Barber set to be a cut above (From Dorset Echo)

Barber set to be a cut above

8:50am Thursday 3rd January 2013 in Sport By Echo Reporter

RICHARD Barber has his usual strong team of pointers at Seaborough near Beaminster, including recent Barbury Castle winner Glass’n A Half and Barneys Mate, who could not add to his prolific win tally at the same meeting.

Cheltenham Foxhunter runner-up Chapoturgeon will again go hunter chasing, while Ray Geddes’ According To John and Mustangsal-lyrally will begin in point-to-points.

The stable has its customary intake of younger horses and the market at early meetings is sure to highlight ones to follow.

An interesting recruit is Woolcombe Folly, winner of nine races under Rules (all within an 11-race sequence) and an obvious candidate for two to two-and-a-half-mile hunter chases.

Lucia Borradaile will campaign Newton Abbot hunter chase winner Turko, who was fifth in the Chelten-ham Foxhunter but refused to race at the PPORC, and Classic Swain from her Stoke Abbot near Beaminster home.

The pair will race in ladies’ or mixed opens before hunter chasing.

Robert and Nicky Atkinson have three horses at Cattistock near Dorchester.

Russian Rain and Spring Lord are joined by Regal Spider, a six-year-old by Pasternak. Martin and Catherine Atkinson will share the rides.

Graham Foot has three unraced horses at Askerswell near Bridport. Stable star Johnny’s Way misses 2013, so Graham will be represented by half-brothers Askers Judge and Askers Lad plus John and Greer Norman’s Banmarie.

Kington Magna, near Gillingham permit holder Cathy Hamilton has three pointers for the new season.

Sir Bathwick is scheduled to reappear, while Gunship makes a welcome return to pointing after a successful three-season stint under Rules.

The yard is completed by the ex-Donald McCain-trained seven-year-old Realignment, who finished in the frame seven times under Rules. Cathy’s daughter Emma will partner the bulk of the runners.

Rilly Goschen returns to the training ranks at Nyland near Gilling-ham to race Extra Bold, who has won three handicap chases under Rules, and looks forward to again partnering Comanche Chief and Tenawa – winner of the 2012 National Novice Mare Award – for Belchalwell owner-trainer Jane Wilkinson.

Motcombe, near Shaftesbury trainer Pat Bryant launched his Larks Point-to-Point Racing Club when Bobs Present contested Black Forest Lodge’s 2m-4f maiden in December.

Ballinah, who was sixth in an Irish maiden, and five-time chase winner River Indus will also represent the Club, while Mrs Fir, who has been placed in three of her four points, is another to look out for.

Bradford Peverell, near Dor-chester handler Peter Shaw has five possibles for the new season.

Shaw welcomes back Pimbury, Classic Clover and Buckle End. Newcomers are Busy Isit, who won for Peter’s wife, Fiona, under Rules, and My Space, who has run in three bumpers.

Mary Tory has six pointers at Thornicombe near Blandford. She has retained Miss Midnight, four-race winner Crank Hill, who will again be partnered by Tim Hampton, and Battle Bridge, the winner of three races last season for Chloe Swaffield.

Newcomers include Cantabilly, the winner of six races under Rules for the Ron Hodges stable.

Harriet Besent is preparing her June 2012 Ascot purchase Deimne at the family at Melcombe Bingham, near Dorchester and plans to make her riding debut aboard the mare in Larkhill’s Royal Artillery hunt race in January.

Monica and Norman Tory will race stable stalwart Gunner Be Quick and Carriglea Wood, a winner over fences for Richard Woollacott at Uttoxeter in the summer.

Okeford Fitzpaine trainer Sally Alner will race a small string of pointers headed by dual 2011/12 winner Master Medic, and Wincanton hunter chase winner Jayne’s Crusader, who won a second consecutive Dick and Sue Woodhouse Memorial Hunter Chase in March 2012.

Michael Miller has Vintage Class, who was in the frame in three of his five outings last season, in his Hazelbury Bryan yard again this season.

Newcomers include an unnamed four-year-old mare out of the prolific Miss O’Grady and Token Bay, who is owned by Michael’s brother, Andrew.

Richenda Ford has five pointers for her parents, Kevin and Marina Snook, at her stables at Okeford Fitzpaine near Blandford.

Trebudannon winner Roisini Bay returns after missing 2012, along with Steel Gold and Abayaan, who have both previously been campaigned under Rules. A three-year-old mare out of the Snooks’ prolific Coolers Quest, and 2009 Trebudannon winner Somerby complete the yard.