South Wold Point- to- Point Report – Saturday 11th March – Revesby Park by Emma Forman, photos by Lisa Dales - www.lisadales.co.uk

HURRICANE VIC (Tom Strawson) - photo by Lisa Dales - www.lisadales.co.uk

Crowds flocked to the new track put down by the South Wold when the opening meeting took place on Saturday. Owner Milson Robinson, who rode at the old course at Revesby that closed in 1977, made history by sending out the first winner on the new course when Hurricane Vic landed the opening Maiden race sponsored by Glyn Trundle, Farrier. The six runners that set out hunted round until turning to the third fence from home when the race was on in earnest. At the line it was Hurricane Vic that beat the Gerald Bailey trained The Glover by just a neck with Misola Bird in third place. “We have made history by winning here, it is a fantastic track!” Said the excited winning owner Milson Robinson who has had a number of narrow defeats with his Doncaster Sales purchase Hurricane Vic who is now a seven year old. This was a fourth winner of the season for jockey Tom Strawson.

Dr Paul Walpole and Andy Walpole owners of The Glover, and strawberry producers from near Kings Lynn, Norfolk, only had to wait until the Witham Oil Intermediate race to make amends. Here I Wonder Why, ridden like The Glover by Tom McClorey, recorded an easy victory beating Dynamo Frankie by eight lengths. “He absolutely loved it in front.” Said McClorey referring to the way the ten year old had dominated proceedings. I Wonder Why was purchased by Gerald Bailey having won 3 Point-to-Points in Ireland. The first two horses qualified for the Connolly’s Red Mills Intermediate Hunter Chase Final at Cheltenham in May.

TALLOW FAIR (Sam Lee) - photo by Lisa Dales - www.lisadales.co.uk

Bailey had earlier saddled Smiths Hill in the Gleadell Agriculture Midlands Area Club Members race for novice riders. After a false start, Smiths Hill made much of the running giving Joanna Hewitt a great spin on her third race ride to finish four lengths second to Tallow Fair. Owned and trained by Lucy Horner, a former champion amateur under rules, Tallow Fair was a late jockey booking for Sam Lee. “Sam has given him a great ride; the horse has been team chasing but I bought him back.” Said a delighted Lucy after the 12 year old put in a fantastic round of jumping. The riders of the first 3 horses past the post scored points in the Harley Racing Novice Riders’ Championship and the first 3 horses home qualified for the £1000 Dodson & Horrell PPORA Novice Riders’ series final at Garthorpe in May.

Point-to-Point-march-2017-500"="" title="REVESBY-RACES-POINT-TO-POINT-MARCH-2017-500"> FRUIT FAYRE (P. Gerety) - photo by Lisa Dales - www.lisadales.co.uk

The feature Open race sponsored by D & M Barthorpe turned into a match between Fruit Fayre and Curragh Hall. The prolific winning mare, Fruit Fayre had made the journey from Sheila Crow’s Shropshire stable to record her nineteenth point- to- point victory. She has also won a Hunter Chase and is owned by Robin Lewis. Rider Paddy Gerety is a sales representative for Connolly’s Red Mills. “The mare is only 15.1hh but she is really game and means a lot to Mr Lewis. I imagine one day she will go to stud but there are more races to be won with her before that.” He said. Fruit Fayre has qualified for the Timico Mixed Open Final Hunter Chase at Cheltenham in May and the Skinners Ladies Open Final Hunter Chase at Stratford in June.

Another mare was in the winner’s enclosure following the Spilsby NFU Restricted race when Johnny Weatherby’s Kayf Tara seven year old Chipmunk beat Teeton Kato and Tom McClorey into second place. “Kelly Morgan who trains the mare has done a fantastic job.” Said the delighted winning owner. Ridden by Dale Peters, Chipmunk has qualified for the Subaru Restricted Hunter Chase Final at Stratford in June.

CHIPMUNK (Dale Peters) - photo by Lisa Dales - www.lisadales.co.uk

The final race, the PPORA Club Members race sponsored by Maltings Off Road Ltd went to Creepy with the best turned out horse Somethingwonderful into second place. The winner was trained and ridden by Claire Hardwick. “Hopefully this will be a confidence boost for the horse who is normally ridden by my cousin, Charlie Dee, in novice riders’ race; he has been third twice.” She said. The nine year old Westerner gelding was formerly trained under rules by Martin Keighley before losing his way but seems to be back in form now.

CREEPY (Claire Hardwick) - photo by Lisa Dales - www.lisadales.co.uk

The next point- to- point in the Midlands area is the Belvoir at Garthorpe on Saturday 25th March.