Work to be done but hopes rising point-to-point racing at Larkhill will be saved

There is renewed hope that point-to-point racing will be saved at Larkhill but clerk of the course Roly Rickcord stressed there was still a long way to go before the track's future is secure.

The course is on Salisbury Plain, on land leased from the Ministry of Defence (MOD), and its galloping nature and fine drainage have earned it a reputation as the best in the country, with See More Business and Energumene among the stars to have raced there.

Its future was in doubt after 75 years as the lease was set to expire but it was reported last weekend that defence secretary Ben Wallace had "directed officials to renew the lease with immediate effect".

"Obviously it's good news and we're very grateful," said Rickcord. "We've been working on this for three years and it's been an intense last six months.

"We're absolutely thrilled. But we haven't yet started the lease negotiations. That is the next big step in the process. It's very good news but we have to negotiate that.

"We're certainly moving in the right direction, there's still a long way to go but at least the door has been opened and we'll push ahead and get the lease sorted out as quickly as possible."

Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Energumene made a successful debut at Larkhill in 2018Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Reflecting on the threat of closure, Rickcord said: "It would be a tragedy because the track is wide and galloping and in terms of the going it's pretty much as good as you can get for a point-to-point course.

"It's been there for 75 years, it's never been ploughed and it's downland soil on a chalk base so the ground is extraordinary in the way it can absorb wet weather, heavy rain over long periods of time, and still be good going, which I tend to post almost routinely."

Rickcord acknowledges that the MOD has first priority and said: "We're conscious that we're very fortunate to be on military land. It's a complex relationship but one that's worked smoothly for 75 years. We're using it on a Sunday, when nothing is generally happening."

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