A Preview of the 2008 Wessex Area Point-to-Point Season
compiled by Brian Armstrong and Bob Bracher
The 2007/08 POINT-TO-POINT SEASON is rapidly approaching with two meetings taking place – at Black Forest Lodge near Exeter and Tweseldown (Aldershot) – on Sunday 2nd December. Five further meetings are programmed in December – two in the Devon & Cornwall Area, two at Cottenham (Cambridgeshire), and one at Dunthrop, near Chipping Norton on 16th December.
The Wessex Area season gets underway on Saturday 5th January 2008 with the Army meeting at Larkhill. Twenty-four meetings are scheduled in the Wessex Area, which is traditionally among the strongest in the country. Southwestern flew the Area’s flag – and the multicoloured one of his enthusiastic owners – when winning the prestigious Weatherbys Chase John Corbet Cup at Stratford in May. With the new season upon us, this article pinpoints horses to look out for in Wessex in 2008.
Devon/Somerset Border
Keith and Janet Cumings have their usual mixture of experienced and untried horses qualified with the Devon & Somerset Staghounds at Bishop’s Nympton near South Molton. The Cumings retain Touch Of Flame, who will contest one point-to-point before hunter chasing, and three-time 2007 winners Maxou Des Brosses and Swift Wood, who may have an end of season campaign. Newcomers include Miss Razamatazz, Peter Clarke’s Present Of Flame, and Slipaway On, who will carry Geoffrey and Kate Brown’s Maxou Des Brosses colours.
Ollie Jackson will campaign five horses from her family home a few miles from Bishop’s Nympton. Any Justice and Denis Williams’ Ryeman return, while Newsplayer may be in action later in the season. Longstanding stable supporter Brian Kilpatrick provides the two newcomers – Major Matt, fourth in a Chepstow hurdle in March for the David Pipe stable, and a homebred unraced 4yo out of winning hurdler Miss Bobby Bennett.
Ashley Farrant has a 10-strong team at his Coldharbour Farm stables near Bampton. Just Sally is in foal, but Ashley has retained Ben Robarts’ Mioche D’Estruval, who could go hunter chasing after a December point-to-point, Great Trethew winner King’s Wood and Castle Island, to be partnered by Ashley’s wife Caroline. Interesting recruits from the David Pipe stable are Meneur De Jeu, Visibility and Yes My Lord – all winners over hurdles and fences – and Quick, the winner of eight hurdle races including two in April and May 2007. Darren Edwards will ride for Ashley again this season.
Somerset
Southwestern’s Stratford victory gave Camilla Scott a flying start after she took over the point-to-pointers at Brompton Regis, near Dulverton, when husband, Jeremy, was granted a full licence. Southwestern will reappear in January before attempting to bring the Cheltenham Christies’ Foxhunter Cup back to the West Country. So Long – second in her only point-to-point to date in 2005 – and Jacks Taxi also return. The yard is completed by Gary Lever’s unnamed 5yo I’m Supposin mare and a Carroll House 4yo bought in the summer on behalf of a syndicate. Neil Harris will again partner the majority of Camilla’s runners.
Denis Kenny has three new horses for this season at Stolford near Bridgwater. These are ex-bumper horse Red Rocks Bourree, Amber Dawn, who will contest 2_-mile maidens, and Allez Mousson, the winner of four Flat races for trainer Alan Bailey. Neighbour Paul Anderson will again be campaigning Knight Of Silver, runner-up in three of his six outings last season, and running for a syndicate of friends.
Marie and Leighton McGuinness have about 18 point-to-pointers at their Spaxton yard near Bridgwater. These include Long Night, a winner at the Army in 2007 and a possible for Dunthrop on 16th December, dual 2007 winner Candlelight Valley, Cyril Moate’s Eliipop – off the course since winning both his 2005 starts – and Bringontheboys, an unlucky loser at Cothelstone when the weightcloth fell off close home. The promising trio Max’s Choice, Noquieto and Winning Connection return. The McGuinness yard also houses prolific pair Double Honour and Koquelicot, Noeud Vert – placed twice over hurdles in 2006 – and promising Holnicote third Romany Crusade, all owned by Philip and Sarah Hobbs and to be ridden by their daughters Katherine and Diana. Other rides for Katherine and Diana are Mounsey Castle and Saint Romble (both stabled with father Philip at Bilbrook near Minehead), and Flying Fuselier – a dual 2007 winner – and winning hurdler/chaser Fool On The Hill, both with Polly Curling at her Treborough stables, near Minehead.
