This was a great day’s racing, with 108 horses contesting the nine races witnessed by a large crowd for January, and the meeting will remain in the memory for quite some time as the quality of the racing was very high. Several racegoers with longer memories remarked that the meeting brought back the days of the United Services meeting, which used to start racing at Larkhill.
Rose Loxton will remember the meeting with particular fondness as she saddled her first treble as a trainer and her young jockey Angus Cheleda recorded his first point-to-point riding double. Elsewhere, there was a first point-to-point win for one of the most famous set of National Hunt racing colours and a final victory for a promising young rider this season who is now going to concentrate on his A-levels. A one minute's silence was held in memory of valet David Sunderland, a stalwart at Larkhill over many years, who died last month and was and will be much missed.
Rose Loxton won both of the two feature races, commencing with the Skinner's Ladies' Open when Virak (pictured), ridden by Natalie Parker, got the better of a stirring battle with Southfield Theatre, ridden by Lily Bradstock, with only a length between them at the winning post. Southfield Theatre had tried the same front-running tactics employed when he won at the last meeting but this time found a rival just too good for him. Virak's joint-owner Clive Hitchings did not travel from his home to see the victory but fellow owner Paul Nicholls indicated that the winner was now likely to be campaigned in hunter chases, where Natalie Parker will be keen to continue her excellent partnership with the 11-year-old gelding.
There was no repeat of the Cheltenham Foxhunters as Hazel Hill declined a rematch with Shantou Flyer, so Rose's gelding was made a short-price favourite to win the Connolly's Red Mills Men's Open. With owner David Maxwell riding a winner at Plumpton, it was left to Angus Cheleda to partner Shantou Flyer, and his 5lb novice allowance may have proved critical as he had only a length-and-a-half in hand at the winning line. Having fought off the attentions of the Philip Rowley-trained Salvatore, he had to hold off the fast-finishing Green Winter, ridden by Zac Baker. As David Maxwell is looking to secure another Amateur Rider's title under Rules, it is likely that Shantou Flyer's attentions will next be turned to hunter chasing.
Rose began the day by saddling Chameron to win the first division of the Conditions race, and his was one of the most impressive performances of the day. Bought expensively from France after winning two Hurdles, he failed to win a race when trained by Paul Nicholls and went to the sales last August where he was bought back by his former trainer, who has retained a share in him with jockey Harry Cobden. The other owner is John Bolton, a cattle dealer from Glastonbury, and he was recording his first point-to-point winner. On the basis of this outing, he has much to look forward this season. Explaining his victory, Rose said he had lost his confidence at Ditcheat and the drop in class helped to give him a chance to find his form. Beating his twelve rivals by ten lengths, this seven-year-old looks one to follow this season.
Rose was hopeful of saddling the winner of the second division of the Conditions race with Captain Buck's, another Ditcheat ex-inmate, ridden by Natalie Parker. However, in a duel with Wick Green on the run-in, he was denied by a head in one of the closest finishes of the day (see video above). Trained and ridden by Peter Mason for the Shy John Partnership, he has strengthened since last season and is another promising youngster. Broken by Peter as a two-year-old for owner Charles Horton, Shy John was acquired as a pointer for the partnership when he retired. This was his seasonal debut and a great improvement on the previous two seasons when he has failed to complete on his debut. He is another whose attentions are likely to be turned to hunter chasing later in the season.
The two divisions of the three-mile Maidens featured a number of promising horses who will have gone into notebooks for the remainder of the season. Fran Nimmo introduced Fedelta, a six-year-old Flemensfirth gelding, in the first division, and he stayed on well under James King to win by four lengths. Owned by well-known National Hunt owner Trevor Hemmings, his Racing Manager Mick Meager revealed that this would have been his boss's first point-to-point winner. The gelding had suffered a fractured shoulder whilst he was being trained in Ireland, so his performance was even more impressive in beating the Philip Rowley-trained My Bobby Dazzler, ridden by Alex Edwards.
Alex did not have long to wait before recording his victory for the day when partnering the mare Fleur Du Pommier to win the second division of the Maiden. Previously owned by the late Godfrey Maundrell, she was sent to the sales during the summer, and on the suggestion of joint-owner Stan Rawlins was bought by Harriet Waight, who trains in sight of Larkhill. It was Harriet's idea to secure the services of Alex Edwards to ride the mare as she felt that Fleur Du Pommier needed a rider who could give her confidence and help with her jumping. This certainly paid off as the mare held off the challenge of Red Buccaneer, ridden by James King, by a length.
The Restricted was the most eventful race of the day, with only four of the 12 horses finishing the course. Whilst Teeton Surprise may have been a fortunate winner for Nick Phillips, the Black Sam Bellamy gelding jumped round to beat Drakes Well, ridden by Zac Baker. Previously trained for the late Joan Tice by Stuart Morris, he is now owned by a partnership headed by Joan's daughter Judy, and trained by Dibby Brown. Nick explained that he had been Field Mastering off the winner on Boxing Day, and had been round Cirencester Park and that hunting had been very good for him.
The Novice Riders' race was won by the veteran My Murphy, ridden by his 17-year-old pilot Albi Tufnell and trained by Sally Randell. Timing his challenge to perfection, he caught long-time leader Darius Des Bois and was an easy winner by 15 lengths. It was subsequently revealed that this will be Albi's last ride of the season as he now turns his attentions to his A-levels at Radley. However, he will be returning next season, and on the basis of this ride and his two successes with Call Me Vic this season, he looks a young rider to follow despite being out of Novice status.
Christopher Barber introduced a promising sort when Thechaseison made all under Martin McIntyre to win the concluding Maiden Conditions race. Bought privately by Ed Bailey after three runs in Ireland, he has strengthened since arriving in England. Described by his owner, Christopher's mother Charlotte, as 'an absolute gentleman', he held off the challenges of The Whiskey Man and Baignard, and looks another to follow during the season.