Pointing the way

The campaign made its earliest-ever start in November last year at Black Forest Lodge near Exeter, and 24 meetings are scheduled in Wessex, culminating in the Larkhill Racing Club fixture on Sunday, May 30.

The Wessex Area is among the strongest in the country and the Devon & Somerset Staghounds-qualified Fully Loaded has already grabbed the national headlines by becoming the first horse to win three races in a season before New Year’s Day.

Richard Barber has a strong team of pointers at Seaborough near Beaminster, including prolific winners Barneys Mate, Brown Cockle, Spuddler’s Dream and Thisthatand-tother.

Remember Bampi and Pezreuil can build on last year’s promise, while Aintree Foxhunter hero Trust Fund and Ofarel D’Airy should make their mark in hunter chases once again.

The stable has its usual intake of younger horses and Cappoquin, Oscargo and That’ll Do may be three to note at this early stage.

Nick Williams and Ryan Mahon will partner the majority of the stable’s runners, with Jack Barber aboard Thisthatandtother and former useful handicapper Le Duc.

Marilyn Burrough will race four horses from her Broadwindsor base, near Beaminster. Littlewind-sor winner Carroll’s O’Tully will contest ladies’ races, while Good Outlook returns after one placed outing last season.

Ascot purchases Denise’s Dip – runner-up in two 2008 hurdles – and Wetherby Selling Hurdle winner Isaac Newton complete the line-up.

Robert Atkinson has four horses at home at Cattistock near Dorch-ester.

Coral Cay may be aimed at hunter chases, while Spring Lord, the first progeny of the Atkinson family’s fine racemare Avril Showers, ret-urns after missing 2009. Two home-bred five-year-olds join the team.

Charlie Fox will again race Turthen from his Askerswell yard near Bridport.

Turthen won five of his six outings last season, and finished runner-up in the Christies’ Foxhunter at Cheltenham, which will again be his main target.

Neighbour Graham Foot will campaign three horses. Johnny’s Way, unplaced in a Fontwell bumper in June, joins Ryders Storm and stable stalwart Askers Jack, who deserves to win a race in his final season of racing.

Charlotte Tizzard will ready several of last season’s winners from her Milborne Port stables near Sherborne, including Coombe Hill, who took his winning sequence to four and should again be a force in Ladies’ Opens.

Stafford Cross winner Wynbrook, dual Badbury winner Woodbridge Quest and Emile Zola, denied a hat-trick by an Upcott Cross penultimate fence fall, return.

Three interesting recruits to the yard are 2008 Ottery St Mary winner Kings Bitter, Shannon Springs, owned by former Larkhill clerk of the course Peter Wright, and former chaser Bring Me Sunshine, who will appear later in the season.

Nyland Stables near Gillingham welcomes back several 2009 winners, including Barney Blue, who was caught close home at Wadebridge in December, and Bernard Pike’s consistent Who Else Knew, a popular winner of the Dick and Sue Woodhouse Memorial Hunter Chase at Wincanton in March.

Silver Monarch, who took his Badbury Rings tally to four, Larkhill winners Double Pops and Mr Slipper, Beadnell Bay, who took his score into double figures, and Hazel Goody’s dual winner Aill Na Serracht also return.

Kington Magna near Gillingham trainer Cathy Hamilton, who has made a fine start as a permit holder with two winners from her first three runners, may run the ex-Richard Phillips-trained Tremolo in points.

Bradford Peverell handler Peter Shaw will race Drybrook Bedouin, winner of the prestigious Connolly’s Red Mills Intermediate Final, in one point-to-point followed by a hunter chase campaign.

Mary Tory has four pointers for the new season at Thornicombe, near Blandford. She has retained Charisworth and Hope Street, while stable stalwart Tory Blue returns after missing 2009.

John and Greer Norman’s Miss Midnight, winner of a Wincanton hurdle in November 2009, joins the yard.

Bush Park has retired, but Monica and Norman Tory will race Gunner Be Quick, who completed a hat-trick for trainer Sheila Crow last season, from their Winterbourne White-church yard.

Gunner Be Quick is a thorough stayer and has every chance of giving Rupert Tory yet another win in the South Dorset hunt race.

Michelle Taylor will race Yes My Lord, bought privately after winning one of his five races for Camilla Scott last season, from her base at Witchampton near Wimborne.

Taylor’s grand campaigner Golden Jack may also return to attempt a record-equalling eighth Badbury Rings win in the Wilton hunt race.

Louise Alner has six horses at her yard at Droop near Hazelbury Bryan. Stable stalwart Trade Off took his tally to 15, including seven Larkhill points and three hunter chases, last season.

Alner also welcomes back Mrs O’Connell, who was in the frame in her four outings, and Burrator. Vintage Class, who showed promise in his eight Irish runs under Rules for Arthur Moore, is an interesting newcomer.

Michael Miller has four horses for the new season in his Woolland yard.

Black Forest Lodge winner The Jolly Miller and Little Choice are joined by How Are You Going, who was third in a Lingfield hurdle for Rodney Farrant, and a four-year-old filly, the first foal of top-class racemare Mrs O’Grady. Michael’s father, Richard, will again race Bobbys Choice and Sweet Nap – both were runners-up twice last season – from his home at Came Park near Dorchester.

Richenda Ford (nee Snook) has half-a-dozen horses in training at her stables at Okeford Fitzpaine near Blandford.

Catch You Later misses 2010, but Ford has retained Trebudannon winner Somerby. Stable stalwarts Tyneham and Coolers Quest may appear later in the season.

Newcomers include Ascot purchase Tork To Me and Demure Princess, placed in three Flat races for Sherborne trainer Bill Turner.

Piddletrenthide-based John Boulter will race Massimo, who was unbeaten in four outings including the Connolly’s Red Mills Interme-diate Final in 2008, but missed 2009.

Massimo is likely to reappear in a January point-to-point before hunter chasing.

n For a free colour leaflet detailing all the meetings in the Wessex area, send an SAE to Gill Armstrong, Pantiles, Penselwood, Wincanton, Somerset BA9 8NF.