Fair Wind gallops to victory at Larkhill races (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Fair Wind gallops to victory at Larkhill races

A TOTAL of 73 horses contested the seven races at the United Services point-to-point at blustery Larkhill on Saturday.

The highlights were the success of Fair Wind and Rilly Goschen in the feature Coronation Gold Cup, first presented by HM The Queen at Larkhill racecourse in February 1953.

Fair Wind made virtually all the running in his tenth win for delighted owner Rachel Bartlett.

Local connections had a good day, beginning with the opening United Services Members' race which was won by Act In Time and Tim Edwards, who also made most of the running.

This was a first-time win for Painswick trainer and former Cotswold Hunt joint master Harriet Houghton, from whom Tim leases the winner.

Harriet is stepmother and near-neighbour of National Hunt trainer Tom George.

The Restricted race was divided into two with Division 1 going to Lord Beau who provided a first point-to-point winner for Tom O'Brien, nephew of the legendary Aiden.

Division 2 saw another local triumph when Lady Baronette and Ian Howe had a comfortable win over Smart Cavalier and Spiers Peace.

This was a second career win for farm manager Ian who bought the horse from Witney College in Oxfordshire. She is trained at Duns Tew, near Chipping Norton, by Ian's mother Liz.

Collompton trainer Ollie Bush took both divisions of the Open Maiden. My Little Lady and daughter Amanda Bush won Division 1 and Division 2, providing a win for Polly Gundry, who is hard on the heels of Rilly Goschen for the ladies' title, on Lady Wurzel.

Next Larkhill meeting - the Staff College and RMAS Drag-hounds on Sunday, March 6 - stages the first of the Wessex Area Pony Races.

Entries close at 10am on February 28. Either telephone 01258 837153 or visit www.pointingwessex.co.uk