A very balmy and sunny day brought many racegoers to Badbury Rings near Wimborne last Sunday to enjoy the Portman Hunt point to point. It felt more like an April spring day (when the Portman used to hold their meeting) rather than Remembrance Sunday in November. The quicker going did deter some who brought horses to run but there were still six competitive races held at the Dorset course. It was a day of firsts for an owner, rider, and trainer as well as an impressive performance in the feature race, the Mixed Open.
The Hendy Jaguar sponsored Mixed Open race was a high-quality event with all five runners having won last season. Rio Quinto ridden by George Hiscock set off in front and was still leading at the second last. However, his stamina soon faltered and allowed Highway One O One ridden by Molly Landau to sweep by and record a fifteen lengths victory over course specialist Tom Barton ridden by Natalie Parker. Successful four times last season when ridden by Freddie Gordon he retains his form well and looks to be forging a new partnership with Molly. Trained by Jenny Gordon for owner Anthony Ward-Thomas he enjoys the top of the ground going and may well run up a sequence this season. Molly, 17, who works for Chris Gordon full time, was recording her fourth career victory having already won two races under Rules. Jenny commented that ‘Molly gave him a lovely ride’ and hopes to support her further this season.
The meeting began with the NFU Mutual Sturminster Newton sponsored Maiden race for four and five year olds run over two miles and four furlongs. Great Schema ridden by Will Biddick and Cooler Than Me had a good battle over the final two fences and despite jumping left-handed Great Schema held his rival by a diminishing neck at the line. Trained by Chris Barber for new owner Christine Wall from Keinton Mandeville who helps Chris at his stable at Littlewindsor, it was a first victory for the four year old’s owner with her first runner. Bought by Chris at Doncaster in September he went to look at another horse from Gordon Elliott’s stable, but Gordon recommended this gelding to him as being a suitable candidate for pointing. Chris did express that the victory was ‘very unexpected,’ but he had taken him to the opening meet of the Cattistock and had jumped more than twenty obstacles during the day. Winning rider Will described his mount as ‘a little pocket rocket’ who acted on the faster ground.
The Domvs Estate Agents sponsored Conditions race for Novice Riders will be a race Talor Hopkins will never forget. Aboard her father Leighton’s Minella Encore Talor pulled away from main rival Bistouri D’Honore ridden by Alice Procter to record a comfortable success by six lengths. It was Talor’s first winning point to point ride and she was quick to give praise to her boss Sam Thomas for all the help he gives her at his Welsh stable. Talor, 18, hails from Newport and this was her fourth career ride and according to her proud parents she always wanted to ride horses at a very early age. Bought by Leighton at Doncaster in May from Dr Richard Newland’s stable this ten year gelding - already the winner of five races under Rules - looks certain to give Talor some enjoyable rides this season.
Robert Varnham brought three horses to the Dorset venue from his base in the South East and was rewarded when Trappist Monk, ridden by Daniel Kyne, beat Finisher ridden by Charlie Sprake in the Coane Construction sponsored Conditions race. They had the race between them from a long way from home and Trappist Monk had four lengths in hand at the winning post. Daniel who is based with Mark Grant at Lambourn was recording his ninth point to point success and he did win the Amateurs Derby at Epsom in August aboard Saratoga Gold for Charles Hills.
Southfield Lily made all to win the Symonds and Sampson sponsored Restricted race and her bold jumping under Lily Bradstock was spectacular on occasions. Market rival Monmouth Hill ridden by Charlie Marshall tried valiantly to tackle the mare but the weight difference of seven pounds between them proved decisive. Owned by Angela Yeoman who was watching one of her other horses Southfield Harvest run in the Southern National at Fontwell, the mare was described by her trainer Sara Bradstock as being’ very quirky.’ Not keen on allowing anyone in her box Sara leaves Lily to catch her and recognizes that her charge as being ‘an alpha mare.’ A winner of the Maiden race here a year ago the mare is clearly a force to be reckoned with at Badbury.
Rookie trainer Harry Ryall, 23, had saddled Highway Hero to finish third in the first Maiden but was delighted to train a winner on his first day with runners when Another Furlough, ridden by Josh Newman, won the Two Scoops Consulting Maiden Race. Trained for his father Nicholas and Nicholas’ boss Paul Rothwell who runs Empire Property Concepts in Doncaster, Harry had bought the five year old gelding at Ascot in September from David Phelan’s yard. Originally from Yorkshire he and his brother Tom (now the Clerk of the Course at Warwick and Nottingham) came down to Seaborough to work for Harry Fry some six years ago and then became Chris Barber’s assistant for the last two seasons. Deciding to branch out on his own he is based at Peckmoor Farm, Crewkerne where he runs a satellite yard for Anthony Honeyball and in addition, he also hopes to run six pointers. Thrilled with the ride given to the gelding by the highly experienced Josh Newman Harry was able to celebrate his initial victory with his father and brother who were both in attendance.