Avon Vale review A grey and somewhat chilly Easter Saturday at Larkhill was enlivened by some good quality racing when the Avon Vale held their meeting in which friends and family celebrated the life of James McNeile who lost his life after a fall at this meeting twelve months ago. The inaugural race in his memory was won by Railway Storm ridden by Ryan Withey whereas the other highlights were riding doubles for Will Biddick and Tommie O’Brien and training doubles for Ed Walker and Sophie Lacey. Sarazen Bridge ridden by Nick Phillips made all of the running to land the opening race, the Confined race, with the winning distance of four lengths from Carrig Dubh ridden by Charlie Dando. Owned by Alice Dolman and trained by Elizabeth Brown he was supplementing his victory at the Royal Artillery meeting in January. Nick admitted that he had left his challenge at the Combined Services meeting too late so this time made no mistake by setting off in front and remaining there at the finish. Alice revealed that the horse will be staying point-to-pointing as he has a non- racing agreement in his passport and is looking forward to running him in higher grade races. Owner Tom Lacey introduced a smart four year old by Getaway called Muse of Fire who was a narrow winner of the two and a half mile Maiden race beating the only other finisher Hugos Horse by three quarters of a length. Tom reported that the horse did not enjoy the soft ground and his cause was not helped by a loose horse galloping across him on a couple of occasions and crossing him again on the run in. Paying credit to his jockey Tommie O’Brien who he described as ‘doing a great job on him’ who in turn said that his mount was’ rather green but toughed it out at the end of the race’. Punter Friendly was a very narrow winner of the Conditions race under Will Biddick who just got the better of the only other finisher Crackacan ridden by Tom Doggrell. Ridden by Will for the first time he was not helped by mistakes at two of the last four fences but Will’s strength in a finish was a decisive factor. Owned by Richard and Sylvia Francome and trained by Ed Walker Sylvia affectionately described her horse as ‘an old bat who dislikes hunting who usually is a brilliant jumper ‘but is normally ridden by Josh Newman who was riding at Buckfastleigh. Will secured his double in the next race, the Mixed Open race, aboard Different Gravey also trained by Ed Walker. The race was developing into a duel between Different Gravey and Thereyarsee ridden by Lorcan Williams when the last named blundered badly at the third last giving Lorcan no chance of remaining in the saddle. This allowed Will to coast home to secure a twelve length victory over Asockastar. Owned by Richard Kelvin-Hughes he reported that the gelding had lost his confidence under Rules and also was suffering from ulcers and his trainer Nicky Henderson had suggested that a change of scenery might recapture his former good form. He has hunted on a regular basis by Polly Walker and he seems to have greatly benefited from this. Tom Lacey secured his second victory as an owner when his King Roland was an impressive winner in the Open Maiden race. Drawing clear from the second last he had fifteen lengths in hand from runner up Imogens Thunder and newcomer Foxworthy and rider Tommie O’Brien had some difficulty in pulling up his mount and had to travel some three furlongs after the winning post before bringing him to a halt. Tom described his win as ‘ an exceptional performance’ and ‘ a debut as good as I have seen in 10 years of having pointers’ and he is a big horse for a four year old and still has more growing up to do. He may be going to the forthcoming Aintree sale and if so will attract a great deal of interest. The Conditions race for Veteran and Novice Riders sponsored by the James McNeile Fan Club provided a surprise winner when the outsider of the four runners Railway Storm ridden by Ryan Withey proved to be too good for his rivals. Leading from the ninth fence he stayed on well to beat nearest rival Minellahalfcentury owned by James McNeile’s estate by twelve lengths. Owned by Christopher White from Sparkford the gelding had been acquired from Jimmy Frost who had won a steeplechase at Exeter under Bryony Frost in 2016. Reminiscing about his own riding career he said with a smile that’ I had over 100 rides but only had a single winner called Knigh Lover a long time ago’ Kit Barry was a cosy winner of the Intermediate race when collaring leader V Neck at the last fence and drawing away on the run-in to record a five length victory. Owned and trained by David Dando and ridden by his son Charlie he has been gradually improving and was recording his third win in a row. Charlie explained that he needs to be held up for as long as possible and the partnership are unbeaten this season after two starts.

Due to the rain this afternoon, we are now calling the going Soft, Good to Soft in Places.

🐎🐎🐎🐎Despite rumours to the contrary THE AVON VALE HUNT MEETING AT LARKHILL IS DEFINITELY ON FOR TOMORROW🐎🐎🐎🐎

Friday 30th March 1.00pm. No change in the going report of Wednesday. Going is still Good to Soft, Soft in Places.

The Area Inspector and Senior Steward have just walked the course and are calling the going Good to Soft, Soft in Places.

