REPORT – SOUTH AND WEST WILTS (SUNDAY 1ST MARCH)

Under grey but mostly dry skies the South and West Wilts meeting took place last Sunday at Larkhill watched by a decent crowd who witnessed some competitive racing. More history was made with the success of Grace A Vous Enki and the other highlights were a double for owner Tom Lacey and riding doubles for Sean O’Connor and Josh Newman.

Grace A Vous Enki secured his eleventh consecutive Larkhill victory when winning the Lycetts sponsored H R H Prince of Wales Mixed Open race. Always prominent, he had more of a battle with main market rival Crawter than in his previous races but he still had ten lengths in hand at the winning post. James King his regular pilot reported that ‘he was a bit flat in his racing but his class told at the end and that perhaps his victory in the Coronation Gold Cup had taken more out of him than had been perceived’ Watched by his proud owners Clive and Joan Hitchings he is now likely to be given a short break and his next target is going to be the Lady Dudley Cup at Chaddesley Corbett. Clive said that ‘The Lady Dudley Cup is a race I have tried to win for many years and hope that 2026 will be our year’

The opening race, The Pat Awdry Memorial PPORA Club Members Conditions, proved to be the closest finish of the day with a short head being the judge’s decision between Highstakesplayer ridden by Ivor Herbert and Cape Vidal the mount of James King. Approaching the final fence James looked to be in command but Ivor managed to get a final effort from his willing partner to put his head in front on the line. Owned by his parents who sadly missed the victory as they were on holiday Ivor was recording his second career winner and said ‘ I am thrilled to ride this horse to win a race and was not sure that I had got up on the line’ . Ivor, 20, in his second year at Exeter University studying politics, paid credit to his trainer Eamomn O’Donnabhain for the training of the gelding who had previously been running under Rules for Tom Lacey for whom he had won four chases and two Hurdles

His brother Milo, who had last been seen riding Famous Clermont at Badbury Rings will be partnering that gelding for the remainder of the season according to his trainer Chris Barber having been leased by his owners to Milo with the aim being an outing in the Aintree Foxhunters Chase on 9th April.

Tom Lacey is a regular visitor to Larkhill and has a long history of starting off his newcomers at the Wiltshire course. His first representative Seven Kites who ran in the Milton Indoor Storage Services sponsored Maiden race had to overcome a faller at the fifteenth fence and was badly hampered as a result. Ridden by Sean O’Connor he explained ‘ I had nowhere to go when the horse fell in front of me and had to gallop over him which caused me to loose lengths but he overcame this and stayed on well from the last fence to win going away’ Bought by Tom as a 3 year old store at the Tattersalls Derby Sale for 65K Euros he described him as ‘ still green and will come on greatly for the experience’ . By Poet’s Word out of a Shantou mare who won two Hurdles he is a half brother to Land of Punt who would have won a Maiden at Larkhill in 2025 for Tom but for falling at the last. He is next likely to be seen in a forthcoming sales ring.

The Woolley and Wallis sponsored Restricted race only attracted a field of four headed by the highly regarded Woodstock Octo who impressed when winning his first Restricted race last month. Sent off a short price favourite he and Lough Owel ridden by Ed Vaughan had a good battle over the final fences before his rider and trainer Josh Newman was able to draw clear on the run in , Watched by his proud owners John and Sonia Gardener who had made the long trip from Bude, Cornwall he will remain pointing as his owners are strong supporters of the sport and John reminisced that ‘ I have been involved for some 58 years firstly training horses myself and then with the late Richard Woollacott and more recently with Josh Newman at Woolminstone near Crewkerne and through pointing I have made so many friends’

Tom Lacey and Sean O’Connor’s double came in the Jockey Club Mares and Fillies Maiden race in the form of Madam to You. Sent off favourite she chased her market rival Walkingtheline for much of the race until staying on well to lead close home. Another by Poet’s Word out of a Heron Island mare she was bought by Tom at the Tattersalls Derby Sale for 30K Euros and is a half-sister to The Lord Maid already the winner of three hurdles for Tom. She is also for sale.

The concluding race, the MacLachlan Solicitors sponsored flat race over two miles received fourteen entries and was divided into two races of seven each. The first division was won by Lunar Trix owned and trained by Michael Kehoe and ridden by Chsrlie Case. Bought by Michael as a yearling he had been showing good form at home and connections had been hopeful of success. The race turned into a match over the final couple of furlongs between the winner and Moorhead trained by Charlie Sprake and ridden by Darren Andrews. They both appear to be good prospects for the future.

The second division proved to be a close battle between Island Jetaway ridden by Josh Newman and Timmie Two partnered by Anna Johnston with the former prevailing by half a length. Trained by Myles Osborne who was delighted with the success of the filly who had been bought by Paul Webber for 20K at the Goffs Store sale last May. Paying credit to Tom Broughton who had played a major role in breaking her in and for Josh for giving her a very positive ride Myles was welcoming his first training victory this season and this was his twentieth pointing success plus one Hunter Chase victory in his career to date.