Lass and Lester worth watching

No fewer than 17 mares have been given entries for Sunday’s TBA-sponsored point-to-point for fillies and mares at Barbury Castle in Wiltshire.

Executive Benefit, a nine-year-old daughter of Beneficial trained in Cheshire by Joe O’Shea, is clear on ratings, while dependable Posh Totty (Midnight Legend), a frequent performer in the TBA series, looks her biggest rival. French-bred Triggwrinkle (Le Triton), who was awarded a TBA race at Larkhill in December when Posh Totty was disqualified, the five-year-old Bells On Sunday (Black Sam Bellamy) who was third behind two smart sorts on debut, and Kazuri Kate (Exit To Nowhere), who won a TBA race last season, are among a number of other interesting candidates.

The same applies to Leighton Lass, a seven-year-old daughter of Shirocco, bred in Britain by Peter Ebdon and now in training in Shropshire with Phil Rowley. She won her maiden last season under Jane Williams, but will be ridden on Sunday by Lester Futter, whose father, Dave, runs Yorton Farm Stud, one of Britain’s leading jumps stallion stations. Futter Snr, who owns Leighton Lass in partnership with sporting gallery owner Glenn Rowles, says: “I was at a TBA awards dinner in Newmarket when I met Robin Sharp [who consigns horses as Hougton Bloodstock] and he said, ‘We’re selling a Shirocco mare tomorrow that might suit you’. She was a gorgeous model, out of a mare by Indian Danehill, who we once stood, and we bought her.

“On the day she arrived home Glenn was visiting for a barbecue, saw her and said, ‘I’ll buy half’. There’s often a lot of talk at a party, but he rang back the next day confirming his intention and so a deal was done. Lester had ridden in a few points and the plan was for him to ride the mare, but he broke his collarbone and missed out when she won last season. We think she’s alright, and might in time run under Rules.”

Sunday’s race is the third in a series of 12 TBA-sponsored point-to-points for fillies and mares.