The final point-to-point of the Midlands Area season took place at Dingley racecourse, just outside Market Harborough in Leicestershire, on Saturday 13th May and produced doubles for jockey Jack Andrews and trainer Tom Ellis. Dale Peters trains and rides Thunderstruck, who made it two wins from the last three outings as he won the first […]
Meynell & South Staffs at Garthorpe - Preview
The final meeting of the Midlands Point-to-point season is in the evening of Wednesday 1st June to coincide with the start of the long Platinum Jubilee weekend.
Tickets are available on the gate on the evening, or you can save a couple of quid by buying them online in advance from our website at midlandspointing.com/shop. Under 16s are admitted free.
Please feel free to bring your dog but remember we are guests at the racecourse so please clear up after them and keep them on a lead at all times.
The evening starts with four pony races, each of which are championships, the culmination of a series of qualifying races around the country, and a big moment for these young jockeys. We are very grateful to Treehouse Sporting Colours, the makers of the bright racing colours worn by the jockeys, for sponsoring these races and providing some fabulous prizes.
The first horse race begins at 5.30pm. This is an Owner/Trainer Conditions race, a reminder that point-to-point racing used to be almost entirely contested by people who trained their own horses. Tim Garton has two entered from his base in Cheshire. Both have multiple winners this season and both have multiple entries on this race card so we will have to wait and see which races they declare for. Frankie Rapper is another to watch, a hurdler under rules now coming down to race between the flags.
Nine horses are entered for the PPORA Club Members Conditions race which is next, at 6pm. Southfield Theatre is the stand-out entry here, with six wins and a second place on their record. Another with very good form is Spencer Moon, on which James King will try to extend his slender lead at the top of the National Championship standings for Luke Price. The Garton's have Roevin Star here, with three wins this season at Club Members level. Joanne Priest's Chu Chu Percy and Michael Dawson's His Excellency are also ones to watch.
The next race is an Intermediate race where horses will not have won more than two races in point-to-point racing to date. Local horse Beauvallon Bay is entered here, fresh from victory at the last meeting at Garthorpe, but this is a step up in class and competition. Ballydonagh Boy ran well here in the Novice Riders ten days ago but the one to beat could well be Captain Mc, ridden by James King for Luke Price.
The feature race of the evening is the Mixed Open which is up next. These will be the most accomplished horses on display this evening , with many wins at this level between them. Visitors to our last meeting ten days ago will be familiar with BadBad Leroy Brown who was easing away to win the Open race easily when he made a mistake at the last fence and fell. They will certainly be out to make up for that mistake. Both Highway One O One and Jack Dillinger have won at Open level on their last outings, while For Rita has a string of seconds and may be due a win. Kilbrew Boy and Myth Buster are both very capable opposition too, so this will be an interesting contest.
The Novice Riders race which is next has seen some impressive performances during the course of this season by jockeys who started this season with fewer than five wins. Ballydonagh Boy also has an entry here so may choose this race to avenge a second place finish last time out but Captain Buck's is the obvious market leader, with wins at this and Open level this season.
The Maiden race which closes the evening is for horses who are yet to win a race over fences. These are well contested competitions and often produce fast times compared to other races. Doctor Tom would be a very popular winner, both owner and trainer are very local to Garthorpe and John Chatfield-Roberts and Luke Price are head-to-head in the race for the Tattersalls Leading Owner Championship. Rosies Redemption makes her racecourse debut, as does the wonderfully name Wontbefurlong.
We look forward to seeing you on what promises to be a very entertaining evening.
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