A bright sunny early Spring Day greeted racegoers who attended the South and West Wilts point to point at Larkhill on Sunday. On going described by many riders as perfect a decent crowd enjoyed an afternoon of seven races with the highlights being a riding treble for the current leading male rider in the country Josh Newman, a riding double for Martin ‘Fly’ McIntyre , a first success for Brook Lovegrove – Fielden and a dramatic conclusion to the Mixed Open race.
Josh began his day by steering Paloma Blue to a comfortable success in the Conditions race run in the memory of Pat Awdry. A prolific winner in 2023 he only had one race last season after which he had a touch of a leg and the decision was made to give him time off. Returning in his Hunt race at Milborne St Andrew he showed all of his old enthusiasm and as one of his owners Stephanie Jones described ‘he is still a racehorse’. Taking it up after the fourteenth fence he was too good for Sake of Secrecy ridden by Jake Bament. Watched by his main owner Simon Clare, a Public Relations Director of Corals, this was his first win at Larkhill having previously been behind Viroflay on his only other visit to the Wiltshire course.
The Maiden race looked to have been won by the four-year-old Land of Punt owned and trained by Tom Lacey and ridden by Will Biddick. The gelding had cruised into the lead in the last mile of the race and was in command by some eight lengths at the last when overjumping and falling leaving O’Hallorans Castle ridden by Brook Lovegrove-Fielden to hold off the late challenge of Lucarne ridden by Fred Phillipson-Stow. Related to Bob’s Worth he had been purchased by Jonathan Lovegrove-Fielden at Doncaster in 2023 and was giving his son Brook, 26, his first riding victory. Trained by Russell Teague at Welshpool Brook has been riding for eight years but had two years off with a bad injury. Brook lives and works in London but rides out at weekends and has been taking the gelding hunting with the Teme Valley and South Shropshire when he can. Describing him as ‘a very genuine horse who tries his heart out and does seem to enjoy running at Larkhill’
There were only two runners in the HRH The Prince of Wales Mixed Open race but Larry ridden by George Gorman and Viva Lavilla ridden by Martin ‘Fly’McIntyre matched each other for most of the race . At the second last Fly took it up only for George’s horse to rally and lead at the last. In a driving finish George regrettably mistook the winning post and allowed Fly to drive his gelding past him. A winning Hurdler when with Dan Skelton Viva Lavilla is now with Anthony Ward-Thomas and was recording Fly’s first victory for Anthony after many years of trying. Recalling his first ride for Anthony arranged by Richard Bandey Fly said ‘ I rode Starkie in the Aintree Foxhunters in 2019 and have been trying to ride a winner for him ever since’ That race is under consideration for the gelding and the same race is the target for My Drogo who had an entry for the Mixed Open but is now reported to be heading straight to Aintree.
The closest finish of the day came in the Woolley and Wallis sponsored Restricted race with the judge needing to refer to his iPad to separate Crawter ridden by Josh Newman and Two in Tune ridden by Charlie Sprake. Already twice a winner at Larkhill this season Crawter had been jumping right in the later stages and nearly lost Josh at the last with a violent leap. However, in a driving finish he held off the challenge of Two in Tune with a short head being given as the margin of victory. Delighted joint owners Stan Rawlins and Harriet Waight both thought that ‘he has improved again since his last appearance in February despite having to carry a 5lb penalty’ Josh was back on board him having missed his last victory as Harriet said ‘ he is Josh’s ride when he is available’
The Ladies Conditions Race for Grass Roots Riders who have ridden less than 20 winners was a competitive race run at a fast pace with the favourite Precious Bounty ridden by Marina Bealby leading until the top of the hill. Doctor Doyen ridden by Tanisha Little took over but was headed by Ask Nile the mount of Heidi Palin at the fourth last. Heidi maintained her lead over the challenging Blagthebookies ridden by Iola Sankey with two lengths between them at the winning post. Owned and trained by Tim Underwood who reported that ‘the gelding always runs well fresh but had been off for 13 months since winning a match in January 2024’. The significant booking of Heidi had been arranged through Nick Pearce and the return to point to pointing by Heidi is a welcome addition to the female riders. She was recording only her fifth pointing career victory, the last two coming in consecutive weekends. Better known as Dan Skelton’s amateur, she has already ridden six Hunter Chase winners and four other winning rides under Rules. She added that ‘this is my first ever visit to Larkhill after I had ridden five lots at home this morning’
Fly secured the second leg of his double when partnering the home bred Schiaparelli gelding Amatchmadeinheaven for owner/trainer Amber Jackson-Fennell. A bright chestnut gelding he set off in front in the first division of the Bumper and was never headed and stayed on strongly. Amber who rode him when he ran at the schooling bumper day that Larkhill held recently said that ‘he went well that day and we were hopeful of a good run today’ The dam, Heaven Scent, won a Maiden at Godstone under Daniel Kyne after giving birth to this winner having previously won on the flat and over Hurdles. Connections are now considering the Aintree Bumper later in the season.
Josh brought up the final leg of his treble when partnering the Tom Scudamore owned and trained Maximus Oxo in the second division. Travelling powerfully, he took up the running with less than five furlongs to run and drew clear of his six rivals with the winning margin recorded as ten lengths. Bought by Tom and Ed Bailey at the Derby Sale for 35K Euros as a 3-year-old he is a half-brother to winning Hurdler Kaituna River in training with Alex Hales. Margot Scudamore representing her father who was on duty at Charm Park where his charge finished runner up said that ‘ I ride him every day and we were hopeful he would win on his debut’ Josh described him as ‘ quite raw but when I got him into a good stride he ran on well’ He is likely to have an entry at the Cheltenham Festival Sales on 13thMarch.
