The penultimate race meeting of the Midlands area Point-to-Point season is hosted by the Meynell and South Staffs at Garthorpe on Saturday 2nd June, with the first race starting at 2.00pm.
Since the last meeting at Garthorpe all the fences have been moved to fresh ground on the inside of the track. All bends and the racing line all are on fresh ground too. The downhill fence, fence 8 , has been moved to be at the end of the back straight.
The course had 19mm rain on Saturday night and the course will be watered if necessary to provide safe jumping ground. The going was reported as Good to Firm at 2.00pm on May 28th.
As usual at this course there are seven races on the card, beginning with the PPORA Club Members Conditions race at 2pm. 19 horses are entered for this opener, with a number of in-form horses among them. Francesca Nimmo has Derksen down for this one, as well as the Novice Riders race which is third on the card, so the jockey might ride Rendezvous Peak here instead. Dersken has won its last three races and will be a contender in either race. Presenting Beara has won on their last two outings, but is also down for the Novice Riders race. Alan Hill brings Velvet Cognac who was second last time but won the time before that. Lots of other horses in this field are well-rated so declarations for this and other races will give us a better idea on the day.
The Intermediate race is second to go and this has 14 horses entered. Max O is ridden by Philip Armson, one of the area's most in-form jockeys, and is one of three horses to have won their last two races. The others, Kinlochspelve and Heated Debate, are also likely to feature strongly. Other well-rated chances could be Alottamo, Haut Bages, Lake Ballaton and Mirs Choice but this is likely to be a well-contested race.
At 3.10pm we have the PPORA Club Members Conditions race for Novice Riders, a race which normally features talented and in-form horses being ridden by jockeys with less experience. To illustrate the point two of our entries this year, Bayley's Dream and Robin Des People, have four and five wins respectively this season. In addition to these, Derksen, Kashmir Peak, Presenting Bear and Tempelpirate have all had successful seasons, so this could be a fabulous field.
The Mixed Open (3.45pm), which follows this also has some talented entries, with five of the 14 horses entered rated at 100 or better. The best two horses on paper are Now Ben and TheTalkingHorse and they will be carrying 12lb more than many of the other horses. Both have multiple wins this season with the latter winning when the two last met head to head. Green Winter has won a couple this season and and Lough Inch loves this course when it is fast. She's Real has a seven-pound allowance here and that might put them in real contention.
The Open Maiden is always a tricky race to predict, especially towards the end of a season. Some of these horses have raced a lot without winning, some have not raced at all. In this race, at least, there are no four-year-olds with big weight allowances.
Restricted races generally pitch a number of similarly-rated horses against each other and this is no exception. Maiden winners last time out include Brereton, Kalinite, Mackie Dee and Sinour but this is a step up in company too. Dulwich Hill could feature in this one for local owner John Chatfeild-Roberts who supports our region so strongly.
The final race of the meeting, and the Garthorpe season, is a conditions race for horses who have not won races other than Members' or Maidens since November 2016, over 2m 4f rather than the usual three. Oscatara has a string of places this season and will be looking to take advantage here. Bavard Court was promising when second to Rendezvous Peak last weekend at Dingley. Blackwood Rover had a good second to She's Real over this course and distance earlier in the season. Dulwich Hill may choose this one instead of the Restricted.
This promises to be a great day's racing on one of the top courses in the country. As usual there will be a strong showing of trade stands of all types and styles; caterers and bars to keep us fed and watered, and bookmakers to try our luck against. Tickets are available in advance for £10 via our website at midlandspointing.com, or for £15 on the day (including a free racecard).
The Quorn Point-to-Point race meeting will be held at Garthorpe, on the B676, 5m East of Melton Mowbray, on Sunday 29th April. There will be a large selection of trade stands, caterers, bookmakers, a bar, music and lots of entertainment for the whole family.
On the course there will be eight races, including the Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members Novice Rider national final, for which the best young riders have been qualifying up and down the country. There will also be a Point-to-Point flat race, sponsored by JRL Group, which has been split into two divisions for safety reasons.
