RELENTLESS rain made for testing conditions at Larkhill Racing Club’s first meeting of the new year.

But, fortunately, the weather improved and racing went ahead, with the highlights being a notable victory for Impact Area in the Mens Open race, a double for the Jack Barber/Will Biddick combination and a first winner for owner Charles Horton, with Martin McIntyre riding the winner on his return back to point to pointing.

The opening race, the Club Conditions race, provided a comprehensive victory for Ask The Weatherman, ridden by Biddick and trained by Barber. Setting off in front, Biddick set a searching pace for his 16 rivals and, the further they went, the combination drew right away to win by a conservative looking 20 lengths.

Alskamatic, the star of Richard Bandey’s stable, adopted similar tactics under Claire Hart when making virtually all to win the AGA Ladies Open race.

The first division of the Maiden race provided a first winner as an owner for Horton. His six year old Wotzizname had the race in his control when his nearest chasing pursuer, Thereyarsee, ridden by Stan Sheppard, fell at the last fence, leaving him to win by a distance.

The second division of the Maiden brought up the double for Biddick and Barber when Overland Flyer, owned by Colm Donlon, won by eight lengths.

The Mens Open proved a triumph for the locally trained Impact Area ridden by Louis Muspratt.

The concluding race, the Restricted, was won in good style by Peeping Thom, ridden by Page Fuller. Part owned and trained by Craig Pilgrim from Shrivenham, near Swindon, the gelding saw off challenges from Bonzo’s Copse and Captain Probus to record his second win from only three races. Page, recording her first winner since August, excitedly said ‘he jumped very well and surprised me how well he was going when we reached the top of the hill; despite making a mistake at the second last he ran on so well for me’.

Royal Artillery at Larkhill is the next meet two weeks on Saturday (January 23). First race 11.30am.