RACEGOERS battled through the mist and fog at Larkhill's entertaining point-to-point meet on Sunday.

Highly-acclaimed Ask the Weatherman took the Southern Counties Auctioneers Mens Open Race by storm under champion rider Will Biddick.

He was briefly challenged for the lead by Anquetta ridden by Sam Waley-Cohen after the 12th fence but galloped on remorselessly with his rivals trailing in his wake.

The Ablington Farm Ladies Open Race turned into a real battle between Aikideau, Dabinett Moon and Master Baker. Aikideau, ridden by Bryony Frost, mastered the mare Dabinett Moon at the last fence and then had to be kept up to his work as Master Baker ridden by Jo Buck mounted his challenge.

Shouted home by his four enthusiastic owners, Aikideau held on by a fast diminishing half a length at the line.

The Woolley and Wallis Restricted race was run in the worst visibility with 18 runners setting off in thick fog. At the eighth fence, Creative Inerta fell and brought down five of his rivals.

V Neck, ridden by Will Biddick who was at the rear of the field and managed to avoid the melee, appeared in front when the field came back into view and held off the attentions of Queen’s Law to win by a length.

The opening race, the Larkhill Racing Club Members' Conditions Race, was another dramatic contest with four of the 12 strong field having departed by the eighth fence including the two representatives from Jack Barber’s stable. It was a former inmate of the Barber yard, Subtle Sovereign, ridden by Martin McIntyre, who ran out a game winner.

Sally Alner’s double started when the former French-trained Apple’s Queen made a promising English debut when winning the Open Maiden race under a polished ride from 17-year-old Lorcan Williams.

And Alner, who is recovering from a broken leg suffered on Boxing Day, had her day brightened with the success in the Novice Riders race from Thereyarsee, again ridden by Williams, who celebrated his first double.