The rearranged meeting of the Royal Artillery point to point took place at Larkhill on a dry afternoon with several notable performances including a riding treble for Will Biddick and a training treble for Chris Barber, a first ever training victory for a recently retired jockey and a double for the stallion Jack Hobbs in the divided Bumper race.
The Cordings Limited sponsored Larkhill Hunt race opened the meeting with the locally trained Sake of Secrecy expected to provide owners Stan Rawlins and Harriet Waight with an empathetic victory but although the gelding managed to secure a neck victory over the veteran Captain Buck’s it was hard work. His rider Charlie Sprake had a number of worrying moments and his jumping was far from fluent but a relieved Charlie exclaimed ‘at least he put his head down and got the job done’ on dismounting. Stan described him as ‘not a Larkhill horse despite where he is trained’ (in sight of the course) and he is likely to be campaigned away from the Wiltshire course for the rest of the season.
Will and Chris secured the first leg of their respective trebles when Coconut Twist put up an impressive performance in the Maiden race. Tracking the two leaders for most of the race, Will eased his mount into the lead approaching the second last and drew clear on the run in. Owned by Troika Racing and previously in the care of trainer Brian Barr, he had been prepared initially by Daisy Hitchins who had been Brian’s assistant for 12 years before moving to Chris at the beginning of December. Daisy who is awaiting her license to train herself under Rules having completed her modules explained that ‘we have had him for more than two years and he ran a number of good races last summer’ Whether he returns to NH racing or stays pointing , he looks an interesting prospect.
The Nimrod Sponsored Conditions Race for Novice Riders proved to be a slow race for the two declared horses and there was little between Ask Nile and Oneupmanship until after the final open ditch when Ask Nile drew away from his rival. Walter Barnett riding his first winner for owner Tim Underwood was recording his third career victory and reported that his mount had ‘jumped very well’ and that’ I am becoming fond of Larkhill as this was my second win at the course this season’. Tim indicated that the gelding is likely to remain in Novice Riders races this season.
There was much stable confidence in the Max Comley trained Ryans Fancy in SDP Farriery sponsored Conditions race and this proved to be well founded. Ridden confidently by James King he had too much in hand to defeat main rival Montanna ridden by Chloe Emsley. Owned by a family partnership headed up by Rebecca Bell who works for Max and hopes to make her riding debut on the gelding later in the season. Bought privately from Caroline Robinson Max thought that ‘the gelding should prove to be a perfect schoolmaster for Rebecca who used to work for Anthony Honeyball in Dorset.’
The Nimrod sponsored Mixed Open race proved to be an exhibition round of jumping from the Aintree hero from last season Famous Clermont apart from the sixth fence where a lapse of concentration caused some concern. Making all from his sole rival Teescomponentfly he crossed the line in a good time with the length of the run in between them. Chris Barber expressed satisfaction with the outing saying, ‘that will put him nearly spot on for his next outing which will be the Walrus Hunter Chase at Haydock’ (which he won last year). He added that ‘he may have some work over poles with Rupert Nuttall to sharpen up his jumping before his February date.’
.
Will and Chris achieved their respective trebles when Wolf Walker beat his market rival Douglas Longbottom in the Honourable Artillery Company sponsored Restricted race. Impressive on his debut at the previous Larkhill meeting he was strongly fancied to follow up and despite looking vulnerable after the second last Will had more in hand and drew away to record a four lengths victory. Part owner Robert Fear whilst being delighted with his gelding’s success indicated that ‘he will not be set any fancy targets for this season and it is important to keep the lid on him as he is a real long-term prospect’ Owners Robert and Andrew Ham have much to look forward to.
The JRL Group sponsored Bumper was divided on the day with 15 of the 17 horses entered declared to run. The first division saw an impressive winner for newcomer Colin Hobbs trained by the recently retired jockey Tom Scudamore with his first ever runner as a trainer. Owned by his breeder Caroline Beresford-Wylie and Richard Kent he is a son of the stallion Jack Hobbs and his dam Colin’s Sister won five Hurdle races and was fourth in Stayers Hurdle in 2018. Tom paying his first visit to Larkhill since a 16-year-old recalled that ‘I do not have good memories here as I only had three rides here when I first started riding and did not get round on any of them including breaking my collar bone but this is brilliant’. Ridden by the leading Novice Rider Ed Vaughan he explained that ‘I had a call a couple of weeks ago from Tom asking me to ride and went and sat on the gelding last week’ He showed a good turn of foot over the final furlong and looks an exciting prospect.
The second division also went to another son of Jack Hobbs this time Batsman bred by the Bradstock family out of Maid of Oaksey who is a half sister to the prolific Coneygree and Carruthers. The Max Comley trained Land Girl’s Luck looked the winner but as the field came into the home straight Lily Bradstock asked her mount to quicken and he responded willingly to her urgings. Delighted to train her first winner of the season and her first ever Bumper winner Sara was pleased that the family winning lineage has been continued.