The last Larkhill meeting of the season, came with the
ground riding good to firm and only a handful of runners in each race.
The meeting put on by the South West Wilts Hunt gave it’s
best to the pointing followers to start off the May Bank Holidays vast array of
pointing fixtures held up and down the country.
Four runners for the first race a members hunt subscribers
race. Stuart Penny sending Quedillac to post the 4/5 favourite.
But it was the girls who took the race with Teona Hammonds
Regal Presence that came home three lengths’ clear of favourite, the third
horse Sutton storm a further ten lengths back in third.
 |
| Teona Hammonds Regal Presence |
The nine-year-old showing little form throughout the season
seemed to enjoy the quicker ground, the trainer mentioning that in previous
races they had been running him on ground not the best for this top of the
ground specialist.
Brodie Hampson who stepped aboard the horse for the first
time, the ride usually taken by Katy Lyons seemed very impressed by the gelding
‘he really enjoyed it out there, I let him go to the front and he seemed to be
doing very little, I knew I had plenty underneath me he was just brilliant.’
The small field played into the hands of the local pair as they were able to
dictate proceedings, a luxury they may not have next time out. ‘We will
probably run him soon locally if we can,’ mentioned the trainer, ‘so we can get
this type of ground, but he will out again before the end of the season.’
Another small field and another West country victory for the
open maiden. Three runners to post this time, Camilla Scott’s Lanta’s Legacy
ridden by Laura Scott made hard work of it to the finish line beating
Kinlochspelve by only a head at the line.
The six-year-old mare made it again an all-girl affair
seemed to fly over the last with Harry Nugent on Kinlochspelve to make it one
of the fastest finishes I had seen all point to point season,
‘she can be quite
a keen horse, and we were not too sure if the ground was too quick for her, but
she coped with it well and in the end I just let her go.’ Mentioned Laura.’ We
tried her hurdling and in bumpers but she didn't get on with it, so we bought
her back to pointing, she comes out of her races well so we would be looking
for a quick run while the ground is fast.’
The jockey who at the beginning of
the season was down on her luck breaking her arm. Know riding winners and
placed horses, this six-year-old mare certainly being one that can increase her
tally.
 |
| Camilla Scott’s Lanta’s Legacy ridden by Laura Scott |
Six runners in the ladies open, and saw neighbouring hunt
qualified Little chip from the Vine and Craven hunt beat leading trainer Jack
Barbers Ruddy Article by a length.
The girls certainly high at the moment riding all three of
the winners home so far.
Emily Harbour was on board the Richard Bandey nine-year-old,
owed by a group of enthusiastic owners called the Plantation Picnic club, the
group that has been established for four years and clearly enjoy their racing
and their winners,’ we have had the horse for a year now, buying out of Charlie
Longstons yard, we had sadly lost a horse before this so this was to replace,
we have four horse know, starting with just the one.’
The group that come from
Kingsclere are a bunch of friends out to enjoy their sport, and it was clear
that they respect and appreciate all the team behind their horses.
 |
| Little chip |
The horse now destined to run at Fontwell in a weeks’ time
for the hunter chase evening meeting was planned to run on the Larkhill right handed
track to see how he handled it, as it has been fine over left handed tracks,
and now with the Fontwell figure of eight track firmly in its sights the plan
is almost complete.
Alan Hill sent his only runner of the afternoon for the
Prince of Wales Men’s Open. Kings Legacy owned by the hills saw so Joe Hill
ride a well executed race on the twelve year old by Kings Theatre.
Alan not in attendance on the Wiltshire track as he was with
others at Pepper Harrow were he also saddled a winner sent son and wife Lawney
Hill to officiate this fine win by a hose that in the past has had some serious
form.
‘Dad and I had a serious conversation this morning on how to
ride him today, but as he wasn't here he said to ride him how I wanted, and
thankfully it worked. I'm so pleased for dad and the team, especially the guy
that looks after him Zoran who is married to the horse I think.’
The horse now
looks like it will be having a campaign out of Lawney’s yard on professional tracks
throughout the summer months, Joe mentioning that he hopes now riding a winner
on him in front of mum he may get the leg up on him, in front of a certain Aidan
Coleman but rest assured this ex David Nicholson horse will be placed just
right to continue his winning form.
 |
| Kings Legacy (farside) Gizzit (nearside)
The two mile five-furlong race for four, five and six year
old maidens, saw again a small field of only four go to post. And it was the
assistant trainer to David Nicholson, Harry Derham who saddled his one and only
horse he has to train for his first ever winner.
‘This is quite a shock really, he didn’t cost much money and
he is a small horse so I’m pleasantly surprised.’
Caid Des Malberaux or as they
know him at home ‘George’ only a four year old seemed to jump well enough to
beat second placed horse Hit the Diff ridden by James Martin, who had struggle
from four out from his six year old jumping significantly right giving distance
away on each fence.
The trainer of the winner agreeing that if kept straight his
horse may have not got home a length in front, but said that it was racing and
jumping was the name of the game.
Caid Des Malberaux
‘At the moment I have not thought of what’s going to happen
next, so we will go home, enjoy the win and think on from there.’
Whatever in the future, this well grounded trainer has
certainly a good career in front of him, Caid Des Malberaux always being a
specially winner for him.
|
The final race of the day the restricted race saw only a two
horse race. Anglingforcharlie and Woodfleet seemed to look after each other the
whole way round the Wiltshire track, racing from about three out.
It was again a Richard Bandey charge in Woodfleet that took
the race ridden by Martin McIntyre.
‘For a two horse race this was quite competitive, they boys
looked after each other well, it was a good Irish type of race,’ mentioned the
trainer on a double for the afternoon.
The jockey mentioned,’ I was happy to give my fella a
breather coming up the hill, which was good, coming around the home turn I felt
I had plenty of horse underneath me.’
 |
| Woodfleet ridden by Martin McIntyre. |
Only a small race but quality one to end Larkhill’s 2015-16
season, a track that is well used from the start to the end of the season, and
always well worth a visit.
Do'nt forget to look at all the season blogs and interviews at
