PREVIEW: OLD BERKSHIRE (MONDAY 6TH APRIL)

The Old Berkshire point-to-point at Lockinge on Easter Monday (6th April) is one of the best-known and most popular meetings of the season, attracting crowds of up to 10,000. Racegoers are known for turning up hours before the first race and walking the course, a dog on a lead in one hand and a drink in the other! The fixture is the only one in the country to have taken advantage of a new rule, introduced this season, where Bank Holiday meetings are permitted to run five – rather than six – point-to-point races, as long as other contests are included alongside the jumping action. They have structured their race programme innovatively, with the first race over fences at 1.15pm, and two pony races – both sponsored by Pinewood School – taking place after the second race, from 2.25pm. This initiative has been designed to keep the large crowd entertained throughout the afternoon.

Clerk of the Course Sarah Main told me on Sunday, “The going remains Good. Watering started today and will continue during the week if there is no significant rain.” Sarah can be contacted on 07788 423624 if required.

53 entries (45 individual horses) have been made for the five races, although racegoers should note that, with 12 fixtures over the Easter weekend, many horses will have entries at multiple meetings.

Eight are entered in what is likely to be the highlight of the card, the Luck Greayer Shipping Bloodstock Mixed Open Race. Entries are headed – on Pointerform ratings – by Douglas Longbottom, a winner of a Cheltenham Hunter Chase in May but running below his best this season. Most of his rivals are on form, three of them – Calidad, Lily Bradstock’s Myth Buster and Gina Andrews’ Tigerbythetail – winning last time out. Harry Brown’s Bass Rock had his bubble burst last time when stepping up to Open company but had previously completed a hat-trick under promising young rider Lucas Murphy (son of former top professional Timmy), who currently heads the national novice jockey standings. Farnoge has been second twice from three starts this season and Alan Hill’s Soldier Unknown ran well over four miles last time in his first attempt in this grade.

Hill said of his charge, “He’s got other entries this weekend so we’ll take a look at the races before deciding, but he may well run at Lockinge.”

Bradstock advised, “He’s in at Kimble as well. We’d prefer to go to Lockinge as it’s our local track, but it depends on the ground. It can get dry quickly and there’s no rain forecast, although I know they’re watering. Myth Buster is a real old favourite – he’s better on quick ground but won’t want it too firm.”

“Bass Rock has come out of his last race fine,” said Brown, admitting, “The small field didn’t suit him as they didn’t go a gallop. He’s a definite runner on Monday.”

Will Shields, spokesperson for trainer Bea Coward, wouldn’t be drawn on whether Douglas Longbottom – a winner here in 2024 – runs, telling me, “We don’t know whether to go to Cothelstone or Lockinge – we’ve got a bit of a jockey shortage! Douglas Longbottom was disappointing at Badbury Rings – I don’t know what got into him – but he’s been working fine since then and is back to his normal self.”

The Kidson-Trigg Auctioneers Keeper-Jockey Conditions Race (Level 2) has attracted 14 entries. Races of this nature – limited to keepers and jockeys who have not trained or ridden more than three winners this season – are designed to offer opportunities to the grass roots of the sport and are always popular with participants. Calidad and Farnoge (who is joint-top rated) are also entered here and may find this an easier opportunity than the Mixed Open. On the same rating as Farnoge is Revesby Park winner Coeur Serein, while Clashhill, just one point behind, was progressive last season and has been runner-up on both starts this term. His trainer has also entered Fame And Concrete, second to the smart Boley Bob last time. High Game Royal has been running well for trainer-jockey husband and wife Rebecca and Nick Romain, Tim Underwood’s Ask Nile should come on for his recent reappearance, while Secret Cargo has not yet returned to his best form since missing a year, but his owner-trainer-rider’s horses are running well.

Underwood, who got off the mark for the season on Saturday, laughed, “If my mare hadn’t won the other day, I’d be thinking I couldn’t train ivy up a wall!” He has engaged his winning jockey Henry Main again for all his runners, and said of Ask Nile, “He’s come back from Siddington in perfect order. He blew up there and I probably ran him too early.”

