PREVIEW: V.W.H (SATURDAY 21ST MARCH)

Siddington, near Cirencester, is one of the longest standing point-to-point courses in the country, having first raced in 1909. The VWH point-to-point has been run there since 1934 and this year’s renewal – rebranded as Cirencester Races – on Saturday 21^st March kicks off at 1.30. Six races are scheduled, and 78 entries have been received, the highest of the weekend’s eight fixtures across the country, with 62 individual horses entered. Clerk of the Course Peter Mason confirmed on Monday that, following the official course inspection this morning, the going is Good to Soft, Good in places. Further updates will follow across the course of the week. 

Organisers, led by meeting secretary Clive Webb-Carter, are hoping for a good crowd and a great day’s racing, and Clive – who deserves praise for changes to the race card that have resulted in such an excellent entry – told me earlier, “We’re very much looking forward to the day and entries are encouraging – we made a few adjustments to the card, which seem to have worked. We’re hoping for good weather and a similar sized crowd to last year. It takes a lot of work to put on the meeting and we can’t wait.” 

The fixture is delighted to announce that UK Sotheby’s International Realty  will be the headline sponsor for the first time. This prestigious partnership marks an exciting new chapter for the event, bringing together one of the world’s most distinguished property brands with one of Gloucestershire’s most anticipated countryside sporting occasions. 

Centrepiece of the meeting is the Arkell’s Brewery Mixed Open Race, which has 12 entries, headed – on Pointerform ratings – by Station Yard Racing’s Hubrisko, already three times a winner this season with Cerys Sheehy but on a recovery mission after pulling up at Kingston Blount in his first venture into Open company. His main rivals on form look to be Lily Bradstock’s evergreen 13-year-old Myth Buster, twice successful this campaign including in Open company at Larkhill, and Kansas Du Berlais, who won a similar race at Charing. Montanna won a Newton Abbot Hunter Chase in May but pulled up on his seasonal debut, while Slipway ran well when second at High Easter recently. David Dennis’ Innisfree Lad, the mount of daughter Tilly, won a Ladies Open at Cocklebarrow, where Joan Johnston’s Who’s In The Box was third in the ‘Lord Ashton’ classic. Station Yard Racing have also entered Kilfilum Woods, also a Hunter Chase winner last season and knocking on the door this time round with three seconds from three starts. 

Station Yard Racing’s Charlie Poste advised that Kilfilum Woods was the more likely of his two runners, saying, “We’re looking forward to getting him back racing on his ground, and he’ll run if it’s Good to Soft or better, so the conditions should be fine. He’s been running well without winning and we hope he can have a productive spring.” 

Lily Bradstock’s running plans are also ground-dependent, and she told me, “He’ll run where the ground’s best for him – he’s also in at Ston Easton, but Siddington should be OK with a dry week forecast. Innisfree Lad (who was second in the race last year to Bradstock’s Southfield Lily) looks a danger. The plan after Saturday is to go to Aintree for the Foxhunters.” 

13 entries have been received for the Sotheby’s International Realty Conditions Race (Level 3), supported by the meeting’s headline sponsor and restricted to Novice Riders who have not had more than ten winners. Slipway and Who’s In The Box are also entered here, with the highest-rated who doesn’t hold an alternative engagement on the card being Stuart Morris’ Master Malcolm, bidding to give Alice Richmond-Watson a maiden success. Station Yard Racing’s Major Dundee was a disappointing favourite at Didmarton last time – he finished in front of Striking Out, but the latter should come on for his reappearance. Jockeyship is often a factor in this type of race and Lily Bradstock has entered Grove Road for Lexie New, who has already ridden four winners, and Harry O’Dwyer is an interesting jockey booking for Tim Underwood’s Stranger Danger. 

Lily Bradstock confirmed this as the target for Grove Road. “It looks the weaker of the two races in which he’s entered,” she stated. “He ran well last time, is a real stayer, and Lexie’s learning on him all the time.” 

“Major Dundee is a talented horse, but a quirky character,” admitted Charlie Poste. “The race looks a good fit for him – we’re trying to find winnable opportunities – and he’s a likely runner, although it’s frustrating that Clara Brewitt can’t claim 5lb, while the other jockeys can.” 

Tim Underwood, one of the game’s true characters, said of his jockey, “Martin Oliver recommended him to me as a novice rider. He’s with Fergal O’Brien, has ridden three winners, wants to be a conditional and has a brain on him. I’ve had some good novice jockeys over the years.” As for Stranger Danger, “It’s in the lap of the gods, but I think I’ve found the key to him. He runs away with you at home, so I’ve been working him in a citation bridle.”  

The Craig Fuller Property Search Restricted Race also has 13 entries, including Alan Hill’s Tellmesomethingood, jointly owned by the trainer and your correspondent, and bidding to repeat his success here last year. He is joint-second top rated with Suttons Hill, who bounced back to form when second at Brocklesby Park last time, after a change to hold-up tactics. The highest rated is Station Yard Racing’s Farfromaway, a comfortable winner of a Kingston Blount Maiden last time, and therefore stepping up in grade. O’Hallorans Castle was just pipped in this race last year but is 5lb worse off with the winner and is out of form. The same comment applies to Calidad, while the opposite is true of Bradley Gibbs’ Bluescape, who ran well when third at Kingston Blount on his comeback. Alan Hill also has Jorah entered, who was somewhat disappointing last time after a promising Ampton Maiden win, while another stepping up in grade is Just Four Fame, who won at Guilsborough for David Dennis. James Henderson’s Pax – who is expected to run here rather than in the opener – also ran below his best last time after two promising runs earlier in the season, and Jessica Botham’s Bennettsbridge has not been seen out since November.  