Rosie Booth will campaign three point-to-pointers from her Dunster stables, near Minehead. Fremantle Doctor returns and will reappear at Black Forest Lodge on 2nd December before hunter chasing. Newcomers include Paul Bateman’s Arctic Emperor, who may be suited by fast ground – his half-brother Clearly In Motion won four chases on good-to-firm ground this year – and the well-bred Kyrano, bought privately after running in three bumpers for Mark Bradstock.
James Young has a seven-strong team at his Broomfield stable in the Quantocks. James has retained Maximus, a winner in each of the last three seasons for Crowcombe owner-rider Bryn Wright. The high-class Kilbready Boy won two hunter chases in 2005 and could return to that sphere, while Mister Legend was in the frame in both 2007 outings for James. An interesting newcomer is Get It Right, purchased out of Jonjo O’Neill’s yard at Ascot in August after running in six hurdle races in Ireland and the UK.
Sue Popham will be racing three horses from her West Bagborough stables near Taunton. These are Ataraxia, bought to replace Barry Lydon who has been sold as an eventer, ex-Noel Chance-trained Great Man – winner of a French flat race in 2004 – and Nobile, a second mount this season for Bryn Wright.
Jane Western has five horses at Forde Abbey near Chard. Susannah Reynoldson will partner her own The Cad, who would be a deserving winner after being runner-up in both 2007 outings, while newcomers include Free From Magee, Kinsford Cowboy and Global Hawk, an unraced 5yo by Zaffaran. Stable star Back Nine will compete in hunter chases, but his main target will be to repeat his 2007 success in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown.
Ros Newman and daughter Chloe Newman have 13 and five horses respectively at Woolminstone near Crewkerne. Ros’ team includes Tom Cannon, winner of his only race to date at Ideford Arch in December 2006, and Manmoon, third to the impressive Drybrook Bedouin at Larkhill before winning at Great Trethew. The yard mainly houses young, untried horses and Mi Voix – bought at Saint Cloud in July – Parisien, whose dam won in the French provinces and Tabaristan, who was bred by the Aga Khan, may be three names to note at this stage. Chloe has retained Naughty Boy, who had one run at Larkhill in January. Investor Relations has retired, but Tres Bien has been purchased out of Paul Webber’s yard as a replacement. French Flat winner Angello also joins Chloe’s yard to run in Ladies’ Opens.
With several of his former inmates now in training under Rules, Michael Blake has one point-to-pointer at his Staverton stables near Bath. This is Return The Call, who was placed twice in 2007 for first-season rider Nick Hillier. Somerton trainer Jane Reed will also campaign one horse - Senor Cid, a winner at Ston Easton under Dominic Alers-Hankey in 2006, but absent in 2007.
With Caroline Keevil now training under Rules, Pat Bryant takes over the point-to-pointers at their Charterhouse yard in the Mendips. Pat welcomes back Stafford Cross runner-up Andare A Ballare and the evergreen Springford, who will have a selected campaign aimed at the Mendip Farmers Hunt race. Elshan, who showed promise in 2005 but has been absent since, returns, while an interesting recruit is Yeah But No But, who will be suited by a test of stamina. Young horses include Cousin John, who is out of a half-sister to Irish Grand National heroine Ebony Jane, and Grey Hall, who could make his debut at Tweseldown on 2nd December.
Chloe Roddick has eight pointers at Wellow near Bath. Charlton Horethorne winner Case Equal could be well-suited by Ladies’ races, while Mendip Dane was runner-up three times in 2007 and deserves to go one better. Newcomers include Ascot purchase Sericina, whose dam won seven races in France, New Mill Moll – second in a Chepstow bumper – and Goblet Of Fire and Perouse, now owned by Paul Nicholls and both winners over hurdles and fences when trained by him.
