Larkhill hosts its final of seven meetings next Saturday when the Tedworth hold their annual meeting. The meeting features the prestigious Tedworth Gold Cup run over the extended 3 miles and 6 furlongs and is another feature race of the Wessex season. Fences 5 and 12 have been moved since the last meeting and all bends have been moved to level ground. The current going is Good to Firm with some rain forecast for next Friday.
Organisers have arranged a family dog show for the day and there will be a good number of trade stands to support as well as food and drink options as well as a bar. The bookmakers will be in attendance as usual to have a wager or two. Entry costs are £15 per person with under 16s free,
The meeting starts at 12.30 with a competitive looking Restricted race. Luke Price has two entries with the Kilworthy winner Echo of Promise looking to follow up. The ex Irish Inchidaly Robin the winner of a Maiden in his native country only ran his last race at the beginning of the month and it will be interesting to see if his shrewd trainer can conjure a race from him. Quickcharge was third in a similar race at Larkhill in December and a repeat of that form may be good enough. Monrocco Moonlight trained by Joe Hill comes into the reckoning after his third at Penshurst but this might be the day for Boys Will Be Boys trained by Mike Felton who was a good third at Badbury Rings and after three races this season should be ready for another win.
The PPORA Conditions race may see the most successful horse at Larkhill this season Crawter attempt to record his fourth course victory. He will take some beating and is the choice. Of his rivals Ask Nile was a good winner of a Grassroots race under Heidi Palin for owner Tim Underwood and may give Crawter the most to do. Teescomponentsfly won at the course last season and has only had one race so far this season at Badbury Rings. Footloose is very consistent and certainly has place chances.
The Maiden race over the shorter distance of 2 and a half miles looks likely to fall to Fayrely Fruitful if she travels from her Shropshire base. Already the winner of a Bumper she was placed at Friars Haugh and looks promising. Luke Price enters two with the consistent Fifty Shadesof Bay likely to find a race this season and Elle Est Beau a former inmate of Dan Skelton’s yard who was placed over Hurdles. Blue Topaz was fourth for Fran Poste at an earlier Larkhill meeting and on that form would come into the mix.
The Tedworth Gold Cup features several staying specialists notably Norton Hill who won the staying race at Cothelstone where Gran Paradiso unexpectedly unseated Fly McIntyre at the second fence and he could be one of the major dangers to Norton Hill. Learntalot won a staying race at Friars Haugh and he will be fancied to follow up in this race. Step Back is another who likes longer distance races and this Lily Bradstock trained gelding might surprise one or two of his more fancied rivals.
The Conditions race for Novice Riders and Step Back holds an entry in this race and has chances. Midnight Midge is the likely favourite on the back of a success at Larkhill under the promising James Shaw and his run at Charlton Horethorne should be ignored. Innisfree Lad is proving to be a good schoolmaster for Tilly Dennis and this veteran chaser should not be disregarded. Shanroe Smooch gave Will Higgs an encouraging ride last week at MIlborne St Andrew and should be placed.
The meeting concludes with a Maiden for which eleven horses are entered including Elle Est Beau mentioned previously in the shorter race. Tom Malone’s Another Notion was third at Kingston Blount and as the second won easily at Ston Easton last Sunday this looks strong form. Tom Lacey has entered two unraced four year olds namely In A Sonnet and Montemares. The first named is a half brother to two winners and is out of the genuine mare Aimigayle. If he runs either notice should be taken. Park Royal Boy has been improving with each race and is another to consider.
Before the 1st Race there are two Pony Races at 11.30am and 11.45am respectively and the day concludes with a charity race in aid of Wiltshire Air Ambulance.