First off, at 1.30pm, is the PPORA Club Members Conditions Race, with 20 entries. There are two in-form horses in this one: Caryto des Brosses and Robin De Boss. Caryto des Brosses has won his last three outings, most recently beating In A Blue Dust at High Easter. All three of these trips were over the shorter 2m4f distance so it will be interesting to see if he can stay the full three miles. Robin De Boss has also won his last three races, under Novice Rider James Hepburn and is also qualified for the Novice Rider final which is the fourth race on the card here. Other horses of note include the Braces' Delkantra, a restricted winner last time at Pyle; Big Bang De Loire, maiden winner at Brafield-On-The-Green, and Medieval Chapel which won the members at Lockinge three weeks ago. Quick Oats is another one to watch here, although only fourth last time out, and His Excellency is well-rated but also entered for the Ladies Open and may well choose that option.
The Mens Open provides us with a head-to-head between two of the classiest Point-to-Point horses around in Hazel Hill and TheTalkingHorse. Hazel Hill recently gave up a twelve-race unbeaten run when second to Garde Ville at Sandon but the winner was carrying nearly a stone less. TheTalkingHorse doesn't rate quite as highly, and has lost twice this season to Hazel Hill but has recent winning form at this course and at Brafield-On-The-Green. Beyond these there are Curraigflemens, a winner in March at Horseheath, Toby Lerone and Arkilly Witness among others worthy of a mention.
There is a really competitive field for the Ladies Open which is third on the card. There is little to separate the ten runners on the basis of their ratings but one of the favourites, Lough Inch, has not yet had a run this season. This is his local course and he has won here five times previously. He won eight times last season, under four different jockeys. The best recent form belongs to Blue Mountain Boy, who has won two Ladies Opens this season, but jockey Gina Andrews is booked for several rides (Can Mestret and Lough Inch) in this race so we will have to see who rides what on the day. The very impressive Golden Tobouggan won here in February and will definitely be in with a chance, as will Western Diva, Storm Lantern ans His Excellency, to name but a few. This is a very good race on paper.
The feature race of the day is the fourth, the Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members Novice Riders Final, with a £1000 prize fund and £600 to the winner. All the entrants here have qualified by being placed in a series of races around the country. In the field are several combinations who have qualified several times. William Money and Connor Brace have four wins this season and probably start as favourites. Aforementioned Robin De Boss and James Hepburn have won their last three races, two of which were qualifiers. L'Eldorado and Meisha Micklewright have won three of their last four starts, losing only in a Ladies Open to Golden Tobouggan. L'Eldorado and Robin De Boss have both won previously at Garthorpe. In addition to these Ballybough Gorta and Subtitle both have wins this season.
After this we have a Conditions race for horses of nine-years-old or over, with 19 entries. Unseen is the most recent winner in this field, having won a maiden at Charm Park. Quorn-registered Cool Valley has also won this season but fell last time out. In-form jockey Philip Armson has Quirky Kirky in this one, second on his last run. ThroTheThatch is another to consider, Jack Andrews in the plate.
There are twenty entries for the Maiden race which is the last jump race of the meeting. Unraced four-year-old Cawthorne will carry a stone and a half less than some of the horses in this field.
Two two-mile Point-to-Point flat races bring the day to a close. This fixture is one of only six this season to be given permission to run flat races under the rules of Point-to-Point racing. Horses aged four, five or six may enter but they can not have run under any rules, except in other flat races of this type. The winner of each division will be offered a place in the Goffs Sale. A few of the horses here have run in earlier races of this type and have a rating based on their performance. It is also worth noting the different weights carried by these horses, with four-year-old mares only carrying ten stone, six-year-old geldings carrying twelve.
E-tickets for this meeting are available for £10, saving £3 on the gate price when purchased in advance. Children under-16 are admitted free. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead.