Alan Hill said of his pair, “The plan has been to come here with Tellmesomethingood since his run at Kingston Blount, where we were very pleased with him, and his form’s been working out. He won this last year, so the race has been a target, and my co-owner will probably be bolshie if I don’t run him at one of his local tracks!” As for Jorah, “We won’t make a decision on him until later in the week. If he does go, the owner’s son Louis Covell will be having his second ride.”  

Charlie Poste is undecided whether to run Farfromaway. “He’s entered in the ThoroughBid online sale next week, so do we roll the dice and hope we can make him a two-time winner?” he asked rhetorically. “We may keep running him and enter him for their May sale. He did well at Kingston Blount and is improving.” 

The opening contest is the Earl & Countess Bathurst Adjacent Hunts Conditions Race (Level 1). This contest has traditionally been for horses qualified with the VWH only but, this year, has been opened to five more adjacent hunts to increase the entry. Organisers have been rewarded for their initiative with 14 entries – of which ten are not from the VWH – and one of them is a class act in the form of Learntalot, trained by Alan Hill and runner-up in the Horse & Hound Cup last year. Below his best this term, he should still have enough in hand of his rivals – with potential exception of the aforementioned Myth Buster and Slipway – to land this contest. Others mentioned earlier who hold entries here are Grove Road and Pax, Ragnar Lodbrok has looked a shadow of his former self this season and 14-year-old veteran Ask Nile would be having his first outing of the season for trainer Tim Underwood. 

“His run at Badbury Rings was too bad to be true,” admitted Alan Hill of Learntalot, “But he scoped dirty after the race. A dry week is forecast, which will suit him, and we intend to run.” 

“We know all about Ask Nile,” laughed Tim Underwood when I asked about him. “He never runs a bad race and, while he might need the run, he’s better when he’s 95% fit but fresh than when he’s 100% but not fresh!” 

Another race has been added to the card for the first time, in the form of the Butler Sherborn Maiden Race, over the shorter distance of 2m4f. This event has replaced the traditional Pegasus Club Race, which had suffered in recent years from a lack of entries and runners. Again, forward thinking has been beneficial, as 11 have been entered. Only Knick Knack – one of just two entered in both Maidens – and Station Yard Racing’s Laudable, a close second in a Young Horse Maiden at Kingston Blount, where Fred Hutsby’s Beinn Ad was weakening when falling, have rateable form this season, so it could pay to focus on a couple of newcomers from stables who can get them ready first time, Bradley Gibbs’ Askafrontman and Sainte Crystal. As a four-year-old filly, the latter is receiving all the allowances. 

Charlie Poste confirmed Laudable a definite runner, saying, “He’s got an obvious chance and ran a blinder last time. He jumped well but was beaten by a better horse on the day and there were no excuses. He’ll be suited by the drop back to 2m4f from 2m5f and the flatter track.” 

“He ran really well at Kingston Blount until he got a bit buzzy,” said Fred Hutsby. “I think he’s got a good chance on Saturday. Johnathan Rees will ride. He works for Olly Murphy, and I like to give young lads a chance.” 

The card closes with the Dubarry of Ireland Maiden Conditions Race, for horses who have raced at least twice in point-to-points, and which has attracted 15 entries, the highest of the day. This looks the stronger of the two Maidens and top-rated is Lily Bradstock’s Master Potter, a good second to the impressive Farfromaway at Kingston Blount. The Station Yard Racing pair of Guseakie and Jasmin Des Blins also have strong claims based on recent placings, as would James Henderson’s Knick Knack – who will take up an entry in one of the Maidens here rather than at Garthorpe, although his trainer is undecided on which race to target – and Jo Lang’s Jeu De Pic if repeating their Cocklebarrow placings behind another eye-catching victor. Both disappointed last time, however. Stick Season represents a powerful yard, but pulled up at the weekend and may not be out again so soon, Radical Optimism showed promise on his seasonal reappearance and should improve for that, while Fred Hutsby’s Lady Lussa was a springtime improver last season, but hasn’t run this year. A pointing debutant to watch out for is Luca Morgan’s ex-rules Jewel Of Windsor. 

“Only one of ours will run”, Charlie Poste told me – although he wouldn’t be drawn on which. “Jasmin Des Blins ran a cracker at Charing, his unseat at Horseheath was frustrating, then Badbury Rings didn’t suit him, but Siddington should. Guseakie ran a blinder at Revesby Park and would have every chance of being a major player on that run.” 

“I was delighted with his Kingston Blount run,” confirmed Lily Bradstock of Master Potter. “He’s always shown a lot at home, although he was clueless in his first two runs!” 

There will again be a big screen for excellent viewing as well as a family-friendly dog show and children’s entertainment, including a bouncy castle, big slide, target shooting and more. As always, there are numerous trade stands, catering facilities and a bar. Gates open at 11.00am and the first race is at 1.30pm. 

Tickets may be purchased on the day only, via cash or card, at a cost of £15 per person. 

Reserved Car Parking spaces, with good viewing overlooking the course, can be booked in advance at a cost of £100 (Premier), £80 and £60. Please email cirencesterraces@gmail.com or visit their website to book. 

The course is located two miles south of Cirencester, near the A419 (20m from Exit 13, M5 & Exit 15, M4) and is signposted from the village of Siddington. GL7 6HN (What Three Words songbirds.putty.after)