19 January 2010 Preview: Royal Artillery - Larkhill
by Brian & Gill Armstrong
TURTHEN: may make his 2010 debut here
photo: Alex Harris
Spectators can anticipate a cracking day's racing at the Royal Artillery meeting at Larkhill this Saturday, 23rd January. The Ladies and Mens Open races take centre stage, but 163 horses are entered for the seven races (first race 11.00am), so the whole card commands attention.
The Ladies Open has attracted 27 entries including Turthen, winner of five of his six outings last season and runner-up in Cheltenham's Christie's Foxhunter. Last year's winner Zabenz and Gold Medallist - high-class on the Flat for David Elsworth and over obstacles for Philip Hobbs - have claims, along with Coronation Cup winner Distant Thunder and his stable companion Back Is Back, a promising runner-up at Chaddesley Corbett in December. Ex-chaser Theatre Diva, and prolific winners Barneys Mate, Brown Cockle and Coombe Hill will attract support. The up-and-coming Mendip Farmers mare Sericina and Bampa Basterfield's Skyhawk, who is unbeaten in three outings for Dick Baimbridge and Claire Allen, look the dangers, but Turthen is a confident selection.
The impressive 27-strong entry for the Mens Open includes Gaelsbob and Distant Thunder, who fought out the finish of last season's contest. The four to choose from are Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate Final winner Drybrook Bedouin, the formerly top-class Mister Banjo - who has been restricted to just two winning Point-to-Point outings in the last three seasons - Robert Waley-Cohen's Chaddesley winner Roulez Cool and Jack Barber's Thisthatandtother. Roulez Cool will be fancied to achieve the Christie's Foxhunter qualification, but former Cheltenham Festival winner Thisthatandtother is suited by the Larkhill course and gets the vote.
The Intermediate promises to be another high-class affair. Candidates include Labarynth, winner of three of her four races to date, William Somers, and Front Page, who have both won Point-to-Points this season. Cousin John and The Jolly Miller have chances, but William Somers and course winner Remember Bampi are the two suggestions.
There are 35 entries for the three-mile Maiden. Aussie Bay, who was favourite when falling at the first in the season's opener at Black Forest Lodge, may make amends. Dovecote Wood, a son of Champion Hurdler Flakey Dove, and Vintage Class are two to consider, but Richard Barber has a strong hand with Cappoquin, That'll Do and Why Not Silver, and his selected runner looks the one. The 2½ mile Maiden has attracted 34 entries. Allerford Jack, Bobby On The Beat, Dovecote Wood and Earth Beat may be four to consider.
Godfrey Maundrell holds the key to the Hunt Members race and his choice from Lisadell King and Woodford winner Maglinn River will be the obvious market leader. The meeting also stages the unique King's Troop RHA Club Members race. Rockport and Blackadder fought out last year's finish and will be popular choices.
The course is found just NW of Amesbury on Salisbury Plain, easily reached off the A303 or A345. First race 11.00am. Admission is £15 per car + driver; £5 each additional adult; under 14s free, £5 pedestrians.
