It was a raw cold day at Larkhill where a reasonable crowd watched some competitive racing on going described by several riders as being on the quicker side of good. The feature race, the Coronation Gold Cup, was won in impressive fashion by Viroflay giving his rider Olive Nicholls her second winner on the day. The other highlights were a riding double for champion jockey James King and a first winner at Larkhill for leading novice rider Tom Hutsby.

The Coronation Gold Cup, the second of the season’s feature races, gave Viroflay his second success in the race following his victory in 2023 and a third place in last year’s race. Ridden as usual by his trainer Olive Nicholls he bounded into a lead and with some impressive leaps had his three rivals in trouble from some way out. Drawing further away approaching the last the partnership recorded a victory with a distance given as the winning margin. Watched by his owners Paul Nicholls and John Bolton Paul described the performance as ‘ awesome’ and added that ‘ I am really proud of Olive in the training of the horse ‘ who was having his seasonal debut. Olive explained that he had come back into work on 1st September and had done a lot of road work prior to his cantering and galloping prior to this race. The decision to leave off his hood which he wore last season was only made just before declarations as he appeared to be relaxed on arrival at the course. The delighted owners are now considering their options with the possibility of the Aintree Foxhunters on their radar.

Drop Him In defied the late challenges of Midnight Midge ridden by James Shaw and Premier D’Troice ridden by Jude Fernadez to register a length and a half victory for Tom Hutsby in the opening Novice Riders race. Bought out of the Olly Murphy yard in 2023 this was his second point to point win for owner Marcine Marshall from Fulready near Stratford on Avon and trained by Fred Hutsby. Runner up four times in his first season he has been mixing his training with regular hunting by Marcine’s granddaughter Jessica the latest being on Boxing Day. Fred described him as ‘ a proper stayer’ and was delighted for Marcine who has been a loyal supporter of his stable.

A competitive Restricted race was won in dominant fashion by Crawter ridden by James King and trained locally by Harriet Waight. Previously the winner of a Maiden at Larkhill in December and a good third at the last meeting the partnership came together after James had rung up for the ride on Monday having realized that usual pilot Josh Newman would not be available to connections. Part owner Stan Rawlins described the fifteen lengths victory as ‘fantastic’ and was delighted with the way he had quickened away from his useful rivals from the third last. The application of first time cheekpieces certainly kept him straighter and James reported that his jumping was very good.

The Ladies Conditions race saw the reappearance of the spritely seventeen year old Southfield Theatre ridden by his usual pilot Lily Bradstock and watched by his owner Angela Yeoman. As usual he set off in a prominent position and after two of his three rivals had departed by the eighth fence the chance of a win on his seasonal debut looked quite possible. However, Olive Nicholls had other ideas aboard Switch Hitter and by the time the two approached the fourteenth fence Olive was in command and maintained a ten lengths lead to the winning post. Owned by Paul Nicholls and Clive Hitchings he has taken time to find his form pointing but Paul advised that ‘ he loves this better ground’ and added that his trainer Sam Loxton ‘ has done an amazing job with him’. Olive was delighted with this victory and explained that they had dispensed with the red hood he wore on his last appearance and had run him in a ring bit.

Two in Tune started a warm favourite for the Maiden Conditions race after an excellent run at Milborne St Andrew in a Restricted race. Supporters had a few concerns as he was not keen to leave the paddock but once on the course he showed a lot of enthusiasm and was always prominent. Ridden for the first time by Charlie Sprake he looked in danger of being caught by Fongs Way ridden by James Shaw but stayed on well on the run in to prevail by a head. Owned by Paul and Cathy Watson and trained by their daughter Emma who keeps the horse at Les Jefford’s stable where she works. She added that he is for sale and appreciated the better ground at Larkhill.

James King completed his double in the Maiden race aboard City Silk owned by Phil Fry and trained by Chris Barber. Despite jumping left on a number of occasions he stayed on strongly to hold off the efforts of Master Nero ridden by Fred Phillipson-Stow. Bought by Phil at Doncaster as a 3 year old rather to the dismay of his daughter Lorraine who had not included the gelding on her selection of horses to inspect. Phil persevered with his choice and with this victory felt vindicated. There should be more to come from this Cityscape gelding as this season progresses.