Britain’s national champion riders, trainers and owners were at The Belfry Hotel on Saturday night to celebrate their triumphs from the 2016/17 season.
At an event compèred by Luke Harvey thoughts were also of the new season, which starts on Sunday with a meeting at Bishops Court, near Ottery St May in Devon.
Fuller’s six-times men’s champion, Will Biddick, revealed he has lost none of his drive for titles, although he admitted it would be harder following Jack Barber’s switch to racing under Rules. “To be honest, it’s given me a kick up the backside,” said Biddick, who is aiming to ride for a number of yards, “and hoping I can keep everyone happy”.
James Bowen, Lucy Mager and Izzie Marshall were all honoured for their novice titles, while Jack Barber and Dean Summersby received Foran Equine-sponsored trainers’ titles. Summersby’s wife, Emma, had bravely opted to join her husband despite the sad loss of her mother, Linda – an important cog in their Devon yard’s operation – at the age of just 62 earlier in the week.
Looking ahead Summersby hopes to kick-start the season at Wadebridge on December 10, when he aims to run his young-horse open champion Chosen Lucky, possibly in the novice riders’ race under Ben Carver. The trainer also has high hopes for a couple of newcomers to the yard – Noble Promise and Clondaw Bunny.
Tim Underwood picked up a cheque for £500 from the Jockey Club as part of his prize for owning (and training) the maiden mares’ championship winner Cheltenham Mati. Underwood, who is based near Newbury, was also the leading owner, and he arrived in a Subaru Forester, his prize for one year following Cheltenham Mati’s Subaru Championship win. He said: “My goal last year was 20 winners, and we reached 18, so not at all bad. My goal this time is 25. “Cheltenham Mati is bigger and stronger than last year – and she’s tough. We’ll probably start at the second Barbury Castle meeting.”
Sam Davies-Thomas and Paul Nicholls gained leading hunter chase rider and trainer awards respectively, Alex Edwards and Bryony Frost gained mementoes for taking second in the senior title races, and trainer Tommy Morgan joined Lough Inch’s owner, Liz Harris, on stage to celebrate the horse’s eight wins and Connolly’s RED MILLS champion pointer title.
Harris was first and last on the dance floor, too!
The Melton Hunt Club meeting at Garthorpe takes place on Sunday 21st May, with a series of pony races starting at 1pm and a seven-race Point-to-Point card beginning at 2pm.
There are 24 horses entered for the Melton Hunt Club Members Conditions race at 2pm, nearly half of which have multiple entries at the same meeting, so we will not know who will run until the declarations are closed on the day. The top-rated horse is Sarah Dawson's Sybarite which was second in a hunter chase at Cheltenham in early May but disappointed in its last Point-to-Point when fourth to Beggar's Velvet (see Mixed Open below) at Mollington in April. Shantou Prince is rated 106 and my pick for this race. He was fourth in the Intermediate Championship Final at Cheltenham and unlucky to be carried out in his last race before that, at the Bedale meeting. There are a slew of horses rated in the 90s and high-80s who could also feature here. Many have entries in other races but recent form would suggest that any of Ballalough, Ballingarrow, Bravo Riquet, Can Mestret, Kyles Faith, Mr Syntax, Namako, Otto The Great, Pay The King, Proximo, Shakalakaboomboom and Thanks For Coming could be in the frame, but don't discount others in this very evenly matched contest.
Distant Rain is likely to lead the market in the Restricted race which follows this. The Tom Ellis trained seven-year-old was impressive winning here at the Quorn meeting in April and will find the ground very similar here this weekend if all goes to plan. Cobajay Away has good recent form too and should challenge with a 7lb advantage. Demood is another mare who has won this season and should be a contender. Escapefromthedark, Magic Symphony and Sisco Kid are also well-rated and Claire Hardwick brings Tilinisi, which won a bumper over two miles in 2015.