Guy Landau has four point-to-pointers at his Gare Hill stables near Frome. Hot Toddy has retired, but I’m An Optimist, who made a winning debut at Chaddesley Corbett in 2006, returns after missing last season. Nicky Tregaskes’ Spread The Dream returns and should always be noted on the short flat tracks. The stable is completed by I’m An Optimist’s half-brother The Last Optimist, and Made Welcome, an unraced Most Welcome mare. Guy hopes that former National Champion rider Richard Burton will be available to partner the bulk of his runners.
Sarah West has two horses based at Ditcheat near Shepton Mallet this season. The excellent Ask Again, who maintained his unbeaten record in completed point-to-points with three wins for Sarah in 2007, is joined by ex-hurdler Come Out Firing, a new recruit who will run for a syndicate of friends.
Ben White has four horses in training at Hardington Mandeville near Yeovil, including stable star Highway Oak, now the winner of 12 races and almost a standing dish at Black Forest Lodge and Kingston St Mary. Whites Touch, the winner of two 2007 outings, also returns. The yard is completed by newcomer Dusty Bandit, an Exeter winner for Paul Nicholls in 2005, and Ascot purchase Bar Gayne, winner of a bumper and a 3m 2f hurdle for Tom George.
David Staddon and Caroline Parsons have two horses at their Ditcheat home near Shepton Mallet. General Claremont has retired to the hunting field, so David and Caroline will be represented by Foolish Myth, who could appear at the PPORA meeting, and Lord Of The Road, winner of his only point-to-point at Woodford in 2004 and placed in four of his six outings for Paul Nicholls.
Dorset
Richard Barber will again have a strong team of pointers at his yard at Seaborough near Beaminster, including prolific winners Reviewer, Rimpton Boy, Rye Brook, Spuddler’s Dream and Mouseski. Brown Cockle, who will take all the beating in staying Ladies’ races, and promising Larkhill winner Earth Works also return, while Gaye Trigger – unbeaten in five point-to-points to date – may yet develop into a Christies’ Foxhunter contender. Owner Ray Geddes has a strong hand, with summer purchases Handy Money and Hautclan joining Oracle Des Mottes and Reviewer. Several young horses have joined the yard and Alfie Sherrin – named after the just-retired long-standing West Country point-to-point commentator – Now Listen To Me, Royal Rapture and Shaver Baines may be four names for fans to note at this stage. Rachael Green will again be Richard’s stable jockey, while James Ridley will be the yard’s novice rider.
Bob Buckler has four horses at Melplash near Beaminster for daughter Carey to ride. Phar City and River Reine, who won five races between them last season, are joined by Balbec Leader, in the frame twice in 2007 for trainer Abbi Vaughan, and We Got Him, placed several times under Rules for Bob. Carey will also be aboard Ask Henry, a good third in his only 2007 outing, and Ascot purchase Grandos, both trained by her mother Nell in Gloucestershire.
Charlie Fox will again campaign Red Brook Lad and Espresso Forte from his yard at Askerswell near Bridport. As usual, Red Brook Lad will reappear at the Army meeting as he bids to increase his wonderful record of eight point-to-point and 11 hunter chase wins. Neighbour Graham Foot will also be campaigning two horses. These are newcomer Lorrelini, a recent purchase from Robert Alner’s Droop yard, and Askers Jack, who was in the frame in four of his eight outings in 2007.
Cobreces, owned and trained at Stoke Abbott near Beaminster by Lucia Borradaile, will again be in action. Lucia plans to give Cobreces one point-to-point outing before he attempts a hat-trick of wins in Haydock’s Walrus Hunter Chase.
Gordon Herrod will race four horses from his Axminster base. Acquired, Weycroft Lad and Bishops Court winner Ability return, and are joined by Boulsdon Boy, a Bredwardine winner for Mark Jackson’s Worcestershire stable in 2006 and now owned by Gordon’s family.