A bright sunny early Spring Day greeted racegoers who attended the South and West Wilts point to point at Larkhill on Sunday. On going described by many riders as perfect a decent crowd enjoyed an afternoon of seven races with the highlights being a riding treble for the current leading male rider in the country Josh Newman, a riding double for Martin ‘Fly’ McIntyre , a first success for Brook Lovegrove – Fielden and a dramatic conclusion to the Mixed Open race.
Josh began his day by steering Paloma Blue to a comfortable success in the Conditions race run in the memory of Pat Awdry. A prolific winner in 2023 he only had one race last season after which he had a touch of a leg and the decision was made to give him time off. Returning in his Hunt race at Milborne St Andrew he showed all of his old enthusiasm and as one of his owners Stephanie Jones described ‘he is still a racehorse’. Taking it up after the fourteenth fence he was too good for Sake of Secrecy ridden by Jake Bament. Watched by his main owner Simon Clare, a Public Relations Director of Corals, this was his first win at Larkhill having previously been behind Viroflay on his only other visit to the Wiltshire course.
The Maiden race looked to have been won by the four-year-old Land of Punt owned and trained by Tom Lacey and ridden by Will Biddick. The gelding had cruised into the lead in the last mile of the race and was in command by some eight lengths at the last when overjumping and falling leaving O’Hallorans Castle ridden by Brook Lovegrove-Fielden to hold off the late challenge of Lucarne ridden by Fred Phillipson-Stow. Related to Bob’s Worth he had been purchased by Jonathan Lovegrove-Fielden at Doncaster in 2023 and was giving his son Brook, 26, his first riding victory. Trained by Russell Teague at Welshpool Brook has been riding for eight years but had two years off with a bad injury. Brook lives and works in London but rides out at weekends and has been taking the gelding hunting with the Teme Valley and South Shropshire when he can. Describing him as ‘a very genuine horse who tries his heart out and does seem to enjoy running at Larkhill’
There were only two runners in the HRH The Prince of Wales Mixed Open race but Larry ridden by George Gorman and Viva Lavilla ridden by Martin ‘Fly’McIntyre matched each other for most of the race . At the second last Fly took it up only for George’s horse to rally and lead at the last. In a driving finish George regrettably mistook the winning post and allowed Fly to drive his gelding past him. A winning Hurdler when with Dan Skelton Viva Lavilla is now with Anthony Ward-Thomas and was recording Fly’s first victory for Anthony after many years of trying. Recalling his first ride for Anthony arranged by Richard Bandey Fly said ‘ I rode Starkie in the Aintree Foxhunters in 2019 and have been trying to ride a winner for him ever since’ That race is under consideration for the gelding and the same race is the target for My Drogo who had an entry for the Mixed Open but is now reported to be heading straight to Aintree.
The closest finish of the day came in the Woolley and Wallis sponsored Restricted race with the judge needing to refer to his iPad to separate Crawter ridden by Josh Newman and Two in Tune ridden by Charlie Sprake. Already twice a winner at Larkhill this season Crawter had been jumping right in the later stages and nearly lost Josh at the last with a violent leap. However, in a driving finish he held off the challenge of Two in Tune with a short head being given as the margin of victory. Delighted joint owners Stan Rawlins and Harriet Waight both thought that ‘he has improved again since his last appearance in February despite having to carry a 5lb penalty’ Josh was back on board him having missed his last victory as Harriet said ‘ he is Josh’s ride when he is available’
The Ladies Conditions Race for Grass Roots Riders who have ridden less than 20 winners was a competitive race run at a fast pace with the favourite Precious Bounty ridden by Marina Bealby leading until the top of the hill. Doctor Doyen ridden by Tanisha Little took over but was headed by Ask Nile the mount of Heidi Palin at the fourth last. Heidi maintained her lead over the challenging Blagthebookies ridden by Iola Sankey with two lengths between them at the winning post. Owned and trained by Tim Underwood who reported that ‘the gelding always runs well fresh but had been off for 13 months since winning a match in January 2024’. The significant booking of Heidi had been arranged through Nick Pearce and the return to point to pointing by Heidi is a welcome addition to the female riders. She was recording only her fifth pointing career victory, the last two coming in consecutive weekends. Better known as Dan Skelton’s amateur, she has already ridden six Hunter Chase winners and four other winning rides under Rules. She added that ‘this is my first ever visit to Larkhill after I had ridden five lots at home this morning’
Fly secured the second leg of his double when partnering the home bred Schiaparelli gelding Amatchmadeinheaven for owner/trainer Amber Jackson-Fennell. A bright chestnut gelding he set off in front in the first division of the Bumper and was never headed and stayed on strongly. Amber who rode him when he ran at the schooling bumper day that Larkhill held recently said that ‘he went well that day and we were hopeful of a good run today’ The dam, Heaven Scent, won a Maiden at Godstone under Daniel Kyne after giving birth to this winner having previously won on the flat and over Hurdles. Connections are now considering the Aintree Bumper later in the season.
Josh brought up the final leg of his treble when partnering the Tom Scudamore owned and trained Maximus Oxo in the second division. Travelling powerfully, he took up the running with less than five furlongs to run and drew clear of his six rivals with the winning margin recorded as ten lengths. Bought by Tom and Ed Bailey at the Derby Sale for 35K Euros as a 3-year-old he is a half-brother to winning Hurdler Kaituna River in training with Alex Hales. Margot Scudamore representing her father who was on duty at Charm Park where his charge finished runner up said that ‘ I ride him every day and we were hopeful he would win on his debut’ Josh described him as ‘ quite raw but when I got him into a good stride he ran on well’ He is likely to have an entry at the Cheltenham Festival Sales on 13thMarch.