The third race is a 2 mile 4 furlong race for nine-year-old horses upwards and again, several horses in this field have multiple entries at the same meeting. The Hills may bring Double Handful (it is also entered at Hexham) which is new to Point-to-Point racing but has won over £30,000 under rules, including . Ring Ben is the horse with the best recent form, having won last time out at Cold Harbour over the same distance. Nothing Personal also won on the last time out in a Point-to-Point when beating higher-rated opposition at Aldington. Can Mestret hasn't won this season but will be looking to improve on his third here, last time out, while Walkabout Creek was second at Kingston Blount in early May. Nelson's Legend will be looking for a return to the form which saw him win a race over the same distance here at the end of last season.
The feature race of the day is the Championship Final of the Dodson & Horrell Novice Riders series, and what a race it could be. Five of the eleven entries are rate at 100 or more, with all but one of the remainder in the 90s. The favourite has to be Lough Inch, in the hands of Rory Bevin. Not only does this local horse love this course but its form this season is six wins and a second. Beggar's Velvet has been hunter chasing most recently but won previous to those in the Ladies Open at Mollington. Other horses in this race with recent form include Always A Chance (wins at Whitfield and Mollington), Creepy (Kingston Blount and Revesby Park), For 'n' Against (Hunt Members at Kingston Blount), Horizontal Speed (Mens Open at Kingston Blount). Againn Dul Aghaidh was fourth last time out in a hunter chase but has won both Point-to-Points entered this season. Ravethebrave has only had one outing (2nd) this season but must not be discounted. A great race in prospect.
One good race follows another here, as the Mixed Open has attracted some quality entries among the 19 horses who may declare, although nine of these have other entries at this meeting. Four who do not are the best rated on this card. Temple Grandin has won his three Point-to-Points this season, all as hot favourite. Hazel Hill has the same impressive record this season but is also trained by Philip Rowley and entered with the same jockey, Alex Edwards. I suspect that if there is some give in the ground then this will run, Temple Grandin getting the nod if the ground is quicker. One which will definitely run is Thetalkinghorse, Mrs Moody's impressive nine-year-old who won here at the Quorn meeting, beating Warden Hill by six lengths. Numbercruncher will prefer the ground on the quick side but must also be considered a good prospect. Beggar's Velvet is in this one too, as is Conkies Lad which also has good recent form. Weights could play a part in this race, so it will be worth watching the likes of Always A Chance, Expanding Universe, Mr Syntax and Proximo who all carry more than half a stone less than the top rated horses.
Two three-mile maidens round off this interesting day of racing. The first is part of the Jockey Club sponsored series for mares and Winola and Misola Bird are the leading horses on rating in this one. They will face many unknown quantities in this line up though, including the four-year-old Gadrose, who will benefit from a 21lb advantage.
Finally we have an open maiden race with 18 entries, including Max O who has been second in his last three starts. Other options here include Arcal Fifty, Ask Connie, Big Man Doe, Conhalt, Dibble Bridge and the aforementioned Misola Bird. Philip Rowley has another four-year-old in this one, Dramatic Pause.
We look forward to welcoming you to Garthorpe on Sunday for what looks sure to be a great day's racing. There will be fun for all the family, including a licensed bar, caterers, children's activities, bookmakers and a Tote. Tickets are available in advance from our website www.midlandspointing.com/shop and include a complimentary racecard.
The second Garthorpe meeting of the season will be hosted by the Belvoir, this Saturday, 25th March.
The going at the course, five miles East of Melton Mowbray on the B676, is currently soft. The weather for the weekend is forecast to be clear and crisp and we have over one hundred entries for the seven-race card.
