THE renewal of the feature race, the Coronation Gold Cup, produced success for the Barlow family as Brackloon High defended the title won in 2017 at the Combined Services meeting at Larkhill.

Brackloon High defied his 13 years to defeat much younger rivals in the blue riband race and to become the first horse to win this most prestigious race two years running since Dawn Street 30 years ago.

Tracking the leaders Mon Parrain and favourite Full Trottle he went to the front approaching the last but had to fight off late competition.

High was a popular winner and was the highlight of an excellent day’s racing where the weather remained dry and a good crowd attended the Wiltshire course where the going was on the soft side of good.

Adrenalin Flight provided Matthew Fielding with his first ever winner when winning the Conditions Race for Novice Riders as he bided his time at the rear of the 10-strong field and had five lengths in hand at the winning post.

Ed Henderson rode It Has to Be to win the Restricted race, as a previous winner this season at Wadebridge this was the horse’s first visit to Larkhill but he was a comfortable winner by six lengths.

Alternatif provided Gordon Treacy with his first ever point-to-point winner although he has won two races under Rules.

He joined Jade Barber’s stable during the summer but has recently become a part-time work rider to give him other opportunities to ride for other stables and hopes that his novice status will be used this season.

The Maiden race run over two-and-a-half miles was an all the way success for Cool Valley, ridden by Sam Davies-Thomas.

Trained by Liz Harris at Waltham on the Wolds in Leicestershire and owned by Catherine Wood-Collins, who missed her first ever winner as an owner, the nine-year-old gelding had not been seen since May 2016 so this was a tremendous training show.

Interconnected provided owners Tom Lacey and Neil Griffith with a smooth victory in the concluding Open Maiden race ridden by Tommie O’Brien.

The four year old took advantage of his weight concession to draw clear of his main pursuers Loodeen and Country Legend on the run-in and showed an impressive turn of foot and is most likely to be going to the sales at Cheltenham during the Festival.

Prior to the point-to-point racing the traditional King’s Troop race was won by Gunner Laura Moon riding Lagertha.