Racing commences with the Charles Russell Speechlys Maiden Race, and the sponsors have been rewarded with 12 entries. Clear top-rated is Master Potter, who showed promise when second at Kingston Blount last time. Also runner-up and showing improved form on his most recent run was Standupanddeliver, while Bea Coward’s Valentin De Maine disappointed last time after a good reappearance. James Henderson’s Knick Knack has not repeated the promise of his Cocklebarrow pointing debut but was possibly unlucky when hampered on his last run. Fred Hutsby’s Lady Lussa was progressive last season but hasn’t run yet this campaign, and two British pointing debutants to consider are Katie Croft’s

Kasanova’s Dream, twice placed for Gordon Elliott in Ireland, and ex-Irish pointer Krafty Kelly.

Like Myth Buster, Master Potter is also entered at Kimble and plans are also ground-dependent, as Bradstock explained. “He’s in good shape and ready to run. He’s a nice, light-framed horse so we don’t want to run him if it’s too fast.”

Henderson confirmed that this was the preferred target for triple-entered Knick Knack, and told me, “The horse seems really well. What happened at Siddington was not his fault – the horse in front of him fell, he went right and (son and jockey) George went left!”

Will Shields reported of Valentin De Maine, “He’s OK again after a sluggish run last time. He’d run well – also at Larkhill – on his debut for us.”

The Arkell’s Restricted Race over two-and-a-half miles has nine entries and could go the way of top-rated Tellmesomethingood, trained by Alan Hill and jointly owned by the trainer and your correspondent. However, I would be the first to admit that he has disappointed this season and both the consistent Validation and Steppingstone – who has had some issues with his jumping – are worthy of consideration, along with Taghadoe, who ran well on his seasonal debut but disappointed last time. Cadillac Ranch has also disappointed – twice – since taking a Charing Maiden in good style, while Kedg West is another Tim Underwood charge likely to do better for his first start of the season.

Hill confirmed Tellmesomethingood a probable runner, saying, “He’s also in at Higham and Kimble but the plan is to run him at Lockinge. I don’t think it’ll be the strongest Restricted of the weekend, he should be suited by the better ground and tight track, and my co-owner’s working there, so he’d like a runner!”

Underwood professed Kedg West his best chance of the day. “I had to wait longer than I wanted to run him first time,” he confirmed, “And he needed the run. I think he’ll go well on what’s likely to be quick ground.”

The final race of the day is the Dubarry of Ireland Old Berkshire Hunt Members Race, which has attracted 10 entries. Four are entered elsewhere on the card, including Myth Buster and High Game Royal, but two who are not are Harry Brown’s useful pair, All Loved Up and Arthur’s Sixpence. The first-named mare has been in fine form this season, landing the Lord Ashton point-to-point ‘classic’ at Cocklebarrow, while the latter ran a great race in a Newbury Hunter Chase recently. Veteran Castletown has been improving with every race this season and will have the assistance of Lucas Murphy in the saddle, James Henderson’s Pax was running well earlier in the season only to disappoint on his last two starts, and Tim Underwood’s Stranger Danger has yet to repeat last year’s form in 2026.

“I think Arthur’s Sixpence will win,” admitted Underwood. “But Stranger Danger definitely runs – he’s been very disappointing this season and I don’t know why.”

Brown, who rides as well as trains Arthur’s Sixpence, was hopeful of proving Underwood right! “I’d like to think he can give me my first win (as a jockey) in the Members. He ran a blinder at Newbury and has won twice at Lockinge. I think I’ve got two runners with live winning chances.”

A footnote to this race is the entry for former rules horse Shot Tower, to be ridden by 75-year-old owner-trainer Mark Smith with the aim of raising money for the Injured Jockeys Fund. Smith first rode in a point-to-point some 60 years ago and subsequently rode under rules and competed in international eventing. Let’s hope he enjoys his outing, comes back safe and generates plenty of support for a good cause.

Gates open at 10.00am and the races over fences are preceded by a dog show, sponsored by St Hugh’s School, and a parade of hounds. Terrier racing will take place during the afternoon and there will be a children’s funfair.

Admission is £20 per person by cash or card on the day, with 14s and under free. Advance tickets are available for £15 up to Good Friday via the Old Berkshire point-to-point website here

Lockinge is located two miles south-east of Wantage on the B4494, eight miles north-west of M4 Exit 13. Follow the signs if coming from the south. OX12 8PA For more information, visit www.obhpointtopoint.co.uk