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 […]
Fitzwilliam at Dingley 13th May - Preview

2pm Race 1 - PPORA Conditions Race kindly sponsored by Boiler Juice.
13 entered in the first race of the day. Championship chasing Jack Andrews has the choice of 3,
whichever he rides will have a big chance.
Minella Wizard ran well when second at the Easter meeting here, possibly the race came too
soon after his win at Brafield, Thunderstruck filled the same position here at the Easter meeting,
but what seems to be holding him back is his jumping if he puts it all together would be a threat
to all. The others are all pretty well exposed but any of them on their day are well upto running
well.
2.35pm Race 2 - The Restricted Race in Memory of Jamie Close kindly sponsored by Beryl
Close, Georgina Bentley and James Close.
Good number of entries for the restricted which have been struggling for entries most of the
season so it’s good to see. On paper looks a very competitive race, Champagne Glory looked
like a horse to follow in his first race at Garthorpe this season but surprisingly is still a restricted
horse which didn’t look likely with his great run there, who knows maybe this is the race he
finally gets out of the grade, Best Friend Barnaby however looks like a promising pointer and
with the underfoot conditions looking like being on the soft side could take all the beating,
Maskadam, Secret Scripture, Marton Abbey, Get Bye have shown good form and could also get
involved. Chibichou Duboutio was second on 2m4 here in April and won over that distance at
Mollington. If she stays she could run a big race too.
3.10 Race 3 - Mens Open kindly sponsored by Stacks Property Search.
Some old favourites here, Muckamore was a decent handicapper under rules for Nigel Twiston
Davies and him and Harry Arkwright are starting to form a partnership if they stay together they
could take all the beating, Jack Andrews rides Koyote for the first time and if she runs in this
over the ladies she would be an interesting runner. The Unmentionable early season form would
make him the horse to beat but hasn’t run up to that his last few runs so remains to be seen
which one turns up if the early season one turns up he’s a big player.
Red Maple ran well when second at Kempton in a Hunterchase over 2m4 on good ground so
this will be a different test but he could be upto it.
3.45 Race 4 - Ladies open kindly sponsored by The Sharp Family in memory of Cliff Sharp
Looks a very competitive race on paper without a stand out candidate, so hopefully most of
them turn up and it could be a good race, Southfield Theatre has been a real warrior for the
Bradstock family and must be a real favourite and still shows his love for the game at the grand
age of 15 and while maybe not the force of old I’m sure if he turns up here he will put on a good
show again, Solomon Grey ran another big race at the Cheltenham Hunter Chase evening so
would be a surprise if he turned out quickly but if he does would have a great chance, No
Hassle Hoff has formed a great partnership with Kate Gowing and have ran some good races
this season and I’m sure will run another big race again, and whatever beats him will probably win, Koyote could run here also and could have a chance of getting her first success in open
level. quite a few of the others have 2 ways of running but if turn up in good form are more than
capable of being competitive.
4.20 Race 5 - 3 Mile Maiden kindly sponsored by Will & Georgie in memory of Fred Roughton
15 entered here, Hugh de Lacy has had 3 runs in Irish points and was a promising 3rd in his
second run but didn’t back that up when pulled up next time but having his first run for the
Rowley team he would appear to have a leading chance, there’s a few in here that have started
their careers in Irish maidens then made there way over here, Dunworley has ran 2 time since
making the switch coming 2nd both times but does probably need to improve to be getting his
head in front, Vango Vick has ran twice for Nigel Padfield coming respectable 4th and 2nd so
could have a live chance too. The once raced Saynothingtonoone ran a nice race when 3rd at
Askham Bryan and was not knocked about when his chance was gone so if improves for that
outing would appear to have a big chance too.
4.55 Race 6 - 2m4 maiden kindly sponsored by Polyco Healthline
19 entered here with 7 of them unraced so a lot of unknown qualities here, but with some top
stables represented there could be a nice one or 2 amongst them,
Most of the rest of them have only ran a hand full of times each so they can also still be
improving, Horizon D’ainay had a decent level of form under rules and ran a nice race between
the flags here 2 weeks ago when coming 2nd if he comes forward for that run would have a big
chance, she won’t mind ran a race full of promise at Garthorpe on her first run over fences
having come 5th in her bumper at Brafield in March and if jumping with a bit more fluency could
take the necessary step forward to go close. Nothinelsematters was running a big race first time
out when himself and a well touted newcomer from the Ellis stable where pulling clear of the
field at Charm Park before tipping up at the second last when still in with a shout although he
ran here 2 weeks ago and didn’t back that run up but if back to his first run would again have a
strong chance.
For this race in particular I think being around the paddock pre race could be the vital clue.
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