Hon Secretary: Emma Watkins

Mobile:  07837 070922

Email:  rahcstreasurer@gmail.com

Entries to:   The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd

Entries close:   Monday 12th Januray 2025

Races:   Conditions Level 2, (Novice Riders), Mixed Open, 5 years + Maiden, Restricted, Conditions Level 2, (5yrs +),  4 & 5 yrs Flat

First Race:   12.00, 

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

After the loss of the Larkhill Racing Club meeting earlier this month it is to be hoped that the weather gods will relent and allow the Royal Artillery to hold their meeting on Sunday with the first of six races scheduled for 12noon. The frost has come out of the ground and with more rain forecasted for this week the going is expected to be good so with a total entry of 87 horses there should be an excellent afternoon of racing to look forward to on Salisbury Plain.

There will be a number of attractions in addition to the racing namely the AS90 Armoured Vehicle: The Royal Artillery museum volunteers will be attending with their armoured self-propelled howitzer, the AS-90 to show visitors the capabilities of the vehicle and offer some history. Do go and chat to them about all things artillery!

1^st Regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery will be attending to enjoy the offerings at the home of military racing. The regiment tent will be well attended for spectators to visit the Gunners and ask any questions about 1RHA life. 

There will be a bounty of trade stands this year with a whole host of outlets to browse from clothing and optics to alcohol and millenary.  We are also welcoming our historical food stalls of German Bratwurst, Cornish Pasties and a new Pizza offering, coffee and doughnut stalls will also be attending to fuel racegoers throughout the day. 

Entry costs are £15 per person if booked online at GBpointing.co.uk before 17^th January at 6.00pm or £20 on the day with under 16s free if accompanied by an adult. Dogs on leads are welcome.

The feature race, The Mixed Open, contains an entry of fifteen high quality horses headed by the prolific course specialist Grace A Vous Enki who will be seeking his ninth successive victory. Now in the capable hands of Chris Barber for his owner Joan Hitchings he showed all of his usual sparkle in December and it will take a special effort from one of his rivals to lower his colours. Crawter trained within sight of the course was a revelation last season culminating in success at Cheltenham last May, but he may need this race and a similar comment applies to the evergreen Arthur’s Sixpence who won both his races last season. Al Gasparo was impressive on his pointing debut at Wadebridge and this ex-Gavin Cromwell inmate the winner of a Listed Hurdle at Leopardstown in December 2024 is certainly an exciting recruit to point to point racing. Douglas Longbottom went into many notebooks after a fast finishing third to A Jet of Our Own over an inadequate trip in November and he may be the one to give the favourite the most to do. Dalamoi on his best form has each way possibilities and has already had a race this season. Grace A Vous Enki is the selection with Douglas Longbottom the danger.

The meeting begins with an Open Maiden for which 21 horses have been entered. The placed horses at  the shorter Maiden at the December meeting namely Lime Burner, Cue Jump and Camps Bay potentially reoppose with the first named likely to improve for his seasonal debut for trainer Mark Grant. The winner of that race was trained by Chris Barber and his potential representative Skeeter Rock is one to note. Placed in an Irish point to point in May he will no doubt be well prepared for his English debut. River Don was placed in another Maiden at Larkhill in November and he is clearly on the upgrade. Chris Barber trained Valentin De Maine last season but this placed gelding is now with Bea Coward and must come into the reckoning. Fran Poste has Farfromaway and he is another who should improve from his debut at Dunsmore. Valentin De Maine is a tentative selection.

The Novice Riders Conditions race is another competitive looking race with Highstakesplayer who holds an entry in the Mixed Open looking to have the best form having been second to Rebel Dawn Rising at Cheltenham and a close third on his seasonal debut last month. He should give his pilot Ivor Herbert the chance of a second career winner. Of his potential rivals Arthur’s Sixpence may give his trainer/rider Harry Brown the opportunity to ride his first winner. Hugos New Horse brings good form from when he was trained by Paul Nicholls and now with Nicky Sheppard he should not be far away. Dalamoi is another entered in the Mixed Open and this consistent gelding trained by Tim Vaughan ought to have come on for his seasonal debut. Highstakesplayer is the choice.

