This Saturday racing returns to Milborne St Andrew for the second time this season when the Wilton stage their meeting and 61 entries have been received. Tickets can be purchased in advance for £12.50 each until Friday on www.pointingwessex.co.uk or on the gate for £15 (under 16 free). Organisers are also holding a silent auction and this can be found on www.jumblebee.co.uk/wiltonpointtopointsilentauction
There are 10 entries for the PPORA Maiden race sponsored by The Ladies of the Wilton and the Josh Newman yard are looking for their 25th winner of the season with the ex-Joe Tizzard Sparkling Duke. He didn’t show a huge amount under Rules but it would be dangerous to dismiss anything from this yard and is a tentative selection. The Chris Barber trained Tennessee Orange makes his UK debut after two Irish starts and comes from a prolific winning family. Fran Poste has Blue Topaz here who ran a fair race on her second start at Larkhill. Sogna In Grande ran well for a long way before finishing second at Kingston Blount on debut while Lily Bradstock has Kalipso His who pulled up at Horseheath on pointing debut in January but could improve
Thirteen entries for the NFU Mutual (Salisbury & Wareham) Restricted race include Jewel in the Park who won on his debut here last time before getting beaten at Charlton Horethorne. This course may suit him better and he could resume winning ways here. Myfanwy is out of the prolific mare, Lady Myfanwy and won well on her second start at Cotley last April when she beat the re-opposing City Silk who was making his debut that day. City Silk broke his maiden last time at Larkhill but may struggle to turn around the form with Myfanwy especially if she is fully tuned up. Two in Tune has looked progressive this season with a good third here being followed by a win at Larkhill. He then went down by a head to Crawter which is strong form and he could go close as could Ultimate Survivor who won an Irish point before routing the field at Charing last time. Dorset Diamond won a maiden nicely at Badbury Rings last season but hasn’t progressed as well as expected. John Symes’ Impak St Georges easily opened his account at Larkhill in January and then showed good form when running a third to Crawter back at the same course. Two in Tune may be the option here with Myfanwy a viable alternate if fully wound up.
Nine entries have been received for the Woolley & Wallis Mixed Open including the admirable Dr Rhythm who opened his account for the season last time at his favoured Badbury Rings having finished 3rd here the time before when Jeremy Pass (who had won the Hunt race that day) possibly hadn’t enjoyed the softer ground at Badbury. Switch Hitter has a couple of entries for Olive Nicholls and he also comes here in good form having won his last two at Larkhill and Charlton Horethorne. Southfield Lily is another on a roll and is looking to complete a four-timer following two wins at Badbury and one at Charing. Viva Lavilla won a match at Larkhill but that may not be good enough while Humaniste was third in this last year. Doctor Foley won three times for Anthony Honeyball and should prove a good ride for his novice rider, James Charman. Dr Rhythm is taken to beat Switch Hitter.
In the New Barn Farm Stables Jockey Club Conditions Race for Grass Roots Riders, 8 are entered including the selection, Move With the Beat who returns to Chris Barber after an unsuccessful spell with Emma Lavelle. He won two in 2023 for Chris and following two runs back in this sphere should enjoy the drop back in grade. Powerstown Park has three good placed efforts this season including a second at Howick (Gallow Ford further away in third) while Ballinouart ran well to finish second here in a maiden and may enjoy the return to this course. Westhill could also run well to give his young rider a chance for her first winner.
The Green Plover Conditions Race also has 11 entries and they include others entered in earlier races. Of those not already mentioned, ones of interest are the selection Corporal Jackjones who gave Poppy Skipper her first winner as a trainer at Charlton Horethorne when taking the Restricted from Jewel in the Park. He had earlier finished a good second to the useful Crawter at Larkhill while Right Hand of God was a distant 3rd to Southfield Lily last time.
The finale is a Flat race sponsored by Whitsbury Stud and has 10 entries with few having racecourse experience. Of those to have run, the selection Will to Power finished a fair fourth at Larkhill in a similar race and is expected to improve for Josh Newman. Defying Gravity too was 4th on his only start at Larkhill in a flat race. Of those who are unraced several are well related none more so than Myfanwys Lillegrand who is a half-sister to Myfanwy entered here in the Restricted and out of the excellent Lady Myfanwy. More than A Mule, About Time Too, Peter de L’Orme and Poet’s Muse are also all from winning NH families while Jack Torrance is out of a Listed-class Flat mare but she preferred soft ground and he may need this introduction.
The first race at 12.30pm and there are plenty of trade stands, a bouncy castle, excellent refreshments and bar as well as the silent auction and of course well-behaved dogs on leads are most welcome. The course is situated off the A354 between Blandford and Dorchester.
