Saturday 16^th February - Emma Forman

The Brocklesby races took place as planned on Saturday with a good crowd enjoying the mild weather and thrilling racing action. Extra precautions were adopted in line with BHA regulations meaning that only horses vaccinated against equine flu in the last 6 months were able to take part which led to some smaller fields than is usual at this popular meeting. Nevertheless 37 runners contested the 7 races on ground officially described as “good”.

Somethingwonderful and Tom Strawson were able to complete a hat trick of wins in the opening Brocklesby Members race sponsored by Brigg Office Supplies. Owned by Tom’s father and Brocklesby master, Paul, the 11 year old who won this race in 2016 and 2017, finished runner up last year but was able to regain the number one spot once more. “He has been carrying Dad at 14stones 5lbs all season so 12stone 10lbs was a featherweight today!” laughed a delighted Tom Strawson, alluding to the fact the horse was giving his two rivals 10lbs. Alamgiyr and Samantha Klug were 2 and a half lengths away in second place.

The Nunns Mitsubishi PPORA Club Members Conditions race resulted in a close finish with Philip Rowley’s classy 6 year old Salvatore beating Distime by a length. “They left me alone in front and he was looking about a bit. “ Commented winning rider Alex Edwards. “He loved this good ground, I imagine he will eventually go to the Intermediate Final Hunter Chase at Cheltenham.” He added. The second horse Distime ridden by novice rider George Chatterton could now run in the £1000 PPORA Novice Riders Final at Edgcote in May.

The feature Mixed Open race sponsored by Baillie Haylage was won in impressive style by Christine Bank’s Arthur’s Secret; the official winning margin of 18 lengths could easily have been extended.  This race was a qualifier for the Hunter Chase finals at Cheltenham and Stratford. “It’s great to have him back to his best. He will go on any ground except extremes and is more of a Stratford horse than a Cheltenham horse.” Said Abigail Banks the delighted winning rider. Ballinahow Bill finished second with Better Days in third and the winning time of 6minutes 10 seconds was by far the quickest of the day.

The Connolly’s Red Mills Intermediate race was won by Pass The Glass, a lightly raced 7 year old trained in Warwickshire by Tom Ellis. Royal Chant and John Dawson looked the likely winners as they went clear approaching the last but Pass The Glass battled back. “He hung a bit and would prefer more cut in the ground.” Said the winning rider Gina Andrews. Max O and Philip Armson finished in third place.

Gina Andrews finished second on favourite Teeton Turnip for Mark and Pat Barthorpe in the next race the Clarke Weightman Restricted race. This was won by Robin Tate’s grey mare Absainte ridden by Will Easterby who went on to record a treble at the Sinnington meeting on Sunday.

Racing concluded with two maiden races; the first was a Mare’s race sponsored by HMT St Hugh’s Hospital and the Jockey Club; this went the way of the five year old African Belle. The final Open Maiden sponsored by DDM Agriculture went to the favourite King Of The Clothe completing a double for Gina Andrews.

The next racing in the Midlands Area is the Cottesmore at Garthorpe next Sunday 24^th February.