The Conditions Level 2 race may be won by Skandiburg who was a good second at Chaddesley Corbett and a repeat of that form may be good enough. Corporal JackJones won at Chaddesley and is clearly on the upgrade and comes into the reckoning. Rocky Creed has been placed in his two outings this season and he again should be placed. Magical Escape was runner up in a similar race in December and is another to consider. Boys Will Be Boys did not enjoy the ground on his seasonal debut and may well run much better on this second outing. Skandiburg is the selection unless Highstakesplayer opts for this race.

The Restricted race has an entry of 12 horses and of these Ultimate Survivor will be fancied to go one better after being runner up at the last meeting. Lightly raced he does bring the best form. A Force to Reckin runner up at Dunsmore won his two races last season for his owner/trainer Jack Veysey and will be in the mix. Dawn Supreme is another improver and ought to come from his outing at Wadebridge. Tellmesomethinggood made an encouraging return last month and with Alan Hill’s stable in good form this may be the one to trouble Ultimate Survivor the most.

The meeting concludes with a two-mile Flat race and with little form to go an examination in the paddock is a good starting point. Gaoithe trained by James Mullins is a full brother to two previous winners and should be considered. Of the 4 year olds both Bouquet de Fleurs and Ruling Planet have impressive pedigrees by Wootton Bassett and Teofilo respectively and if possessing a degree of their sire’s ability they should be followed. Ruling Planet trained by Tim Vaughan is a tentative choice.

Race 1:            5 yrs + Maiden 

1^st         Follow My Order

2^nd        Diamond Tiki

3^rd        Breathless Bishop 

Runners:          11                    Distances:        9l, 9l                            Time: 6m 16s

Race 2:            Conditions (Level 2) for Novice Riders 

1^st         Histrionic

2^nd        Cabastero

3^rd        Hugos New Horse 

Runners:          11                    Distances:        18l, 21/2l                     Time: 6m 8s

Race 3:            Condition (Level 2) 5yrs+ 

1^st         Corporal Jacjkones

2^nd        Farnoge

3^rd        Boys Will Be Boys 

Runners:          12                    Distances:        nk, 2l                           Time: 6m 11s

Race 4:            Mixed Open 

1^st         Grace A Vous Enki

2^nd        Douglas Longbottom

3^rd        Crawther 

Runners:          7                      Distances:        6l,18 l                          Time: 6m 13s

Race 5:            Restricted

 1^st         Ultimate Survivor

2^nd        Dawn Supreme

3^rd        A Force To Reckin 

Runners:          11                    Distances:        11/2l, 11l                     Time: 6m 17s

Race 6:            Flat 4&5 yrs 

1^st         One For Snowy

2^nd        Ruling Planet

3^rd        Just Call Me Buzz 

Runners:          6                      Distances:        11l, 4l                          Time: 3m 56s

N/A

Despite it remaining overcast and generally grey throughout the day the racing at Larkhill on Sunday when the Royal Artillery held their meeting more than made up for the weather and it did stay dry. On the course there were a number of notable performances with two riders of very different experience riding their first ever winners at Larkhill, another dominant performance from a real course specialist being the first of a riding double for James King which was completed by an impressive performance in the concluding Bumper.