Monique Pike has five horses in training at her stables at Sidbury near Sidmouth. Monique has retained the consistent Bally Blue, Sulawacee and Castle Cazza, who came good with two Bratton Down wins at the end of last season. Redberry Holly has been retired but owner Martin Salter will be represented by Simon’s Seat, winner of two of his three 2007 outings for Fiona Walker. Irish Totty, a daughter of former top-class pointer Elver Season, completes the yard.
Charlotte Tizzard has taken over the training from her father, Alan, at Milborne Port near Sherborne. Coombe Hill, Fully Loaded and Bratton Down winner Woodbridge Quest all return, while Folkestone winner French Executive will probably have one point-to-point before contesting long distance hunter chases. Three interesting recruits to the yard are Peter Cave’s Miller’s Monarch, the runaway winner of two of his three 2007 point-to-points when trained by Alison Dare, Watch The Dove, owned by Charlotte’s grandmother Marjorie and a winner over hurdles for her at Wincanton in October 2006, and Graham Gingell’s Nipper Star, a Holnicote winner in 2006 but absent since.
Michaela and Tracy Williams have five horses as they enter their second year of training at Milborne Port near Sherborne. Coverdale, who provided their first-ever winner at Ideford Arch in December, returns along with Vic’s Pride, who has finished in the frame in all his six completed outings. Perkys Pride, winner of three races in 2005, will reappear at Larkhill. Two newcomers are Kayleigh, winner of a 2004 Charing point-to-point for Phillip York, and Winners Enclosure, successful at the 2004 Mendip Farmers for John Boulter.
Nyland Stables near Gillingham enjoyed a successful season in 2007 and several of the winning horses will be back in action. Barney Blue (two wins in 2007) and Barbury Castle winner Lady Edison are strong stayers, while Heavenly Grey ran on resolutely when making a single winning appearance at Larkhill. Bernard Pike’s Who Else Knew – first or second past the post in 13 of his 15 races to date – returns, along with fellow 2007 scorers Beadnell Bay, Double Pops and Spicketts Girl. Knighton Combe won at Badbury Rings for Ian and Sus Snowden who will again race Embercombe. Hazel Goody’s Barton Baron always enters calculations, while Merchants Friend, winner of eight races under Rules and caught close home at the 2004 Cheltenham Festival, could make his mark. Ryan Bliss will again be riding for the yard, while Jan Kwiatkowski will ride his Assignation, who completed a Cothelstone double for the Miranda Bragg stable last season.
Rilly Goschen has two horses at her yard at West Stour near Gillingham. These are Silver Jewel, who had four outings under Rules for Paul Nicholls in 2004/05, and an unraced 6yo bred by Jeff Fear out of his 1999 Bratton Down winner, Keszam.
Fiona Shaw has two point-to-pointers in training at Bradford Peverell near Dorchester. Fiona hopes to campaign Sliema, but all eyes will be on the unbeaten Drybrook Bedouin, a stunning winner at Larkhill in March, and likely to reappear there or at Barbury Castle in January.
Mary Tory has about half-a-dozen pointers for the new season at Thornicombe, near Blandford. Wink And Whisper has retired, but Mary has retained Tory Blue, owned and bred by parents-in-law Jim and Ann Tory. Newcomers include Irish winner Bondi Breeze, bought at Ascot by John Frampton and Adrian Coombes to replace the retired Whatashock, and Tribal King, a 5-race winner under Rules who will be ridden by Mary’s daughter, Emma, in Ladies’ races. The yard is completed by three youngsters, including Hope Street, out of the prolific racemare Hops And Pops.
Ali Tory will race Grand Affair, who had two outings in 2007, and an unraced 5yo gelding from her base at Witchampton near Wimborne. Michelle Taylor also uses Ali’s yard and will campaign Golden Jack, the winner of six point-to-points for Ali between 2004 and 2006.
