The South Dorset meeting at Milborne St Andrew is considered by many to be the jewel in the crown of Wessex meetings and with the sun shining, a large crowd gathered to watch 89 horses perform across the chalk downland. There were first time wins for riders Molly Griffiths and Sam Scott, doubles for Jake Bament and Will Biddick and a couple of pointing hotpots turned over at odds on. With so many declared runners, races were divided and it resulted in a 10 race card with both maidens split as well as the final Conditions race.
Who doesn’t like A Nice Malbec when it’s on offer and certainly the Griffiths family will be the biggest fans after their horse was pushed six lengths clear of Ianthus Mome in Division 1 of the older maiden by daughter Molly, who was recording her first winner on only her third ride. Left in the lead early on when favourite Free the Lion unseated, Molly who works for the BHA Safeguarding team, was determined to make amends for her own unseat at Chaddesley Corbett the time before. It was also a first time winner for trainer Amie Treacy now husband Gordon has taken out a full licence from their Rathkenny Stud. A relieved owner Sarah Griffiths explained, “Both Roddy and I rode as amateurs and we wanted to find a horse for Molly to have a bit of fun on. Gordon found A Nice Malbec in Ireland for us from Dusty Sheehy and this is his second run for us.”
The second division of the older maiden went to upcoming young rider Rian Corcoran on the family owned Up Killoughey. Rian rides this course particularly well having taken an Open on their other horse Itacare last season and dropped his mount to the rear before cruising past the field to take up the running sooner that he would have liked. A mere 12 lengths between him and his nearest pursuer, Rian explained “He was a little too settled going out for the final circuit so I gave him a slap and he took off!” Owned by Mike Tozer, neighbour to the Corcoran family, Up Killoughey was bought privately from Sam Curling by Liam who felt he was a big horse who had just needed time. As a result there were no immediate plans for him and he wouldn’t be over-raced this season.
Jake Bament kicked off the day’s proceedings with an upset in the first as he flew up the hill on Bulletofexpression to pass favourite Far Out West who had looked a certain winner rounding the bottom bend. With several runners caught out by the dead drying ground, it had the opposite effect as Jake gave his horse a slap over the last and he picked up with immediate effect to win by 2 lengths. Trained by Stuart Sampson, Bulletofexpression is owned by Alison Harris and her daughter Vicki. Initially purchased with great friend Martin Tucker, he had sadly passed away recently and so this was the first time running in Alison’s colours. Jake’s second winner King of Palma came in the Restricted after he managed to collar long-time leader Posh Dude on the run-in to record a narrow victory. Owned by Carol Lawrence and trained by her daughter Megan, King of Palma isn’t the biggest and was bought by connections three weeks after he had run at Bratton Down.
Two runs ago, Jeremy Pass contested the infamous Pardubice so it was a fair drop in class to run in the Hunt Members here. With course winner and favourite the classy Paloma Blue returning after an absence and looking in need of the run, jockey Charlie Marshall seized the initiative and drove his mount clear for a seven length success over a fading favourite. Running in the Valentine colours of Joy Slater, trainer Hannah Clarke explained the connection came about after Charlie had won the Maryland Hunt Cup and this was the first time the horse had run for them having been trained by Joe Davies previously when Charlie had ridden him at Exeter. A wind operation had clearly benefitted the horse who would now hopefully be targeted at the Cheltenham Festival Hunter Chase.
The two Open races featured odds-on favourites but both were over-turned. In the Ladies Open Moytier was allowed to dominate and under reigning Lady Novice Champion, Anna Johnston this proved decisive. Olive Nicholls on favourite Macklin engaged the turbo button with two to jump but the winner had flown leaving punters with burnt fingers. Moytier had won a handicap chase at Wincanton last February for trainer and part-owner Syd Hosie. Now with Annie Bacon, he was unlucky to unseat Anna on his first start for her at Larkhill and Willem Van Der Horst the other part-owner of Moytier, felt he could run next at Charlton Horethorne. The second upset occurred in the Men’s Open when Sam Scott recorded his first winner on his parents Take All, trained by Myles Osborne. Unfancied when staying on well to take second in a hunter chase at Taunton last month, Take All was well-placed in third under Sam for much of the race before collaring a tiring favourite Famous Clermont up the stiff Milborne finish. Sam’s parents Terry and Martine Scott bought the horse from Shark Hanlon for whom he had won three times and decided to send him to Myles to train as he is local to them. Twenty year old Sam has been with Ben Pauling for 2 years and would like to turn professional eventually.
Current Champion jockey James King and trainer Chris Barber teamed up when Jewel in the Park took the second division of the young horse maiden for enthusiastic owners, the Always Broke Partnership put together by Lucy Doggrell, mother of jockey Ed who would have ridden the winner had he not been stood down for a recent concussion. Described by his trainer as “a very, VERY nice horse,” he looks like he will have plenty of improvement in him and is one to keep an eye one. The syndicates name comes from the family’s Brokewood Farm but Lucy did admit that if you own horses “you are always broke anyway!”
Former Champion jockey Will Biddick left it until late to ride a winner and then bagged the last two after the Conditions Race was divided. Knockmoylan had been retired, was set to be retrained and sold on as a hunter but he had other ideas and so his previous owners were asked if they’d like him to be put back into training. Now with Harry Ryall, he won easily by 10 lengths from favourite Alaphillipe. This was a good training performance as the horse had been absent for over two years and he could be one to follow in this form. The second division produced a tight finish when Punches Cross and Scoresby fought it out with the former prevailing. Despite a Stewards enquiry, the game 12yo kept the race for loyal owners, Mike and Heather Sweetland and trainer Danielle Kenealy.