is trained by Nicky Sheppard. Fred added ‘ I will be riding freelance this season and will be keen to ride more winners ’ This was his eleventh career victory so although still eligible for novice rider races he will no longer be able to claim 5lbs in any race for the rest of the season.
The most impressive winner of the day in the Botley Commercials/Spraytek Restricted race was Glancing Hill ridden by Zak Baker. A very smart son of Passing Glance he was always prominent and after taking up the lead at the fourteenth fence he held off the challenge of Dorset Diamond. Trained by Fran Poste her husband Charlie reflected on the sad death earlier this year of one of the partners of Walnut Hill Partnership Bridget Gatehouse. He was delighted that her business partner Jack Wallace had decided to keep the gelding in training and more successes look likely based on this performance. Charlie added ‘ we hope to run about 20 horses this season and will be using not only Zak but also Sam Lee and Clara Brewitt’
The Conditions race sponsored by BCM Wilson Hill was the second winner for trainer Nicky Sheppard when Yippee Ki Yay was successful under one of his owners Milo Herbert. He held off the challenge of Dibble Decker ridden by Charlie Case by a length. Now the winner of five point to points and two Hunter Chases he has ambitious targets ahead with both Cheltenham and Aintree being on the horizon. Milo, who works in commercial property in London comes back to ride hunting on the gelding with the Monmouthshire most weekends and was recording his second winner this season having had two years off from the sport. Explaining the good form of the yard, Matt Sheppard said’ we have been able to do some work on the grass gallops and this has certainly paid off’
After finishing runner up on Dorset Diamond Fred Philipson -Stow went one better and recorded his second double at Larkhill when winning the Equestrian Fencing and Timber Limited sponsored Maiden race on his younger brother Dorset Dazzler. Both are trained by Rachel Bartlett being her two pointers she has in training this season. Two weeks ago, her daughter Lilian known as Bubble trained her first winner at Badbury Rings and competition between mother and daughter is now going to be a feature of the Wessex season. Both of her horses are homebreds by Kayf Tara out of the mare Bobby’s Choice who won a race for Rachel at Badbury Rings in 2013 when ridden by Louis Muspratt. Rachel was thrilled with her win at Larkhill her first since 2006.
An excellent day’s racing despite the voiding of the first race the four and five year old Maiden race when the two declared horses were withdrawn with one citing the ground as faster than ideal and the other declining a walk over
Wessex Area Point to Point, Troakes Farm, Ford, Wiveliscombe, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 2RH
Trade stand information for the area - contact individual meeting secretary on Fixtures page!
