2020 opens with the Larkhill Racing Club holding their meeting at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain on Sunday 5th January. Larkhill is an ideal place to blow away all the cobwebs and excesses from Christmas and the New Year festivities and this year there will be a very early start at 10.30am due to the large number of entries and two races have been divided meaning that there are now 9 scheduled races for racegoers to enjoy. The two feature races the Ladies Open and the Mens Open are very high quality races and the latter race includes the first two in the Foxhunters at Cheltenham last March. The going is currently good to soft and with the bends having been moved since the December meeting it should be excellent going for the day’s racing. The other change is that there will be two new fences since the December meeting.

The Skinner’s Ladies Open race is the first feature race and this has attracted a total of 14 entries. Southfield Theatre was a game winner of the Ladies at the December meeting and will be hard to beat. Big Casino ran a high quality race when second to Earth Leader in the Mens Open in December and the reduction in weight gives him a further chance. The Dellercheckout won a Mixed Open at Barbury on his point to point debut and looks very promising. Thomas Campbell won at Wadebridge for Chloe Emsley and is another exciting recruit to pointing. Rose Loxton has entered both Virak the winner of two Hunter Chases last season and the likely mount of Natalie Parker and Captain Buck’s previously with Paul Nicholls and is due to be ridden by Harriet Tucker. In a fascinating race Southfield Theatre might be able to use his course expertise to hold off the challenges of his younger rivals.

The Mens Open race sponsored by Connolly’s Red Mills features the first two home in the Cheltenham Foxhunters last March when Hazel Hill beat Shantou Flyer by four lengths. Whereas Hazel Hill won his remaining outing again at Cheltenham in May and remained unbeaten Shantou Flyer was not seen again and has now been moved by owner David Maxwell from Richard Hobson to Rose Loxton. If both declare the race ought to be between them and it should be a fascinating renewal. Of the other 18 entries Salvatore beat Coco Live in a Conditions race at the December meeting but both hold entries elsewhere on the card. Big Casino finished second to Earth Leader and would hold a chance on that form. Marten won at Dunsmore but this is a much stronger race. Highway Jewel won four races last season but this is a real step up. Green Winter enjoys his racing at Larkhill and he might be the one to give the leading duo the most to do. Hazel Hill is the selection.

The Woolley and Wallis sponsored Conditions Race which has been split into two divisions opens the meeting at 10.30. The first division may see the return of the veteran Adrenalin Flight trained locally by Sally Rawlins. He has become quite a Larkhill specialist but there are several younger horses who may be too good for him. Will Biddick has entered El Bandit placed at Wadebridge on his pointing debut and he should certainly be on the short list. Miss Seagreen won for Clive Bennett at the last meeting and is in good form. Woodfleet would come into the reckoning on his best form and Three Faces West ran well behind Salvatore at the last meeting. Rose Loxton has entered Chameron twice a winner over Hurdles at Auteuil but failed to win a race whilst residing at Ditcheat. He should be watched with interest but El Bandit is chosen to give Will another winner.

The second division may see a rematch between Salvatore and Coco Live although the former would have to carry a 9 pound penalty. Bubble O’Clock is an improving young horse and comes into calculations as does Kaki de la Pree who won easily at Ffos Las. Raddon Top is another progressive horse from the Leslie Jefford yard and Apple’s Queen will hopefully get more luck in running than his previous outing at Larkhill. Horizontal Speed put up an impressive performance at Barbury and if in the same mood he may give trainer Alan Hill and rider Charlie Marshall another winner.

The Open Maiden sponsored by We Do Vans for five year olds and upwards has been also split into two divisions. Of those with form in the first division Butter Hill Boris finished runner up at the last meeting and might go one better. Best to Come was clear when falling at Barbury and his jumping needs to improve before there can be much confidence in him. Of the newcomers Fedelta is owned by Trevor Hemmings and trained by Fran Nimmo, Kynance Cove is in the hands of Ciaran O’Brien, TheChaseison raced in Ireland but is now with Christopher Barber, Military Mischief was placed in Ireland in December and is now with Jane Western and Wykham a home bred gelding of Robert Waley-Cohen’s out of his successful mare Liberthine. A chance is taken with the last named to make a winning debut.

Division two again has a mixture of those who have raced and a number of newcomers. De Cigar Man has placed form in Ireland but missed all of last season and he should be watched. Fleur du Pommier ran some good races at Larkhill last season and is now with Harriet Waight. Montarlot also showed form at Larkhill last season and he could be in the mix. Fran Nimmo has entered the unraced Red Buccaneer and this Black Sam Bellamy gelding could make a winning debut. Bawnmore boasts some Irish form and is now with Tom Ellis and Snakelake Hill owned by Rose and Sam Loxton is another who appears to be running into form. Fran Nimmo’s charge is a tentative choice.

The biggest entry (24) is held for the Alec Jarrett Limited Restricted Race. A number of previous Maiden winners are entered including the unbeaten Tim Underwood owned mare Miss Massey who won her only outing last season at Edgcote. NormoftheNorth won his only outing for trainer Alan Hill at Kimble whereas Pass Rusher won his Maiden for Fran Nimmo at the first Larkhill meeting. Sylvies Dance won easily at Flete Park last season and is definitely on the upgrade as is Raised with Praise trained and owned by Luke Harvey and another winner at Larkhill from the previous meeting. Taboo won well at Ffos Las and Teeton Surprise won at Tabley. In a wide open looking race Sylvies Dance is chosen to continue her upward rise.

The Novice Riders race sponsored by Clarke Wilmott also contains entries for Adrenalin Flight, Chameron and El Bandit already mentioned before. If any of those named choose this race then they must have a good chance. Storm Lantern, Theatre Evening and Thereyarsee all have run well at Larkhill but the first and last named have some disappointing performances to put behind them. Theatre Evening is now trained by Louise Kittow and will be ridden by Micha Micklewright who began her riding career by riding her first winner at Larkhill. My Murphy ran in very soft ground at Ffos Las and provided he is none the worse for his efforts this veteran may find this a potentially easier race.

The meeting concludes with the Southern Counties Auctioneers Maiden Conditions race over two and a half miles. All horses must have run at least twice in point to points to be eligible for this race. So Socksy boasts the best English form with her runner up placing at Barbury. She may be able to go one better. Oscar World and Snakelake Hill were both fourth in Maidens at Wadebridge and should both improve. Harriet Brown has entered two new horses namely Baignard placed in Irish points in November and On Raglan Road placed for Charlie Longsdon in Hurdle races. Jenny Pidgeon has entered Atigun Pass placed in Ireland but has not raced since December 2018. So Socksy is chosen to record her first victory.

Larkhill Racecourse is to be found 5m NW of Amesbury, Nr A303, A345 and A360 – Postcode SP4 8QT. . First race 10.30am Entry Costs £10 per person, race cards £3, children go free

WESSEX & DEVON & CORNWALL AREA CALENDARS – SAE to Claire Hitch, Higher Sminhayes Farm, Brendon Hill, Watchet, Somerset, TA23 0LG