THE Wilton point-to-point is the first of the two weekend Wessex meetings to be held today at Milborne St Andrew.

The meeting has attracted a good entry of 90 horses for the six scheduled races and an exciting day’s racing is in prospect for spectators.

In addition to the point-to-point races there will be a Shetland pony Dash at noon in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund and a charity flat race at 12.30pm in aid of Julia’s House Children’s Hospice.

The first race at 1.30pm the Open Maiden race run over two-and-a-half miles looks an ideal opportunity for Ticket to Ride to get off the mark. Trained and part owned by Ed Walker the gelding was a promising second on his debut at Great Trethew and the winner of that race Little Billy Boy has franked the form by running a good race at Charlton Horethorne.

The Restricted race has attracted the biggest entry of the day of 18 horses. Ballyknock Cloud will be fancied to supplement at the course in February for the Jack Barber/Will Biddick team.

Barber has also entered King Calvin who won over two-and-a-half at Larkhill.

The Club Members race for eight-year-old and upwards looks an open contest. Ed Walker has two entries namely Doyen Dynamo and The Flying Doc and both have already run well this season.

Little Cornham missed his annual outing in the Hunt race at the Quantock last weekend but he comes into the reckoning on his last outing at Badbury when he was hampered and unseated on the bend before the fourth last.

The Mixed Open race looks a very competitive race with Rose Loxton holding a strong hand with her two entries of Join Together and Monsieur Gibraltar, the last named who is unbeaten in his two outings this season.

The Club Members race for novice and veteran riders does feature a number of horses which hold entries in the previous race.

Both of Rose Loxton’s pair and Sally Alner’s Apple’s Queen are entered and the winner may come from whichever of these Lorcan Williams rides. Allerton also holds an entry for this race and would come into the reckoning. The running of Impact Area owned by Harriet Waight will be watched with interest as if this classy horse runs to his best then he should be too good.

The final race, the Open Maiden for six-year-olds and upwards may provide Clenagh Castle with an opening to register his first victory.

First race is at 1.30pm. Entry costs £10 per person with under-16s free.