REPORT – COMBINED SERVICES (SUNDAY 8TH FEBRUARY)

The rain continues to fall and even a course like Larkhill showed the effect with the going at the Combined Services meeting on Sunday becoming more testing and difficult for many horses to raise a gallop after three miles. There were exceptions to this with a splendid performance in the feature race, the Coronation Gold Cup, the return to form of a former Grade 1 winning hurdler, two smart four-year-olds in the Maiden races which were won by a rider securing his first ever double and two very promising Restricted winners. A good crowd enjoyed an eight-race card with one race divided on the day with 94 horses taking part despite the inclement weather.

Grace A Vous Enki was sent off a very short price to claim the Coronation Gold Cup and supporters had very little to worry about as he treated his nine rivals with contempt and despite the efforts of his nearest market rivals he strolled to a very easy victory. Sporting number cloth 10 the omens were in evidence that this was going to be his tenth consecutive victory at Larkhill and so it proved. James King who has been his pilot in all of these successes was full of praise for his mount saying ‘ they tried to take me on but he just gallops and gallops and was too good for all of them’ A delighted trainer Christopher Barber saddling his first runner in this historic race was very proud of his stable star and indicated that his further targets might be the Lady Dudley Cup and then the 4 miler at the evening Cheltenham meeting. Proud owners Clive and Joan Hitchings supported by their son Nick were elated with the success and although the horse had dead heated in this race in 2024 to win it outright in such a dominant way was more than they had hoped for.

The meeting had begun with the BMC sponsored Conditions Race for Novice Riders. The biggest field of the day of 15 horses faced the starter and the winner Fil D’Ariane ridden by his owner and trainer Douglas White took up the running at the sixth fence and maintained his lead all the way to the line. He should not have been in the line up as he was declared to run in the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown until that meeting was cancelled. The only horse he trains on the family farm near Didmarton he had won the Yeomanary Ride over timber fences prior to his Ludlow Hunter Chase second. Douglas is now hoping that the Grand Military Gold Cup will be rescheduled for either Sandown or Wincanton for which he is the current holder having won this race in 2025.

The Restricted race sponsored by Qinetiq attracted 22 runners so was divided on the day. The first division proved to be a duel between Boley Bob ridden by Henry Crow and Follow My Order ridden by Charlie Marshall and they were hardly parted during the race with only half a length separating between them with Boley Bob just prevailing. Trained by Joe O’Shea who described him as ‘very special’ and owned by Jim Broomfield who was paying his first visit to Larkhill. A member of the syndicate who own the prolific Barton Snow this gelding is the first horse he has owned in his own name, Known by his friends as ‘Lucky Jim’ he is the owner of the Brackley Antique Cellar a huge antiques centre regularly seen on Bargain Hunt. Jim was thrilled with the victory and paid credit to his trainer Joe for all his hard work.

The second division was won in good style by Woodstock Octo ridden by Josh Newman, Tracking the leaders Josh took up the lead at the third last and stayed on well to beat The Gooner ridden by Martin McIntyre. Bought by Josh’s wife Kayley in Ireland and now owned by John and Sonia Gardener who missed the victory as they are moving house he had been given time after his win at Dunsmore in November but he is very progressive and looks one to follow for the rest of the season.

The Conditions race sponsored by Cambridge Aerospace was a good battle between Gelino Bello ridden by Darren Andrews and Glancing Hill ridden by Zac Baker with the former staying on the better to prevail by two lengths. A previous Grade 1 winning Hurdler for Paul Nicholls at Aintree in 2022 and 2 Novice Chases he had lost his way and had been pulled up on his last three outings. A gift horse to Ella Ortewell he is now trained on the Ortewell family farm by Charlie Sprake with his partner Winnie Ortewell. Charlie a successful point to point rider explained that ‘ I am not going to ride this season but am not ruling out a return next season’ He added that ‘ I have four horses to train including this boy for a group of family friends called the Sloe Gin Syndicate’ When quizzed how he had brought about the return to form he said with a smile ‘ we have just tried to sweeten him up with a different routine and I wanted to see whether he still had it in him to be competitive’ Given a very positive ride by Darren Andrews Charlie was quick to acknowledge the help and support he received from him when he was riding and he was delighted to have Darren riding for him

The first Division of the Maiden sponsored by Civica was won in good style by the four year old Gallant Tide ridden by Sean 0’Conor from Skeeter Rock ridden by Ed Doggrell. A smart looking Crystal Ocean gelding bought by Tom Lacey at Goffs June 2025 for E£36K he brought out comments from the trainer ‘ as the next Energumene’ and he is next likely to be seen at the sales

A similar comment applies to the winner of the second Division won by the four year old Hive Runner. Held up this time by Sean he made up a lot of ground approaching the third last and won going away after leading at the last. Sean who is attached to Dan Skelton’s stable was riding his first ever double and has now ridden 10 point to point winners as well as winning four Hunter Chases. Bought by Tom at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sales for E£16K he is also heading for the sales,

The meeting concluded in fading light with the Llanelec sponsored Flat race over 2 miles. This produced the closest finish of the day with the judge being unable to separate Dadavic ridden by Sam Lee and Miss Spec ridden by Charlie Case and declared a dead heat. Both were always prominent and although Dadavic held a narrow lead close home he was joined on the line. Dadavic trained by Justin Brotherton for owner Jackie Cornwell was a case of mistaken identity in his early years but when this was found out a decision was made to keep the horses they had which Justin approved of. As a quirk of fate Justin added ‘ I was responsible for breaking in Miss Spec and never imagined that I would end up training a winner and dead heating with her’ Miss Spec is owned and bred by Malcolm Bent and trained by Oliver Hayes who was recording his first winner as a trainer. Aged 21 and based in the Cotswolds this was only his second ever runner and is a name to look out for in the future.