Secretary:   Jonathan Brooking

Contact Details Tel: 07787 299662

Email: jonathanbrooking@gmail.com

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

Entries close:   Monday 2nd Februry 2026 12.30pm

Races:   Conditions (Novice Riders) Level 2,  Mixed Open (Coronation Gold Cup), Restricted, Conditions (Level 2), Open Maiden, 4&5 yrs Flat

First Race:   12.45 am

ENTRY FEES  £50 per entry per race  2nd entry same horse £30

The continuing wet weather is having a major impact on the Wessex point to point calendar and following the postponement of the South Dorset meeting last Sunday the focus now moves to Larkhill where the Combined Services hold their annual fixture on Sunday 8^th February.in aid of the military charity SSAFA. The headline race is one of the traditional four classic races of the season namely the Colt sponsored Coronation Gold Cup Mixed Open. A race of great history and tradition it is a race that most owners , trainers and jockeys want to win and will likely to be a very competitive event.

The weather has resulted in a huge entry of 147 horses for the meeting and as a consequence the Maiden race has already been divided and racing brought forward to start at 12 noon with half hour intervals for the planned seven races. The traditional King’s Troop race will not be taking place this year but hopefully will return in 2027.

The course continues to take the rain well and with the current going of good, good to soft in places there should be some excellent racing to enjoy. There will be trade stands to browse, food and drink outlets and the bookmakers to have a wager with. Early bird tickets are available at £15 until 6pm on Saturday 7^th on gbpointing.co.uk and £20 on the gate with under 16s free if accompanied by an adult. The postcode for the course is SP4 8QR.

The feature race, The Coronation Gold Cup has attracted a high-quality field of 21 horses headed by the prolific Larkhill winner Grace A Vous Enki who will be seeking his 10^th consecutive victory at the Wiltshire course. Trained by Chris Barber who is seeking his first Coronation Gold Cup winner he is very keen to emulate the success of his late grandfather Richard who trained multiple winners in the 1990s including Fantus, What a Hand and Brackenfield. It will take a tremendous effort to lower the colours of Grace A Vous Enki who has looked on top form in his two outings this season. His main potential rival is Gracchus de Balme who won the Aintree Foxhunters and the Stratford Horse and Hound Cup last season but is on a retrieval mission after pulling up in a Hunter Chase at Ludlow last month. On his best form he would give the likely favourite the most to do. Of the others A Jet of Our Own has already won a competitive Open race at Larkhill but has not run up to that form in his last two outings. Beacon Edge brings a background of high-quality racing under Rules when with Gordon Elliott and did win on his debut for new trainer Josh Newman but may find younger legs too speedy for him. Histrionic and Highstakesplayer were duelling at the last fence until Ivor Herbert unseated off the last named leaving the Lucas Murphy ridden rival to coast home. They may fight out for minor honours with Grace A Vous Enki the selection.

The meeting begins with a Conditions race for Novice Riders for which an entry of 27 horses has been received. Both Histrionic and HIghstakesplayer have entries and this race would be easier than the feature race. Sam Loxton, the trainer of Histrionic, has also entered Duc De Bourbon and on his best form he would be on the short list. Arthur’s Sixpence was unbeaten in his two outings last season and with his trainer Harry Brown on fine form he should be considered. Farnoge was only narrowly denied on his pointing debut for his rider Freddie Fletcher and is another with chances. One True King has been running in Hunter Chases and Open races and he might appreciate the drop-in class. In an open-looking race Duc De Bourbon is the choice.

The Restricted race features a number of last time out winners and of these Follow My Order was dominant when making all in his Maiden last month and is on the upgrade. Similar comments apply to both Woodstock Octo who won his debut at Dunsmore and Carrillo who won on his English debut in December in impressive fashion. Good Boy Eric won two of his three races last season and looks one to follow this season. Boley Bob is an entry from Joe O’Shea’s yard and should be considered. Dom Rodrigo was placed on his seasonal debut and this Phil Rowley trained gelding will have come on from that outing. Dorset Dazzler has recorded two successes at Larkhill this season but was well beaten on his Hunter Chase debut at Taunton. Woodstock Octo is held in high regard by his trainer and is the choice in a race that is bound to throw up multiple winners this season.

The Conditions race (Level 2) may see the reappearance of the improving Glancing Hill trained by Fran Nimmo and already the winner of two races this season. Hidden Heroics is unbeaten in his two races for his Novice Rider Henry Neale at Wadebridge but this looks a tougher race. Kandor looked useful when winning a similar race in December and should be on the short list. Punches Cross runs well in these type of races and has place possibilities. Ultimate Survivor is progressive and may be the one to trouble Glancing Hill the most.

