Maitree Express produced the standout performance at the Royal Artillery point-to-point last Saturday when winning the Mixed Open race.
Other notable performances came from Satellite Receiver in the Maiden, a first point-to-point winner for Amber Jackson-Fennell aboard Fan Club Aulmes, and a double for jockey Josh Newman. The going was good and, although it was chilly, it remained dry to allow racegoers an enjoyable afternoon on Salisbury Plain.
Maitree Express, bred, owned and trained by Robert Waley-Cohen, was an impressive winner of a competitive Mixed Open race, sponsored by Ineos. Following up his win in a conditions contest at the last meeting when ridden by Sam Waley-Cohen, he was ridden on this occasion by Alice Stevens who gave the eight-year-old gelding a good ride to defeat the hard-pulling Envoye Special by a little over 10 lengths.
Commenting afterwards, Robert said, “This ground was much more to his liking than the sticky going he encountered at Barbury Castle in December,” and added that a hunter chase may be on the agenda as the Coronation Gold Cup in two weeks’ time might possibly come too soon. He explained that his son, Sam, was away in the West Indies celebrating a 40th birthday of a close friend, but that Alice proved to be a more than capable deputy.
Coco Live proved the lack of a previous run was no obstacle when winning the opening Hunt Members race for owners Stan Rawlins and trainer Harriet Waight. Setting off in front under Charlie Sprake, the 10-year-old made all to defeat Arcal Fifty by two lengths and both horse and rider seemed to enjoy a return to action. The pair may be seen again at the Combined Services meeting next month, but Harriet is scheduled to attend a hen party on that day so there will be some discussion on his participation between now and then.
Satellite Receiver was a facile winner of the Maiden for Will Biddick and trainer Chris Barber. The runner up over a shorter trip at the last meeting, Will adopted different tactics this time, sitting behind the leaders until taking it up three fences from home and drawing right away.
An expensive store horse, he ran three times in Irish point-to-points for Sean Doyle, placing third once. Still owned by his brother Eamonn, the horse was transferred to Chris to run in English points and then to sell on. A half-brother to Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere and the formerly 162-rated chaser Sub Lieutenant, he is described by Chris as ‘a proper horse’ and should have a future under Rules, with his next appearance scheduled to be at the Cheltenham Sales on Friday.
The Conditions race for novice riders’ race was expected to give Olive Nicholls, aboard Monsieur Gibraltar, another winner in her fledgling riding career. However, this was not to be her day, with Fan Club Aulmes and Footloose eventually fighting out the finish, with the former prevailing by three lengths.
Bought by Fran Nimmo as a store, he went into training with Dan Skelton but failed to fire and so was subsequently returned to Fran to run in point-to-points last season. The winner of a maiden and restricted in 2021, he runs for the Picnic Partnership - a group of owners who have paid a fixed price for the season and are guaranteed two horses to follow for the year. Ridden by Amber Jackson-Fennell, 20, this was her first point-to-point victory, although she has previously ridden a winner under Rules at Market Rasen for Richard Hobson. Amber joined Fran and Charlie Poste about three months ago and hopes to get other opportunities from the stable during the season.
The Conditions race for horses aged five years and over provided the first leg of Josh Newman’s double aboard the John and Floss Symes-owned Sixteen Letters. Placed second on numerous occasions over recent seasons this was a deserved victory, particularly bearing in mind the horse’s breathing issues. Examined by Ben Brain, he reported that the horse could not have a wind operation due to his throat being deformed, but despite that defect this was the 10-year-old’s fifth career victory.
Trained by Neil Mclean at Woolminstone, near Crewkerne, he was given a very positive ride by Josh and had three lengths in hand at the line from the favourite Dragon d’Estruval, ridden by Ben Bromley.
A front-running performance from Lagonda, ridden by Tommie O’Brien, was too good for her three rivals in the Restricted race. A runner up to The Big Sting at the last meeting, she made no mistake this time around to reward her owner Trea Newell, who explained that her home-bred mare had suffered a severe infection last year and, if it had not been for the care and treatment of the vets at Newmarket, she may not have made a full recovery.
A half-sister to Top Bandit, already the winner of four races himself for Gordon Elliott in 2021, Trea reported that she has three more of the family at home, the youngest being a yearling.
Josh secured his double when riding Maid of The Night, for former National Hunt jockey Mark Grant, based in Lambourn, to victory in the concluding two-mile bumper. Strongly fancied on her debut at Barbury Castle in December, she found the sharp turns not to her liking but put in a strong performance here to defeat Ballela Sunrise, ridden by Bradley Gibbs.
Bred by Mark’s mother, Liz, and owned by his wife, Eimear, Mark indicated the mare’s next appearance will be at the Cheltenham Sales on Friday. Related to the prolific Menorah, also bred by Liz, she is sure to attract plenty of interest in the ring.