The first race, sponsored by Teigh Old Rectory Bed and Breakfast, is the PPORA Club Members Race, which starts at 12.30pm and has 15 entered runners. The first three to finish this race will qualify for the Novice Rider Final which takes place at the Melton Hunt Club meeting in May. The top-rated is local favourite Lough Inch but he has two entries at Askham Bryan on the same day and will go for the quicker ground which is likely to be in Yorkshire. Another with multiple entries is Beggar's Velvet who has the Mixed Open here as an option as well as two races at the VWH meeting. Irish Anthem is also entered in two other meetings and will be looking to atone for unseating his rider last time out at Revesby Park. The winner of that race at the South Wold meeting was Tallow Fair, one of the few horses entered to have won this season so far. Current Exchange has run four times this year so far, most recently finishing second in a Hunter Chase at Fontwell Park. It carries a 7lb penalty and has lots of other entries to choose from. The Gunner Brady was also second last time, but also has a lot of options on Saturday, including the Mixed Open here at Garthorpe. Arkose is one of two possible rides for Will Thirlby in this race and also has the Mixed open option so Will may ride Bertie's Desire in this one. All things considered we won't really know what to expect until declarations are made on the day.
There are eight entries for the Garthorpe Hunts Club Members race which follows, kindly sponsored by W. Spence and Son. On recent form the Kelly Morgan-trained Chipmunk is likely to be a leading contender for this one, having won a Restricted race last time out at Revesby. She does also have the option of the Intermediate race here, however, and would carry less weight in that one. Love Manhattan, trained by Helen Connors, has two recent second place finishes which he will be aiming to improve on, under Tom Chatfeild-Roberts. Also in with a shout are Ignite A Light, from in-form Gerald Bailey's yard, and Merrydown Black, ridden by Sophie Walker for her Grandfather Alan Godrich.
The third race is the Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate race and the first four past the post will be qualified for the Championship Final of this series at Cheltenham at the beginning of May. 20 horses are entered, including several entered in other races at this meeting. In theory we could see a sibling head-to-head at the front of this race as Gina Andrews could ride essex raider Quick Oats while her younger brother Jack has the ride on Judy Wilson's Neumond. The latter won at Horseheath at the end of February so may opt for faster going there, while Nigel Padfield-trained Quick Oats hasn't run since last June (here at the Meynell meeting) and will also prefer quicker ground under foot. Gina could ride Celtic Silver instead but it also has Horseheath entries. Nelson's Legend, trained by Pauline Harkin, may run and could be a serious contender under Sam Davies-Thomas although he hasn't run since last Summer. The Harkin yard also has Exclusive Rights (Claire Hardwick) which has been a little inconsistent but has a second this season. We could also see local interest from previously mentioned Chipmunk, Ignite a Light and Love Manhattan as well as Dream Mistress from the Chris Bealby yard.
The feature race of the day is the Timico Mixed Open race at 2.15pm, which has a prize fund of £1000. The winning horse will be eligible for the Timico Mixed Open Final at Cheltenham on 5th May, while the first two past the post qualify for the Skinner's Ladies Open Final which is held at Stratford on 9th June. A quality field of 18 could line up for this one. Penmore Hill is top-rated here and likely to be a contender, but it is His Excellency, with Claire Hardwick on board, who has the best recent form with two wins this season on good to soft ground. Other horses with recent form include Hazel Hill, who won at Sheriff Hutton in January and I Wonder Why who won at Revesby for the Bailey yard. Curraigflemens and Numbercruncher are also looking to return to the previous winning ways. As ever the male jockeys will be working hard to get down to the 11st 7lb weight for this race.
The restricted race which follows has been sponsored by Roythornes and has attracted a possible field of 8 runners. Top rated of these is Merrydown Black, if the Walkers choose this race over the Hunts Club Members. Recent form has been there or thereabouts so perhaps the time is right. The form horse in this field is Milson Robinson-trained Hurricane Vic, who won his maiden as recently as 11th March at Revesby Park and will be looking to quickly step up the divisions under in-form Tom Strawson.
The card ends with two maiden races. The first, an Open Maiden, sponsored by Melton Mowbray Tyres, has 17 entries with a number of horses also qualifying for the last race of the day which is a maiden for younger horses. Semper Invicta has had a second this season on similar ground, but did not impress last time out. David Kemp's Age Of Heroes is eligible for the shorter maiden but is entered here as the owner has another horse of the same age in the next. With a second and third in two runs this season he may well be ready to win. Quizzacle Nomad is another to keep an eye on.
