If you've never tried your hand at race-riding, tomorrow is your chance to do this in the safety of a training area, as former professional rider Ryan Tongue teaches the rudiments of race riding on a mechanical horse at the Avon Vale Races at Larkhill. Ryan, who formerly worked for Ollie Greenall, is now plying his trade as a pundit and commentator, but rode successfully for several years, and is a tireless fundraiser for the Injured Jockeys Fund alongside David Crosse, forme

Race Committee representative Bob Fear and Senior Steward Mark Elgar walked the course at Larkhill this afternoon and pronounced themselves very satisfied with ground conditions. "The going is Good to Soft, soft in places, and has taken the snow then rain very well," reported Bob. "There's many a track would be very envious of the ground conditions at Larkhill for the Avon Vale Races." The weather forecast reports further rain over the next few days but nothing that Larkhill'

Wadworths, scion of Wiltshire brands with a family of internationally recognized beers to its name, is to lend its name to a new award at this Saturday's Avon Vale Races. The brand has been involved for over 30 years in the event from a time when the Bartholemew family were heavily involved in the running of the Avon Vale Hunt. The new award will celebrate excellence during the day in the form of an Outstanding Performance Award for the owner, keeper or rider adjudged to have

The Avon Vale hold their meeting at Larkhill on Easter Saturday and with good going currently forecast there should be some very competitive racing amongst the seven race card, writes Bob Bracher. In addition to the racing there will be a lot of Easter activities including an Easter Egg Hunt for under 16s at 12 noon, a Fun Dog Show from 12.30pm and an equicizor on site with tutoring from a professional rider. There will be a race (the Veteran and Novice race) to celebrate the

As meeting after meeting falls prey to this wet winter, Alex Bell is aiming Ni Sin Mo Ainm at Easter Saturday's Avon Vale Races and the Goodman Nash Mixed Open, the feature race on the seven race programme. The 10 year old has launched Alex on to the Point-to-Point scene with 4 wins to date at Open level. "He's the perfect Novice ride,"says Alex. "I bought him out of Neil Mulholland's yard, and I've now been racing him three seasons. He's won four Opens, including most recent

Kayley Woollacott is targeting the James McNeile Trophy for Veteran & Novice Riders at the Avon Vale Races meeting on Easter Saturday with Minella Half Century. It’s a tale of two tragedies that could yet have a bitter-sweet chapter still to come. James McNeile, enthusiastic amateur rider from Bromham in Wiltshire, who took up race-riding in his fifties, had enjoyed success with horses trained by Richard and Kayley Woollacott, and purchased Minella Half Century in Spring 2016