The continuing wet spell has once again dealt a serious blow to the planned meetings for the coming weekend with only the South and West Wilts meeting at Larkhill surviving in the southern part of England and Wales. The Wiltshire course can absorb a great deal of rain and the current going report of good, good to soft in places is testament to this and shows what a resource the course is to the sport. The abandonment of the meeting at Kingston Blount has resulted in the transfer of the young Maiden race to Larkhill and currently an eight-race card is planned with the possibility of further divisions on the day with a total of 154 entries. The first race has been brought forward to 11.25am with racing being preceded by a charity race in favour of the Retraining of Racehorses and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance charities for which in excess of 4K has already been raised.
There will be trade stands to browse and the bookmakers to have a bet or two and a new feature of this year’s meeting will be a dedicated, traditional ‘beer tent’ which will hopefully provide racegoers with an ideal venue to celebrate their winners and commiserate with those who weren’t quite so lucky (or shrewd).
The Goffs sponsored 4- and 5-years old Maiden over two and a half miles opens the meeting and with the leading yards of Tom Ellis, Fran Poste, Bradley Gibbs and Will Biddick represented it looks like a potentially strong race. Of the entries from those yards only A Law to Himself from Tom Ellis’s stable has raced before being third at Cocklebarrow and the other one with form from Alan Hill’s yard is Carryonaway runner up last season at Tabley. The two 4-year-olds Kykorock and Mister Carson have a weight allowance of a stone from their rivals and the winner may be one of these for Fran Poste or Tom Ellis. Will Biddick’s horses are running well and note should be taken in the paddock of Jambo.
The Conditions race run in the memory of Pat Awdry who was a long time supporter of the South and West Wilts has attracted 21 entries of which the classy Rebel Dawn Rising brings the best form. Only beaten by Premier Magic at Cheltenham on his last appearance in May David Kemp’s charge has yet to run this season so it may pay to follow other options who have already run well this season. Duc de Bourbon won at Milborne St Andrew and now that he has regained his form, he may run up a sequence. Eritage was the runner up in that race and he must come into the reckoning. Ihandaya was highly progressive last season and now switched to Nicky Sheppard’s yard it will be interesting to see if the move proves a positive one. I’m Spellbound was another multiple winner from last season and after a good second at Chipley he must have good prospects. Imperial Espirit has been in good form this season and must have place prospects. I’m Spellbound is the tentative selection.
The Open Maiden race has received an entry of 30 horses and with a safety factor of 18 this could be divided on the day. Of those that have raced Deep Purple who missed his intended race at Badbury Rings, has been runner up in each of his three races and deserves to find a race. Creapapy was second at Ampton and a repetition of that form might be good enough but he pulled up on his last outing. Catchim was a close fourth at the last Larkhill meeting whereas Crawter was third at the Royal Artillery meeting. Money from America came up against an impressive newcomer to English pointing in All Star Boy and this gelding might be the one to support to break his Maiden status.
The feature race of the day, The Mixed Open, looks a very classy event with three of the five participants from the Coronation Gold Cup entered. Grace A Vous Enki maintained his unbeaten status for the season by forcing a dead heat with Viroflay close behind in third. Grace A Vous Enki will be the horse to beat but with the likes of Fier Jaguen and Law of Gold entered it is far from certain that he will be the winner. Fier Jaguen won well at Garthorpe on his seasonal debut but this is a stronger race. Law of Gold was runner up to Tigerbythetail at Horseheath and on the basis he should come on for that run he may be the one to trouble Joan Hitchings star. In addition, there is an entry from East Anglia in the form of the veteran Clara Sorrento who won four races last season, Champagne Noir from Tom Ellis’s yard who also won four races last season and Definite Dilemma from the South East who was unbeaten in two outings last season. David Brace has entered LooksnowtlikeBrian and he should not be dismissed from consideration. A fascinating race to savour with Law of Gold just narrowly preferred to Grace A Vous Enki.
The Restricted race run in the memory of last year’s winner Happy Day Emery who sadly lost his life at home earlier in the season could go the way of his stablemate Douglas Longbottom. Bea Coward’s charge has run very well in defeat behind Regatta de Blanc and Wolf Walker and a repetition of either of those performances should be good enough. Of his potential rivals Designed to Win won on his debut at Garthorpe and looks progressive, Artiste d’Ainay won at Horseheath, Rabble Rouser won both his starts at Larkhill last season but has not been seen since last January and has changed stables, David Pipe has entered an Irish Maiden winner Castle Daragh and Tiger Tobin won at Garthorpe and might the one to challenge Douglas Longbottom.
The Ladies Conditions race for Grass Roots Riders who have not ridden more than 20 winners has attracted a strong entry with Champagne Noir likely to be partnered by Ellie Holder one of the main fancies. Eritage who will be ridden by Ella Orttewell was runner up at Milborne and a repeat of that performance may be good enough over the shorter trip of 2 and a half miles. Ask Nile won a match on his last appearance at Larkhill, but this looks much more competitive. Diligent won for Shannon Holmes at the last meeting and the shorter trip will be to his liking. Nickolson won his only outing last season and was not disgraced when fourth at Larkhill in December and may be the one to chase Eritage home.
The meeting concludes with the JRL Group sponsored Bumper over two miles which has already been split into two divisions due to the number of entries received. There is very little form to go on in either division with Swingingonthesteel runner up on his debut in a similar race at Larkhill in January in the first division and Avril Star and Dave’s Sister placed on their only runs again in January. Inspection of the runners in the paddock and with the bookmakers is recommended but of the newcomers in the first division notice should be taken of Maxiboy Dagrostis from Bradley Gibbs stable, Penelope Ann from Tom Ellis and Porridge from Max Comley.
In Division Two On a Sticky Wicket from Tom Ellis’s yard, Perseo from Chris Barber’s stable and King de Palma from Ian Chanin are three to consider from the newcomers.