THE first signs of spring were in evidence at a dry but cloudy Badbury Rings when the Countryside Alliance (Wessex) celebrated their 10th anniversary with skylarks singing above the Rings, reports Bob Bracher.

The course was in excellent condition, with the ground described by many riders as the best they had ridden all season.

Jack Barber trained two winners and Claire Hitch had a bitter-sweet success when Im All Set won the Wessex National Mens Open, the Wessex feature race.

Rob David had a memorable day in the saddle and Vicky Wade had a thrilling success in the final race.

The Club Members' Conditions race opened proceedings and the race developed into a duel between Little Cornham, ridden by Lee Drowne, and The Flying Doc, ridden by Will Biddick, over the last two fences.

Little Cornham, relishing the better ground, just prevailed by a head to give his connections his eighth career point-to-point victory.

The Wessex National Mens Open had an early dramatic incident when both Ohio Gold, ridden by Martin McIntyre, and the favourite Ghizao, (Will Biddick), took off too early at the second fence and paid the penalty by falling.

This left Divine Intavention, (Mark Wall), to attempt to make all and at one stage looked likely to succeed.

However, Sean Houlihan aboard Im All Set closed down the leader, took it up between the last two fences and drew away to win by five lengths at the line.

The Novice Riders will be a race that Rob David, 21, will remember for the rest of his riding career.

Riding the game mare Posh Totty for his boss, Jack Barber, he declined the early pace and did not start to make up ground until after the 15th fence.

The mare was always travelling well and had six lengths in hand at the line from Swallowshide ridden by Ben Hicks.

This was Rob’s first ride for Jack, whom he joined in 2015, and on this evidence more look sure to follow.

The Ladies Open was the second leg of the double for trainer Jack Barber when Benedictus, confidently ridden by Bryony Frost, stayed on well to beat Trueflyingcolours (Heidi Lewis) by two lengths.

Still last jumping the final ditch Bryony smoothly produced her mount to lead at the last in fine style.

The biggest field of the day, 17 runners, contested the Restricted race and this proved to be a duel between Winter Soldier (John Mathias) and Doyen Dynamo (Will Biddick) with the former winning by four lengths.

Owned by Ces Mitford-Slade and Lucy Johnson, the Apple Tree gelding is certainly a progressive sort with connections contemplating a Hunter Chase campaign later in the season.

The Maiden was divided on the day and Ben Clarke and his partner Harriet Brown came within inches of winning both divisions. Ben rode Minella Selfie to win the first division by 25 lengths but the result might have been different if Rouge Devils had not fallen at the second last when disputing the lead. 

 

The second division featured a tremendous race between Guerrilla Tactics (Vicky Wade) and Road To Success (trained by Ben Clarke) ridden by Liam Trott. Guerrilla Tactics had been jumping superbly in front most of the way and just prevailed by a short head at the finish.