The ever-popular Beaufort point to point at Didmarton takes place this Saturday (March 1st) with a scheduled off-time for the first race of 1pm and the six race card has amassed a gvery healthy 90 entries, writes Andrew Kin.

 

At the time of writing, the underfoot conditions are officially described as "good to soft" by clerk of the course Jamie Tuck and he said: "There are a few showers forecast for the middle of the week and that should help maintain the current going description

 

"After that the forecasters predict it will remain mainly dry with a few sunny periods so, as long as the experts have got it right, I expect the going will be good all over come the weekend."

 

The Mixed Open takes centre stage and the contest appears a grand opportunity for Macklin to regain the winning thread following his eye-catching return to action at Milborne St Andrew where he eventually finished runner-up.

 

On that occasion he appeared to be too far off the pace at a critical stage and eventually did well to get within 12 lengths of the enterprisingly ridden Moytier, who gained first run and scored unchallenged.

 

Trainer/rider Will Biddick will be back in the saddle on Saturday - he gets on exceptionally well with the nine-year-old and the combination should be up to taking the feature.

 

Biddick said: "Hopefully he has come on for the run at Milborne St Andrew and the plan with him is to have one more run pointing before looking to find an opportunity hunter chasing next month somewhere

 

"He is not the easiest horse to train as he has had leg problems in the past but if we can keep him sound the longer term target will be to to end up going for a race at Cheltenham's hunter chase meeting in May."

 

The likely dangers to Macklin look to be IK Brunel, who has finished runner-up on his two starts this term along with Drakes Well, whose jumping can sometimes let him down, but with a clear round he enters the equation.

Crocodile Lounge went into many notebooks last season as a potentially smart pointer but he has yet to show that sparkle in a couple of tries this Winter. However his turn may well be imminent as he journeys back to the scene of his last victory,

 

A year ago Bradley Gibbs's charge comfortably landed the Restricted on this card and connections will be hoping he can repeat the dose in the same race this time around.

 

Ground conditions should be in the six-year-old's favour as he prefers a sounder surface than the mud he has encountered in his previous two starts  and he can see off the likes of Quickcharge and Perryville.

 

The Conditions race has a very open competitive look with a host of horses having realistic chances if they put their best foot forward with Count Simon, veteran Paloma Blue and Alaphilippe coming into the reckoning.

 

Count Simon handles the Didmarton undulations nicely as he won at the circuit two years ago while connections of Paloma Blue may wait 24 hours as he holds a tempting engagement at Larkhill.

 

Alaphilippe set his rivals a merry dance at Milborne St Andrew last time and the ploy almost paid dividends as only Knockmoylan proved good enough to see him off. He should make his presence felt again.

 

Western Cowboy holds two entries on the card and if taking his place in the line-up for the Grass Roots Riders Conditions contest he is definitely one to keep on the right side.

 

Owned and ridden by Will Badlan, the nine-year-old signed off last term finishing second in consecutive races but he should hold too many guns for his rivals in this contest if straight enough for his seasonal return.

 

As always the Maiden race which concludes the action on the track is a bit of a minefield and the betting market can sometimes provide some much needed clues.

 

The two against the field on paper appear to be Celtic Harmony and Joe Hill's Back On Track. The first named would have gone close at Larkhill last time but for being brought down while the latter can only improve for for his fourth in a good Chaddesley Corbett maiden.

 

The Hunt Members race traditionally opens the card and Write It Down is on a recovery mission as he would have played a hand in the finish of the contest 12 months ago but for dumping his rider three out. Connections will be hoping for better fortune in this renewal.