PREVIEW: WILTON (SATURDAY 21ST MARCH)

This Saturday racing returns to Milborne St Andrew by kind permission of landowner Michael Miller, for the first time this season after an unreasonably wet period meant the course was unraceable for the early February fixture. Here the Wilton stage their meeting and 63 entries have been received. The leading novice rider and leading rider at Badbury Rings and Milborne St Andrew will be decided here with Joe Neal and Josh Newman leading their respective divisions.

Early bird Tickets can be purchased in advance for £12.50 each until 6pm Friday 20th on www.pointingwessex.co.uk or www.gbpointing.co.uk. And after that for £15 or they can be purchased on the day on the gate for £15 (under 16 free) using cash or card. Organisers are also holding a silent auction and this can be found on www.jumblebee.co.uk/wiltonpointtopointsilentauction2.

There are 12 entries for the PPORA Maiden race sponsored by The Ladies and Gentlemen of the Wilton. Don’t Ask Aiden has run well enough in all of his three races to date to suggest he can pick up a race but he may be vulnerable to one of the younger entries. These include Prince in the Park who ran well at Badbury Rings finishing 3rd to Dollanstown with Down the Inner further back in 5th. Jack Torrance was second in a Flat race last year and ran a fair race in a pointers bumper at Aintree. This is his first time over obstacles and he is best watched. Fran Poste has two entered, Laudable who was a good second to Hang Out at Kingston Blount and Louis Dor du Livet 5th on his only start for her. Will Biddick has his string in great form and he could take this with either of his entries, the unraced but well-related Strictlycommercial and Uncle Boss who was running well until falling three out in a race won by his stablemate Six Two Three.

The 9 entries for the NFU Mutual (Salisbury & Wareham) Restricted race look competitive on paper and include Good Boy Eric who won a Restricted race this time last year at Cothelstone. He reappeared at Larkhill in February where he fell when tired. He looked a nice prospect previously and could be one to keep on the right side of. Up Killoughey looks a big danger though. He won his maiden here with any amount in hand last year and has been waiting for this better ground. Rachel Bartlett has both of her “Dorsets” entered here and Dorset Dazzler is preferred. He won his first two at Larkhill this year before finding a Taunton hunter chase tough going and then falling early in his latest start. Follow My Order also won at Larkhill and has run creditably with two placings since. Protect the Future won easily on debut at Charing but then ran into a very good one in Jeu Gagnant at Badbury Rings. That winner who just collared Protect the Future that day has since won at Buckfastleigh and is highly thought of.

Nine entries have been received for the Woolley & Wallis Mixed Open including one from the in-form Josh Newman’s yard in Casper’s Court. He notched up a treble last season under Hannah Morgan last season in lesser races but has only been seen once this term when he unseated on his only start at Wadebridge under a new pilot. Fran Post’s Hubrisko has also been running in Novice riders contests winning three this season under Cerys Sheehy but he possibly found the 4 miles too far last time. Histrionic took advantage of a last fence fall to win on debut for Lucas Murphy and

Sam Loxton. He then ran in a competitive Coronation Cup where he was a fair 4th but disappointed last time at Charlton Horethorne. Julie Wadland’s Cape Vidal won a couple under Rules for Anthony Honeyball and he was unlucky to be caught on the line at Larkhill. That was a good debut as he had spent time on the side lines and he could improve. Slipway too won under Rules but reached a decent rating of 140 and this five time winner ran a good race under Molly Armytage to take second at High Easter. Any retention of his ability under Rules would see him go close. Humaniste took this race 2 years ago but this is his first run of the season and he may need it while Captain Tommy tends to frequent the Hunter Chase world winning twice last season at Ludlow and Catterick but would be of interest if appearing.

In the Jockey Club 0-110 Series Race, 7 are entered including in-form Corporal Jackjones who built on 2 good wins at Chaddesley Corbett (Talimar Pearl 4th) and Larkhill by taking a Stratford Novice Hunter Chase last time. He may face most opposition from the mare Walkin Out who has won 11 of her 17 starts for trainer Les Jefford. She ran well on her seasonal debut at Badbury Rings but disappointed next time at Didmarton. She needs decent ground to be seen at her best and should not be underestimated. Scoresby has won over the course but he may have to settle for a place here. Both Ginderella and Strolling Along are maidens under all codes but should win a race pointing before long.

The Conditions Race is sponsored by lifelong supporter, Paul Hodgkinson and it has 9 entries and they include already mentioned Slipway, Scoresby and Cape Vidal. Others entered are the prolific Lavorante who prior to this season had won his last 8 races and this trip and track should suit better than his two starts recently. The lightly raced Go Sacre Go was an impressive winner of his maiden here in 2023 but his last run on bottomless ground at Wincanton should be ignored though and he is better judged on his easy win at Badbury Rings back in November. Finisher also won a Conditions race on that card. Boys Will Be Boys will prefer the quicker ground as he showed when winning twice last season at Cothelstone and Bratton Down. Au Fleuron had decent form under Rules for Gordon Elliott and won back pointing in Ireland but has yet to recapture that level and is best watched.

The finale is a Flat race sponsored by Whitsbury Stud and has 17 entries with a few having racecourse experience. Of those to have run, Timmie Two comes from the in-form yard of Les Jefford who took second on his debut at Larkhill (Fashion House 3rd and Oxo Called in 4th) and he could bring that experience to the fore here. Ruling Planet was also second in an earlier Larkhill Flat race (Chase the Status 5th) and he has a regal Flat pedigree being out of a mare who ran in the Oaks. Will Biddick has Gunningforyou who ran well in another Larkhill Flat race while the unraced quintet Big Bertha, Flora Hobbs, Made a Pass, Maiden Over, and Poetic Gold are all related to winners.

The first race at 12.30pm and there are plenty of trade stands, excellent refreshments and bar as well as the silent auction and of course well-behaved dogs on leads are most welcome. The course is situated off the A354 between Blandford and Dorchester. Postcode BH20 7JN. w3w: shocking.officers.alleyway