Avon Vale preview The Avon Vale hold their meeting at Larkhill on Easter Saturday and with good going currently forecast there should be some very competitive racing amongst the seven race card. In addition to the racing there will be a lot of Easter activities including an Easter Egg Hunt for under 16s at 12 noon, a Fun Dog Show from 12.30pm and an equicizor on site with tutoring from a professional rider. There will be a race (the Veteran and Novice race) to celebrate the life and sporting endeavour of James McNeile who tragically lost his life at this meeting last year and 50 members of the recently formed Fan Club will be in attendance. There will be an exit collection and a donation made by the Hunt for the Injured Jockeys Fund. The first race, the Confined, has attracted fourteen entries with previous course winner Sarazen Bridge likely to be one of the fancied horses. Other course specialists include Hincheslea Moor, Sidbury Hill and Impact Area and their chances should be respected. Carrig Dubh won an Intermediate at Didmarton for Charlie Dando and is clearly improving. Punter Friendly won his Hunt race at the same meeting and may be the one to chase Sarazen Bridge home. Billy Two Tongues won two chases for Jeremy Scott and will be partnered by Luca Morgan following his purchase. The Open Maiden over two and half miles features a number of horses yet to make their racecourse debuts. The Sophie Lacey trained pair of King Roland and Muse of Fire should be watched with interest as well as the Ed Walker trained pair of Foxworthy and My Dixie both owned by Richard Kelvin-Hughes. Gypsy Charm another 4 year old from Ian Chanin’s yard should be noted and of those that have raced Hugos Horse and Sixteen Letters have the best form. The Sophie Lacey selected representative may come out best. The Conditions race for horses aged 9 and over which has been sponsored by Johnnie Boden who knew James McNeile well, has received an entry of 22 horses with a number entered in the Confined race also holding an entry in this race. Broadway Symphony was a good winner at Ampton in January and should have chances as well as Colbert Station who finished fourth at Ystradowen last Saturday. Crackacan was only seen once last season when finishing second at Kingston St Mary but clearly retains some ability. Bellenos won two chases for Dan Skelton but has not been seen since October 2015. If Punter Friendly swerves the Confined race then he might the answer to a tricky looking race. The Mixed Open race sponsored by the Westons of Goodman Nash has a quality looking field of 15 entries with Broken Eagle and The Wealerdealer the standout horses. Broken Eagle the winner of 13 of his 16 point-to-point races has a choice of four races over the holiday period so The Wealerdealer might be a more likely runner. Different Gravey won on his point-to-point debut at Didmarton and Ni Sin E Mo Ainm won the Ladies race at Chaddesley Corbett on his seasonal debut. Thereyarsee did not enjoy going left handed at Charlton Horethorne and returns to his favourite course at Larkhill. Hard Station the winner of two Hunter Chases in Ireland and Woodfleet are both trained by Richard Bandey and his preferred runner comes into the mix. The Wealerdealer is slightly preferred over Ni Sin E Mo Ainm. The Open Maiden race also contains entries for the Sophie Lacey pair as well as Hattie Hopkinson from the same yard who finished second at the Brocklesby meeting. Of the others that have raced Loodeen was second at Larkhill earlier in the season before falling at Charlton Horethorne and Hugos Horse fell in that same race. River Wye had form from last season but has not been out yet in 2018. If Hattie Hopkinson is the selected Lacey representative then she will be the choice. The Veterans and Novice Riders race with a brand new trophy to commemorate James McNeile’s life has received 15 entries with Woodfleet the classy entry. The winner of the Intermediate Final at Cheltenham last year he has been taking on much better company and this might be an opportunity to give him some confidence back. Potential rivals include Adrenalin Flight who gave Matthew Fielding his first winner, The Caller narrowly beaten at Bangor-on-Dee by Barel of Laughs and Minellahalfcentury who is the last horse still owned by the estate of James McNeile. Woodfleet is selected for this race. The meeting concludes with an intriguing Intermediate race which may see a clash between the unbeaten Silent Warrior, the impressive Charlton Horethorne winner Swincombe Toby, the equally easy winner Blackwater Bramble who won at Milborne but disappointed at Charlton Horethorne and the fragile but talented V Neck. Richard Bandey has two entries Fortune Bound and Irish Legionnaire but they may not be good to halt the upward progress of Swincombe Toby who is narrowly preferred. Larkhill Racecourse is to be found 5m NW of Amesbury, Nr A303, A345 and A360 – Postcode SP4 8QT. Gates open 10.30am. First race 1.00 pm Entry Costs £10 per person, children go free. Early Bird admission prices cease at 6pm on Friday evening – www.avonvaleraces.com

Since I posted the update yesterday, it would appear that the threat of snow has been lifted. None of my forecasts have it now. Good news, fed up with the stuff this year!!

CoC doing one of the video going calls!!! Good going.

Oh dear - do hope not!!

Very cold up at the course today. A lot of snow down. We definitely could not have raced. Otherwise all ok up there. Another cold night ahead with blowing snow added.