by Emma Forman

Revesby Races at Revesby Park – Sunday 19^th January 2020

The annual South Wold Point-to-Point races at Revesby Park kickstart the season in the Midlands Area on Sunday. 67 entries have been taken for the 7 race card which is gets underway at 11am. Gates open at 10am and admission is £10 per person (under 16s are free, YPC members £8).

A new layout is in place. The course is now left handed, with the start and finish in front of the crowd and 18 fences to jump. A plan of the course can be viewed on www.midlandspointing.com as well as the opportunity to buy e-tickets in advance of the meeting. Revesby Park is a superb setting for a family day out, there will be a good range of trade stands including refreshments as well as laser shooting and a dog show alongside the racing. A £25 cash prize kindly donated by Mr. and Mrs S Alcock will go to the groom of the best turned out horse, this will be judged by Martin Leach. Each winning owner will receive a DVD of the race produced by David Jones Media.

The opening Pedersen Contracting Ltd PPORA Club Members Conditions race has attracted 7 entries. Big Georgie could be the pick here and likely to take this option rather than the later Men’s Open race. He has a 5lbs penalty to carry, but has in his favour form on soft going. Newsworthy on the other hand has no penalty to carry and his rider / trainer Dale Peters was on the score board at Sheriff Hutton last week. Teeton Turnip, the mount of Jack Andrews, would be a popular visitor to the winner’s enclosure for Mark and Pat Barthorpe who do so much to help in the organization of the meeting.

13 entries have been taken for the Melvyn Leach Memorial Open Maiden race sponsored by Ian Watson. Jack Andrews could hold the ace cards here; he has the choice of the Stuart Morris runners, Minella Wizard and Orpen Wells; both have finished in second place and must be winners waiting to happen.

Skinners are sponsoring the Ladies Open race, where a maximum of 9 horses will line up. Late Night Pass could be the pick here; he is only 7 and still on the upgrade, he is top rated and will be ridden by leading rider Gina Andrews. Braavos is trained locally by Mike Dawson at Grainthorpe and is worth noted on his pointing debut. Others for the shortlist are Ange des Malbeaux and Mercers Court who have both been placed already this season.

The Men’s Open is kindly sponsored by Asher Swimming Pools and 8 entries have been made. Incholm will be ridden by George Chatterton, the leading Midlands area novice rider of last season. This 10-year-old was beaten just 3 lengths by Dellercheckout at Barbury Castle in December; this form stands up: Dellacheckout has subsequently won at Sheriff Hutton. Others to consider are Thyne For Gold who reverts to the amateur sphere and Waterloo Warrior who may make the journey from Jake Slatter’s Cotswold stables.

9 entries have been taken for the Spilsby NFU (Philip Odling) Restricted race. Martin and Jane Wanless, who are keen supporters of Revesby races, may bring Aclassagold from their Warwickshire base to make his pointing debut. Buzzkillbob was runner up at Alnwick in December and may be able to go one better.

Buzzkillbob has the option of lining up in the following race instead. There are 12 entries here for the Jockey Club and Retraining of Racehorses Veteran Horse Conditions race. Distime could go well for the Chatterton family; he has to carry a penalty but soft going won’t be a problem and he stays well. Others for the shortlist are Vedettariat and Lotus Pond.

The final race on the card is a 2 miles Point-to-Point flat race for 4 and 5 year olds sponsored by Crossley Thompson Wealth Management. It will be interesting to watch these young horses, who could be stars of the future, making their racecourse debuts. In terms of having a bet, it may be best to watch where the market support is going. However, the stable of Francesca Nimmo and Charlie Poste have the 5-year-old One Punch entered; they are well known for introducing young horses to racing before selling them on. Another to note is Tom Ellis’ entry Annie Flower; she is by Shirocco, the sire of prolific winning race mare Annie Power.