In 2007, Sally Alner sent out 11 individual winners of 18 races from her yard at Droop near Hazelbury Bryan while stable jockey Ian Chanin took the Wessex Area Men’s Title for the first time. Bondsley will miss 2008 and Dartmeet is in foal, but Sally welcomes back Braeroy, Mrs O’Connell, Running Spring and Willy The Slip, all successful in 2007. Trade Off, who has been in the frame in 23 of his 26 point-to-points/hunter chases, winning ten, will have his usual Larkhill campaign, while many hunt racing fans will look forward to seeing Pitch Fork and Shillingstone, both unbeaten in two races last season. Slaezy, bought privately by Arnie Sendell after winning two races in Ireland, is an interesting newcomer. Ian Chanin will again be stable jockey while Jimmy Derham, who rode four Irish point-to-point winners in 2006/07, joins the yard.
Michael Miller has three horses for the new season in his Woolland yard formerly occupied by his parents, Richard and Spill. Michael has retained Heezawizard who trotted up at Kingston St Mary, while newcomers include Bobby’s Choice, homebred by David Young out of ex-pointer Mammy’s Choice.
Wiltshire
Clare Parfitt has four horses at her Tellisford yard near Trowbridge. Mister Mambo misses 2008, but Clare welcomes back Etna’s Conquest and Olivia Twist from last season. Newcomers are Ironside, a 4yo half-brother by Baryshnikov to former stable star Kingston Venture, and a 4yo mare by the same stallion. Tigger Barnes will ride the bulk of Clare’s runners.
Sarah Waugh, who trains at Bishopstrow, near Warminster, has four horses for the new season. Sarah has retained Larkhill winner Vodka Inferno and Keltic Lord, who was in the frame in his three outings last season, while Spud One returns after missing 2007. The yard is completed by Light Des Mulottes, who won two 2004/05 novice chases for Charlie Egerton and showed considerable promise when fourth behind Patches in a quality Ladies’ Open at the Royal Artillery in January.
James Symonds will race Red Native from his Corton home near Warminster. Red Native provided James’ son Lester – newly-wed and now retired from raceriding – with a win at the Wilton meeting last season, and will be targeted at the corresponding race again on Easter Saturday.
Chicklade trainer Sally Brine has three horses for the new season. Macrihanish, who secured the 2007 Wessex Area Leading Award for Sally’s parents, Jean and Sam, will reappear at Larkhill in January. Sally will also race Lord Brooklyn, homebred out of the Brines’ winning point-to-pointer Arabitan, and Ascot purchase First Silver, who ran in three bumpers for the Caroline Bailey stable.
Sally and Stan Rawlins will campaign just one horse from their Figheldean stables near Larkhill Racecourse this season. Flora MacDonald is in foal to Midnight Legend, while Corkscrew King will miss 2008, so Sally and Stan will be represented by recent Ascot purchase Gowna’s Hope, a former inmate of Seamus Mullins’ yard.
Steven and Sarah Dixon hope to race three horses from their home at Winterslow near Salisbury. Steve and Sarah have retained Iveragh Lad, who missed 2006 and 2007, and West Paces, likely to have a light campaign including the Royal Artillery Hunt race. An interesting newcomer is Saint Par, successful under Rules for Paul Nicholls and Alan King, and a Cilwendig winner for the Abbi Vaughan stable in March.
Sharon Brown has two point-to-pointers in training at Pitton near Salisbury. These are Sarah Hayward’s Victory Set, a half-brother to two German Flat winners, and Simplyforpleasure, denied a run last season by the fast ground and likely to be suited by testing conditions.
Wiltshire/Hampshire Border
Kate Buckett has a team of about six horses at her stables at Upham near Winchester. Kate has retained Millview, while three-time 2006 winner Saffron Hill and Balsox – also a winner in 2006 – both return after missing last season. Sir Harry Cool and Golden Bee are both likely to appear before Christmas, while an interesting newcomer is New Entic, bought out of Gary Moore’s yard and likely to appear at Cottenham before going hunter chasing. Richard Bandey will again ride the bulk of Kate’s runners.
Victoria Collins will campaign 11 horses from Alresford near Winchester. Rilly Goschen will again be stable jockey with John Maxse aboard Gielgud and Whereareyounow. Gola Cher, who gave Victoria a debut ride at Barbury Castle last season, may act as a schoolmaster for Emma Foreman. Home Chat, Victor Victorious and the ex-Brendan Powell-trained Dr Flight may be three to note, while Future to Future created a terrific impression when completing a hat-trick last season and may be able to extend the sequence.
