AVON VALE
LARKHILL
Saturday 29TH MARCH 2008

PREVIEW
by Brian and Gill Armstrong

Spectators can look forward to a cracking day’s racing at the Avon Vale meeting at Larkhill this Saturday, 29 th March. The Mixed Open takes centre stage, but with 159 entries for the seven races (first race 1:30 pm), the whole card demands attention. The meeting again features the historic Pegasus Club Members race, while the Avon Vale Hounds will parade after the Hunt race.

The Mixed Open has a quality 21-strong entry, including course specialists Trade Off and Machrihanish, first and second last year. Three other candidates are Larkhill regular Big Brendan, Badbury winner Hambaphambili, and Slaezy, an all-the-way winner at Ston Easton on Saturday. The three suggestions are Ask Again, who was withdrawn at the start at Wincanton on Thursday, the Camilla Scott-trained Dare Too Dream, and Man From Highworth, tremendous winner of the Coronation Cup and not disgraced in the Cheltenham Foxhunter. Ground conditions may dictate. On fast ground, Man From Highworth may outspeed his rivals, but Ask Again may outstay his rivals if conditions are more testing.

The Intermediate has a tremendous look, with several potential stars in the 18 entries. New Forest winners Braeroy and El Troubadour, the unlucky Drybrook Bedouin and Cothelstone winner So Long are contenders. Kiama annihilated her 18-runner Restricted field at Kingston St Mary and may extend her sequence.

There is a nine-strong entry for the first race, the Hunt Members'. Sarah Waugh has chances with previous winner Keltic Lord, Light Des Mulottes and Spud One, but Pat Bryant’s selected runner (from Kings Bitter and Midnight Queen) looks the likely winner.

The Maiden has been left undivided with 45 entries. Four suggestions are Dr Flight, who finished strongly here over 2½ miles a fortnight ago, Parham runner-up Mountain Of Dreams, More The Merrier – second in his three outings to date – and Shaver Baines.

The Restricted has attracted 34 entries, so could be difficult. Pendoun, Barbury winner Cousin John, and Duke Of Miskin, who made a winning debut at the New Forest, are three possibles.

Jean’s Joy could be another winner for Polly Gundry and Ed Walker in the Mares Maiden, while Sunday Lunch may be the one for the Pegasus Club Members.

The course is found just NW of Amesbury on Salisbury Plain, easily reached off the A303 or A345. First race: 1:30pm. Admission charges are £20 per car and all occupants; £15 car and driver only.