Badbury Rings provided a wide spectrum of weather with a grey rather dismal wet start to proceedings but the sun surfaced by the time of feature race, the Wessex Narional, and racegoers were able to enjoy the remainder of the day in splendid early spring sunshine. On the course Will Biddick was the trainer to follow securing his first ever five winners on one day and in the process providing rider Ed Doggrell with a riding treble and Molly Armytage with her first ever winner. Two of Will’s winners were newcomers and it will be fascinating to see how these horses progress in their future careers.
The Wessex National Mens Open sponsored by Carron Bown Tree Care and Groundworks turned into a match of two classy individuals who were both ridden by jockeys riding their mounts for the first time. Famous Clermont had been left in a clear lead at the fourteenth fence and turning for home with four fences left Milo Herbert riding him for trainer Chris Barber must have thought that he had slipped the field and was going to record the gelding’s first win since Stratford last May. However, Josh Newman riding Macklin for owner John Studd had been biding his time and gradually made up ground and approaching the final fence drove his willing mount to the front and drew clear on the run in. Sadly, his owner was away in France and missed his triumphant return to action. Josh explained that although he knew about him ‘ I sat on him for the first time when Will brought him over to the Seaborough gallops and it was good to get a feel for him’ Although he is not very big he still retains his ability and another fruitful season is ahead.
Will had started the day when taking the Tattersalls Cheltenham GB Pointing Bonus race over two and a half miles with the unraced four year old gelding Six Two Three ridden by Ed Doggrell. His main rival Electric City ridden by Josh Newman chased him but the Passing Glance gelding had too much for him. Bought by Tom Malone for 50K at the Doncaster May 2025 sale he had been impressing his trainer at home with his work and attitude and said that ‘ I thought that it would take a very good horse to beat him and was very hopeful of a win’ Tom Malone missed the win as he is away on holiday in the Canary Islands but the plans are that he is for sale whether a private transaction or at the Cheltenham sales in March. His name recognizes the total number of winners ridden by Will in his long and brilliant riding career.
The biggest field of the day was the seventeen runners in the Countryside Alliance Club members race for Novice Riders sponsored by Spire Jaguar Land Rover. Bass Rock sent off the odds on favourite proved to be a comfortable winner for his young rider Lucas Murphy who was registering his third win on the gelding owned by his grandfather Raymond Anderson Green. Explaining his tactics Lucas said ‘ he enjoys passing horses so this field was ideal and I was able to hit the front at the last moment’ Previously trained in Scotland by Sandy Thomson he was welcomed in the winner’s enclosure by his owner paying his first ever visit to the Dorset course. Raymond who now lives in London was registering his 505th winner made up mostly of horses under Rules but pleased that his grandson has a good quality mount to further his promising start to this season.
There was a high turnout for Ladies Open sponsored by Savills with fifteen horses lining up. Towards the conclusion the race had turned into a duel between Illico de Cotte ridden by Molly Armytage and Walk of No Shame the mount of Holly Mitchell. Both of them were seeking their first career winner and approaching the second last there was little between them. However Walk of No Shame ran off the course and crashed through the wing leaving Illico de Cotte to come home unchallenged. Molly, 20, the daughter of Marcus Armytage the winner of the 1990 Grand National on Mr Frisk was delighted to record her first victory on her eighteenth ride and
was grateful to Will for the opportunity. Bought by Will at Doncaster for 9K having won a point to point in Ireland and a Hurdle and a Chase for Dan Skelton he is owned by Jeremy Hill who had already had a winner the day before with Drayton Flyer trained by Alan Hill. He jumped very cleanly for Molly and if kept to this type of race may run up a sequence for connections.
The Restricted race sponsored by Bryanston School was divided on the day with Division One producing the closest finish of the day with Jeu Gagnant ridden by Anna Johnston snatching victory on the winning post by a head from Protect The Future ridden by Charlie Marshall. Owned by a group of Ladies who are called ‘The Here Come The Girls Partnership’ he is trained by Leslie Jefford in Devon. Bought from France where he was placed over fences on faster ground Anna advised that ‘ we were not sure how he would react to this easier going as all of his previous races were on a very different surface’ Ridden very patiently by Anna he crept into the race and only appeared to have a chance approaching the final fence. With very low mileage he looks to have a bright future.
The Second Division produced a very emphatic winner in the form of Couer D’Alene owned by Paul and Sara Thorman trained by Chris Barber and ridden by James King. At Chaddesley Corbett he had looked to be in total command but unseated James at the second last but there was to be no repetition on this occasion with James keeping him very focused on his jumping for the final fences. He should progress on the evidence of this performance and is a good advert for his sire Idaho who is standing at stud at Wedmore on the Somerset Levels.
The Maiden race previously divided into three races was sponsored by the Weldmar Hospice and produced three good winners. The First Division went to the unraced Amroth Boy trained by Will Biddick for owner Chris Williams and was the middle leg of Ed Doggrell’s treble. A very striking six year old standing close to 18 hands he was bought by Chris as a four year old but due to his size his debut had been delayed. Chris, the father of National Hunt jockey Lorcan who won the Foxhunters for Will on Porlock Bay during Covid, lives in Amroth, Pembrokeshire and named his purchase after his home village. After his very easy win he is likely to be sold with a future under Rules beckoning.
The Second Division brought up the fifth winner on the day for Will, the riding treble for Ed Doggrell and the double for owner Jeremy Hill when Dollanstown beat the fast finishing Southgate Avenue ridden by Ed Vaughan and Prince In the Park ridden by James King. Bought by Will at Doncaster last May for 13K after being placed in Ireland he was runner up at Dunsmore on his English debut. Reflecting on his weekend treble Jeremy was thrilled with the successes and the sight of his company colours of grey and green in the winner’s enclosure. Based north of Cheltenham Jeremy has been a point to point enthusiast for many years but this is his first venture into ownership in his sole name. He added ‘ To run all of my three horses over one weekend was exciting but to have them all win was unbelievable’
The concluding race provided Josh Newman with the second leg of his riding double when he steered Docket Man to a cosy victory. Previously trained by Tom Lacey and Tom Malone he had been acquired after his last run at Chaddesley Corbett over two and a half miles with the thought of his current connections that ‘ he was crying out for a trip and would relish the full three miles ‘ and so it would prove. Running under the name of the Oaks Partnership which turned out to be Gary Dawkins of Hatch Beauchamp Somerset this was his first winner as an owner. Josh did a fantastic job of surviving a horrendous mistake at the twelfth fence which can be rewatched on a replay of the race and all credit to him for the recovery.