The feature race, the Seamus Mullins and We do Vans sponsored Mixed Open, was a high class race with two of the winners from last seasons Cheltenham Hunter Chase evening namely Crawter and Douglas Longbottom taking on the prolific Grace A Vous Enki who was seeking his ninth consecutive victory at Larkhill. As usual James King took Grace A Vous Enki into a prominent position and despite the valiant effort of Douglas Longbottom he was not for being beaten. Watched by his enthusiastic owners Clive and Joan Hitchings he relishes every time he arrives at Larkhill. Chris Barber described him as ‘ one of the easiest horses to train and  to do anything with and he loves his work and regularly squeals with pleasure at home’ James was quick to praise the excellent job that Chris has done with him since his transfer. Chris indicated that ‘ his next likely outing is to be in the Coronation Gold Cup a race I have yet to win’

The meeting began with a competitive Maiden sponsored by Cordings of Piccadilly. Follow My Order was sent to the front by Charlie Marshall and maintained the advantage to  the line when he had ten lengths in hand over Diamond Tiki ridden by Lily Bradstock. Trained by Mike Felton for the Wishful Thinkers who consist of The Honourable Charlotte and James Townshend and John and Lavinia Rawlins from Bishops Caundle near Sherborne. Mike acquired the gelding from Tom Malone after his runs in Ireland and put together the partnership who all live close to his base. Charlie revealed that ‘this is my first ever Larkhill winner after numerous rides’ and ‘ he was very clever in front knowing when to go long and shorten’ He looks one to follow as the season develops.

The Conditions race for Novice Riders, sponsored by the Ladies of the Royal Artillery Hunt, had a dramatic finish with Highstakesplayer ridden by Ivor Herbert and Histrionic ridden by Lucas Murphy duelling as they approached the final fence with the race between them. Highstakesplayer had taken a narrow advantage but blundered and unseated Ivor leaving Histrionic and his young rider to coast to an easy victory. On only his second ever ride at Larkhill he was thrilled to ride the winner watched by his proud father former National Hunt jockey Timmy. He added that ‘ I had a great ride round and he jumped well for me’  Formerly owned by Andrew and Kate Brooks he is now in the ownership of his former trainer Paul Nicholls and his new trainer Sam Loxton. Sam explained that ‘ the change of scenery and routine as well as the drop in class has made a difference to him’ . A tilt at the Coronation Gold Cup is potentially on his radar.

The loudest cheer of the day followed the success of Corporal JackJones in the Conditions race sponsored by the Gentlemen of the Royal Artillery Hunt. Trained as her only horse by Poppy Skipper for the Hive Partnership a group of local friends he continues on the upward curve following his win at Chaddesley Corbett over two a half miles. Taking it up at the second last Darren Andrews had to keep his willing mount up to his work to hold off the very late challenge of Farnoge ridden by Freddie Fletcher. Sporting a very fetching pair of blue cheekpieces the gelding did stay the full three miles which had been in question but Darren thought that ‘ this trip is more suitable for him’. Registering his fourth success of the season, Darren has already beaten his score from last term and added that ‘ I am enjoying my riding much more this season and hope to keep it going’ Poppy did indicate that she hopes to win the South Dorset Hunt race with him.

Another rider back in spotlight after a long absence was Martin ‘Fly’McIntyre who recorded his first winner of the season when steering the Bea Coward trained Ultimate Survivor to victory in the Southern Counties sponsored Restricted race. Taking it up after the second last he held off the challenge of Dawn Supreme depriving Darren Andrews of a double. Sourced and bought by Mel Smith for the Moonrakers Partnership which has ten shares, he is lightly raced and had come on for his debut this season in December. Fly joked afterwards that ‘ I have finally come out of the freezer and hope that this win will lead to many others’

The concluding Bumper featured a number of well-bred sorts but it was the son of Frontiersman One For Snowy who produced an emphatic performance to defeat his five rivals with ease. Taken by James King to the front with four furlongs to go he soon drew clear. Bred by his owner Adrian Parker who lives in Dundee having paid £1000 for the covering of his mare and then born in the stable where he still lives of Paul Morgan near Cardiff. Paul, who used to hold a full license, now runs a livery yard next door to Dai Walters training facilities and where he trains the gelding. Paul explained that ‘ when he ran at the last meeting this was the first time he had galloped on grass so this time he knew what to expect’ James added that ‘ I was not available to ride when he made his debut but I knew he had ability and he showed it well today and I had difficulty pulling him up’ Paul did say that he has also a four year old  full sister at home also owned by Adrian.