Larkhill hosts its sixth scheduled meeting next Sunday 2nd March 2025 when the South and West Wilts hold their annual fixture. The 1st Race is at 12pm. All the fences have been moved as well as the bends since the last meeting and following the recent rain the going has eased to good to soft with some rain forecast this week. There will be the usual array of trade stands and food outlets including fish and chips to enjoy as well as the bookmakers to support. Entry costs are £15 per person with under 16s free and easy parking. A total of 70 horses have been entered over the six races so there should be some competitive racing on offer so do come racing!
The meeting begins with a Conditions race sponsored by the Point-to-Point Owners and Riders Association. Paloma Blue ran a race of great promise at MIlborne St Andrew on his return to racing and this classy individual will be fancied to go one better. His main rivals are likely to be the ex Gary Moore chaser Larry who won five chases in his career and will be making his debut pointing for his new owner George Gorman and Premier D’Troice a promising third at the last meeting and the locally trained Sake of Secrecy. Paloma Blue is the selection.
The Maiden race has attracted fourteen entries with At Mangan Bridge looking to atone for his unseat at the Royal Artillery meeting with Charlie Case. Tom Malone has entered Celtic Harmony who was brought down at the third last in December and should be on the short list. Easy Rider was third in a similar race at Brocklesby and another placed third this season is O’Hallorans Castle. African Lady was placed at Chipley and seems to appreciate a drop to pointing from Hurdling. However, the only unraced entry is the four year old gelding Land of Punt owned and trained by Tom Lacey. With Tom having a very good record of training 4 year olds to win at Larkhill he would be the choice particularly with the weight concession.
The Prince of Wales Mixed Open race is the feature race of the day with My Drogo heading the eight entries. Already the winner of a Mixed Open at Larkhill in January he subsequently won the prestigious Walrus Hunter Chase at Haydock and looks back to his best. Of his rivals Switch Hitter found the winning ways at the last meeting in the Ladies Open whereas Duc de Bourbon who has already won two races at Larkhill was pulled up in the Coronation Gold Cup so is on a retrieval mission. Paper Mill is the model of consistency but may have to play second fiddle to My Drogo.
The Restricted race may see another victory for Crawter who was impressive at the last meeting. Despite now having to carry a 5lb penalty he is on the upgrade and may be too good for his potential rivals. Two in Tune is clearly talented having won at the last meeting and the two winners of the shorter Maidens at MIlborne namely Bulletofexpression and Jewel in The Park may take each other on. Royal Defender and La Vega Moon were second and third in a similar race at Chipley and may finish in the same order. If Crawter is in the same form as his last appearance he will be hard to beat.
The Ladies Conditions race over two and a half miles is for Grassroots Riders who have ridden less than 20 winners. Precious Bounty won easily at Badbury and was then runner up at Chaddesley Corbett and could give Marina Bealby a second career victory. Edison Kent was a distant third behind My Drogo but he does not meet anything of the same calibre in this race. Inisfree Lad is now at the veteran stage but this six times winning chaser may find this drop in class to his liking. Ask Nile won a similar race as this last year but has not been seen for more than a year. Precious Bounty is the choice.