REPORT – WILTON – SATURDAY 18TH MARCH

The Wilton Point to Point staged its meeting on Saturday at Milborne St Andrew and organisers were relieved that the weather held for most of the day with only a brief shower arriving for the last two races. A surprising drop in the number of runners didn’t deter the standard of racing on offer and racegoers were treated to some good finishes. A riding double for Martin McIntyre, two former Rules horses showing how much they are enjoying the drop to Pointing and a consecutive Mixed Open win for veteran Tom Barton were highlights from the day. The popular Shetland Pony Dash which preceded the main racing also resulted in a repeat win for jockey Harlow White riding Shelcroft Cloudy.

Pointing is all about the F word – Fun! And this was showcased when Monmouth Hill took the Restricted race for local trainer Hannah Clarke and the Fun For All Club. With the 4 runners tightly grouped, Martin McIntyre was happy to sit on the inside of the quartet biding his time before challenging the leader Shanroe Smooch after the second last. Donny’s Fortune looked a serious threat for a while but fitness told and he faded into third on this his seasonal debut. He should be noted for next time. Hannah explained “I set up the syndicate so locals, some of whom are horsey but some are not, could have some fun and the three horses included meant that they are able to go racing most weekends.” Members of the syndicate present explained how welcome they were made to feel both visiting the horses at home and were plied with the best bacon sandwiches while also enjoying excellent picnics on race days.

The earlier Maiden race provided young Harry Ryall with his second winner as a trainer when Highway Hero forged clear on the final bend to win by 7 lengths under Rob David. A delighted Harry said of Highway Hero, “he’s been hitting the cross bar so this was well deserved” Equally deserved was a winner for Rob David, who works for Antony Honeyball, who has returned to the UK after a spell in Australia and rides out for Harry after work. The winner is owned in partnership with Colin and Julie Bright of Stantway Bloodstock who have been keen to support Harry in his fledgling training career.

The Honeyball name kept cropping up throughout the afternoon when both winners of the Flat race divisions had connections to the yard. The first division was won by Fountainspinklady trained by Teresa Clark, herself Anthony’s sister and the mare is a half-sister to Fountains Windfall who won 7 under Rules for Anthony. The second division was won by Hypersonic Missile, a first ever winner for trainer Maddy Hand who works for Anthony. Fountainspinklady showed a really determined manner when sticking her head down for a two length victory to give Martin McIntyre his second winner, from a couple of nice types in Blazing Litten and Roxhill. It could turn out to be a decent race. Hypersonic Missile won the second division in a slightly easier manner under Will Biddick for Maddy whose father Leonard owns the Califet gelding. Maddy is helped out by her boyfriend Kyle James who used to ride for Phil Kirby.

Tom Barton only faced one other rival in Ballotin when defending his Mixed Open title under regular pilot Natalie Parker. A worried Natalie felt she may have incurred the wrath of the stewards after Tom Barton drifted out on the home bend and bumped the runner-up. However as the winning distance was an easy 12 lengths, the stewards left the result unchanged but fined Natalie the minimum amount in line with the current BHA rules. Sally who rides the 13 year old gelding out at home said “he’s less of a gentleman at home where he spooks at literally everything, every day!” This was the gelding’s fourth course win and 13^th win in total for the Four Dames Partnership.

The Veteran Conditions race gives horses who may have become jaded under Rules to find an easier style of racing and one who has certainly embraced that this season is Paloma Blue. Formerly with Henry de Bromhead and sourced for Josh Newman’s yard by Stephanie Jones, the big Stowaway gelding relished this return to Milborne St Andrew where he had won in January as he happily bowled along in front under Josh before recording a 15 length victory from Too Many Diamonds. Paloma Blue is part-owned by Coral’s Head of PR, Simon Clare who is more usually found on Rules racecourses and this is his first venture into point to point ownership. A clearly thrilled Simon explained that he may well re-invest in some more point to pointers for next season while Stephanie though this horse could well go for a Hunter chase at some stage, possibly at the Cheltenham Evening meeting in May.

Tigerbythetail is another who was recently running under Rules for Olly Murphy and he took the Intermediate for Tom Ellis and Gina Andrews for owners Keith Loads and Kate Bowling who had made the trip down from Suffolk. Tigerbythetail jumped well apart from slightly losing concentration as he passed the paddock on the first circuit but made no mistake taking the same fence again to record a 5 length win over Ed the Red. Keith explained afterwards “Gina told us that she had never seen a horse improve and gain confidence so much since he had arrived at the yard.”