James H Young has three horses in training at his stables at Brockenhurst in the New Forest. Warren Hill has retired, but Badbury Rings winner Raddicho returns. Newcomers are Taipo Prince, who has been placed five times under Rules, and the ex-Beverley Thomas-trained Admiral Brown, who will act as a schoolmaster for Joel Belbin.
For a free colour leaflet detailing all the meetings in the Wessex area, send an SAE to Gill Armstrong, Pantiles, Penselwood, Wincanton, Somerset BA9 8NF. Wessex also sends regular previews, reports and results to the Wessex Area website http://www.pointingwessex.co.uk/. If the weather is doubtful you can check for cancellations by telephoning Talking Point on 09068 44-60-61 (60p per minute).
The Wessex Point-to-Point Area is again sponsoring its free, easy-to-enter Six-to-Follow Competition for the 2008 season. Open to all, entrants are simply asked to name six horses to follow at the 24 meetings run in Wessex in 2008, with a first prize of a Car Pass giving free admission to all Wessex meetings in 2009. In addition, Weatherbys Chase are kindly donating books for the runners-up (to order any Weatherbys publications call 01933 304792 or email orders@weatherbys.co.uk). The cut-off date for entries is first post on Saturday 5 January, the date of the Army meeting at Larkhill. Full details of the competition can be seen on the Area website http://www.pointingwessex.co.uk/ or can be obtained by sending an SAE to Gill Armstrong, as above.
Instead of getting excited about Christmas, I am more looking forward to the point to point season starting on December 2. As well as some great racing – now the rain has finally arrived – it is a good chance to see a lot of my friends from all over Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset.
The Devon and Cornwall area has the most race meetings in the country – next comes adjacent area Wessex – and it is a great breeding ground for horses and jockeys. We have top jocks – Richard Woollacott lives near South Molton and Polly Gundry near Ottery St Mary and some great horses to look forward to watching, Blue Magnum trained by Monique Pike in Sidbury being one of them.
One of the ‘home-bred” jockeys who has made the transition to National Hunt racing is Liam Heard from Cornwall who experienced both ends of the highs and lows spectrum this last weekend. When top jockey Ruby Walsh was injured, Heard, who had a ride it the first at Uttoxeter and the last at Cheltenham got the call from boss Paul Nicholls to get to Prestbury Park as soon as he could to take the ride on Granit Jack in the Paddy Power, the feature race of the day. He had schooled the horse the day before but not ridden him in a race but has proved himself to have a cool head on young shoulders. Anyway, to cut a long story, short he made it to the racecourse, gave the horse a peach of a ride and was just taking up the running at the second last when the horse fell and tragically died. What should have been a great day for him turned into one of the worst – but at least all the racing world heard Nicholls and the Channel Four racing team sing Heard’s praises on television.
Nick Scholfield is another Devon and Cornwall graduate to NH racing and let’s hope that the series of pony races being held at the point to points this season will produce a whole crop of would-be jockeys to give the Irish a run for their money in the future.
There are 10 pony races in the D and C area this season starting with the Mid Devon point to point at Blackforest Lodge in February. They are open to children between the ages of 9-11 and for ponies under 148cm. If you are a keen pony clubber why not have a go? For full details of rules etc go to the Pony Racing Authority website www.pra.gb.com
My horse, Lisheen Storm, is being prepared to run in point to points after Christmas so is not yet in fast work. He is feeling very full of himself at the moment, and I find I have to sit tight as I’m never quite sure what he is going to spook at next. We had a great season last year, thanks to jockeys Tim Dennis and Richard Woollacott, and I hope both of them stay injury free this term. Being a complete pessimist I spend most of my time wondering if Storm will injure himself before we even get to the races. I hear Tim Dennis features on the Injured Jockeys Fund calendar - a great fundraiser for a very necessary charity - riding on the beach near Bude.