The Maiden has 18 horses entered in each division and in the first the ex-Irish Chiroqui Princess has been the runner up in three Irish Points. Now trained by Will Thirlby this will be her British debut. Another ex-Irish horse is the Chris Barber trained Skeeter Rock who was placed on his only outing and with his stable in such good form he must be considered. Valentin De Maine, a half brother to the stable favourite of Happy Day Emery, ran an encouraging race at the last meeting and ought to have come on for that race. Drayton Flyer placed in three Hurdles for Olly Murphy is now with Alan Hill and looks an interesting recruit to pointing. Tom Lacey always does well with his newcomers and Gallant Tide is another to consider. Skeeter Rock is the selection.

The Second division also features another newcomer from Tom Lacey’s stable in the form of Hive Runner by Blue Bresil and with the weight allowance as a four-year-old he may be the one to support. River Don was an encouraging second in November and has chances. Strolling Along was previously trained by Dan Skelton and now with Will Biddick it will be interesting to see what a change of scenery can do for this placed Hurdler. Walkingtheline did not show much on her debut for Chris Barber but this placed hurdler may run better on her second outing. Will Thirlby has the placed Colonel Whizz entered and he should be considered.

The meeting concludes with a Bumper over 2 miles where there are 15 entries. Ruling Planet was runner-up in a similar race last month and should have benefitted from that outing. Miss Bossy Boots trained by Fran Nimmo was third in a race last season at Sandon. Gina Andrews has entered Wise Maiden a half sister to a number of winners and she should be checked in the paddock. Of the other newcomers Will Biddick has Gunningforyou, Justin Brotherton has Dadavic and Solent Breeze and Stuart Sampson has Upto Charlie. Ruling Planet is the choice.

Race 1:            Conditions Level 2 for Novice Riders 

1^st         Fil d’ Ariane

2^nd        Highstakesplayer

3^rd        Hugos New Horse 

Runners:          15                    Distances:        2l, 41/2l                       Time: 6m 23s

Race 2:            Restricted (Div 1) 

1^st         Boley Bob

2^nd        Follow My Order

3^rd        Carrillo 

Runners:          11                    Distances:        1/2l, 30l                       Time: 6m 22s

Race 3:            Restricted (Div2) 

1^st         Woodstock Octo

2^nd        The Gooner

3^rd        Pax 

Runners:          11                    Distances:        9l, 10l                          Time: 6m 32s

Race 4:            Conditions (Level 2) 

1^st         Gelino Bello

2^nd        Glancing Hill

3^rd        Ultimate Survivor 

Runners:          15                    Distances:        2l, 6l                            Time: 6m 29s

Race 5:            Mixed Open Coronation Gold Cup 

1^st         Grace A Vous Enki

2^nd        Kandor

3^rd        Beat Box 

Runners:          10                    Distances:        12l, 8l                          Time: 6m 25s

Race 6:            Maiden Div 1 

1^st         Gallent Tide

2^nd        Skeeter Rock

3^rd        Emmas Wish

 Runners:          11                    Distances:        11/2l, 5l                       Time: 6m 44s

Race 7:            Maiden Div 2 

1^st         Hive Runner

2^nd        Strolling Along

3^rd        Jeu de Pic 

Runners:          10                    Distances:        3l, 12l                          Time: 6m 48s

Race 8:            Fat Race 4,5 & 6 yrs 

1^st         Dadavic

1st        Miss Spec

3^rd        Wise Maiden 

Runners:                                  Distances:        DH, 8l                          Time: 4m 7s

N/A

The rain continues to fall and even a course like Larkhill showed the effect with the going at the Combined Services meeting on Sunday becoming more testing and difficult for many horses to raise a gallop after three miles. There were exceptions to this with a splendid performance in the feature race, the Coronation Gold Cup, the return to form of a former Grade 1 winning hurdler, two smart four-year-olds in the Maiden races which were won by a rider securing his first ever double and two very promising Restricted winners. A good crowd enjoyed an eight-race card with one race divided on the day with 94 horses taking part despite the inclement weather.

Grace A Vous Enki was sent off a very short price to claim the Coronation Gold Cup and supporters had very little to worry about as he treated his nine rivals with contempt and despite the efforts of his nearest market rivals he strolled to a very easy victory. Sporting number cloth 10 the omens were in evidence that this was going to be his tenth consecutive victory at Larkhill and so it proved. James King who has been his pilot in all of these successes was full of praise for his mount saying ‘ they tried to take me on but he just gallops and gallops and was too good for all of them’ A delighted trainer Christopher Barber saddling his first runner in this historic race was very proud of his stable star and indicated that his further targets might be the Lady Dudley Cup and then the 4 miler at the evening Cheltenham meeting. Proud owners Clive and Joan Hitchings supported by their son Nick were elated with the success and although the horse had dead heated in this race in 2024 to win it outright in such a dominant way was more than they had hoped for.

The meeting had begun with the BMC sponsored Conditions Race for Novice Riders. The biggest field of the day of 15 horses faced the starter and the winner Fil D’Ariane ridden by his owner and trainer Douglas White took up the running at the sixth fence and maintained his lead all the way to the line. He should not have been in the line up as he was declared to run in the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown until that meeting was cancelled. The only horse he trains on the family farm near Didmarton he had won the Yeomanary Ride over timber fences prior to his Ludlow Hunter Chase second. Douglas is now hoping that the Grand Military Gold Cup will be rescheduled for either Sandown or Wincanton for which he is the current holder having won this race in 2025.

The Restricted race sponsored by Qinetiq attracted 22 runners so was divided on the day. The first division proved to be a duel between Boley Bob ridden by Henry Crow and Follow My Order ridden by Charlie Marshall and they were hardly parted during the race with only half a length separating between them with Boley Bob just prevailing. Trained by Joe O’Shea who described him as ‘very special’ and owned by Jim Broomfield who was paying his first visit to Larkhill. A member of the syndicate who own the prolific Barton Snow this gelding is the first horse he has owned in his own name, Known by his friends as ‘Lucky Jim’ he is the owner of the Brackley Antique Cellar a huge antiques centre regularly seen on Bargain Hunt. Jim was thrilled with the victory and paid credit to his trainer Joe for all his hard work.

The second division was won in good style by Woodstock Octo ridden by Josh Newman, Tracking the leaders Josh took up the lead at the third last and stayed on well to beat The Gooner ridden by Martin McIntyre. Bought by Josh’s wife Kayley in Ireland and now owned by John and Sonia Gardener who missed the victory as they are moving house he had been given time after his win at Dunsmore in November but he is very progressive and looks one to follow for the rest of the season.

The Conditions race sponsored by Cambridge Aerospace was a good battle between Gelino Bello ridden by Darren Andrews and Glancing Hill ridden by Zac Baker with the former staying on the better to prevail by two lengths. A previous Grade 1 winning Hurdler for Paul Nicholls at Aintree in 2022 and 2 Novice Chases he had lost his way and had been pulled up on his last three outings. A gift horse to Ella Ortewell he is now trained on the Ortewell family farm by Charlie Sprake with his partner Winnie Ortewell. Charlie a successful point to point rider explained that ‘ I am not going to ride this season but am not ruling out a return next season’  He added that ‘ I have four horses to train including this boy for a group of family friends called the Sloe Gin Syndicate’ When quizzed how he had brought about the return to form he said with a smile ‘ we have just tried to sweeten him up with a different routine and I wanted to see whether he still had it in him to be competitive’ Given a very positive ride by Darren Andrews Charlie was quick to acknowledge the help and support he received from him when he was riding and he was delighted to have Darren riding for him

The first Division of the Maiden sponsored by Civica was won in good style by the four year old Gallant Tide ridden by Sean 0’Conor from Skeeter Rock ridden by Ed Doggrell. A smart looking Crystal Ocean gelding bought by Tom Lacey at Goffs June 2025 for E£36K he brought out comments from the trainer ‘ as the next Energumene’ and he is next likely to be seen at the sales

A similar comment applies to the winner of the second Division won by the four year old Hive Runner. Held up this time by Sean he made up a lot of ground approaching the third last and won going away after leading at the last. Sean who is attached to Dan Skelton’s stable was riding his first ever double and has now ridden 10 point to point winners as well as winning four Hunter Chases. Bought by Tom at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sales for E£16K he is also heading for the sales,

The meeting concluded in fading light with the Llanelec sponsored Flat race over 2 miles. This produced the closest finish of the day with the judge being unable to separate Dadavic ridden by Sam Lee and Miss Spec ridden by Charlie Case and declared a dead heat. Both were always prominent and although Dadavic held a narrow lead close home he was joined on the line. Dadavic trained by Justin Brotherton for owner Jackie Cornwell was a case of mistaken identity in his early years but when this was found out a decision was made to keep the horses they had which Justin approved of. As a quirk of fate Justin added ‘ I was responsible for breaking in Miss Spec and never imagined that I would end up training a winner and dead heating with her’  Miss Spec  is owned and bred  by Malcolm Bent and trained by Oliver Hayes who was recording his first winner as a trainer. Aged 21 and based in the Cotswolds this was only his second ever runner and is a name to look out for in the future.