The final race of the day is a shorter, 2m4f, maiden for horses 4,5,6 and 7 years old and is generously supported by M. K Bailey Ltd. Horses who could feature here are Roll Of The Dice, unlucky when hampered at Charing in February; Shamat, third at Ampton last time, and King's Walden, third at Hackwood Park a fortnight ago. Top-rated Dulwich Hill was second favourite when third at Brocklesby Park behind Demood and Quizzacle Nomad.
As usual at all Midlands courses there will be a range of trade stands of all sorts, including catering outlets and a licensed bar. There will also be plenty of opportunity to have a bet! Entrance is £10 per person. If you purchase an e-ticket in advance from https://staging.midlandspointing.com/shop then you will get a free racecard (£3 on the day). The postcode for your satnav is LE14 2RS.
The Midlands Area season has got off to a flying start with two cracking meetings at Thorpe and Brocklesby, both of which have attracted rave reviews from happy visitors. This weekend sees the first of our Garthorpe fixtures, The Cottesmore meeting, on Sunday 26th February, with the first race starting at midday.
The meeting has attracted 132 entries for a seven, possibly eight-race card. The going is currently given as Soft.
The first race on the card is the Garthorpe Hunts Club Members race and several of the entries for this will be hoping for a dry week to return the ground to good running. Love Manhattan stands out as a contender here and Robin De Boss won't mind a bit of softness in the ground. Tulsa might run if the ground improves.
The PPORA Club Members which follows is harder to call. There are a number of talented horses entered but many of them will be watching the weather and hoping for quicker ground. The mare En Passe has won this year already and will certainly be a strong contender. Claire Hardwick has Golden Tobouggan, which won well last time out (on similar ground) at Thorpe Lodge, and must be a favourite. Dido was second to this one at Thorpe and will be looking to go one better this time. Another to win at Thorpe last time was the Waley-Cohen's Facile Bien and if the jumping work is going well this has to be in the frame. Quick Oats loves this track but might be unlikely to run unless there is quicker ground. Irish Anthem is another to watch, though he might be aimed at Horseheath the day before.
Nearly half the entrants for the Men's Open race have a 100+ rating so this could be a cracker but, once again the ground will be a factor in whether some run. Decade Player and Lough Inch will not run against each other (the latter also has an entry in a later race) but the distance suits them both and if the ground quickens one of these will be in the mix. TheTalkingHorse is another which is more likely to run at Horseheath on quick ground. The Vestey's Silver Roque will almost certainly race and will be a very strong contender, having won in January, and Proximo and Old Pride should be near the front as well. A great race in prospect.
The Ladies Open may see a return to the track for Palypso De Creek if the ground stays soft, and it would be difficult to look past this horse in deep ground. If the ground quickens then Claire Hardwick also has a ride on His Excellency, who won last weekend at Brocklesby. Top Smart will be one to watch but may go for quicker ground at Horseheath. The prolific Popaway is also entered but she has entries in two other meetings over the weekend. This could be a very good race but a lot will depend on the weather.
The fifth race is a Midlands Area Club Members Conditions Race for horses 9 years old or more. Cork Citizen is entered in the Ladies Open but is more likely to run in this and should feature strongly. There is also a chance that local favourite Lough Inch runs, and if he does he will probably lead the betting. Others to watch are the Chatfeild-Roberts' L'Eldorado and Grove Pride, both have recent form. Denali Highway and Done A Runner could also be in the frame in a race which features a lot of horses with similar ratings.
The Restricted Race follows and Teeton Power is likely to challenge in this one despite being beaten last time out by the talented L'Eldorado. Swivel is well rated but lacks recent form. Chipmunk won for Johnny Weatherby at Alnwick and might go well on his local track. Tom Strawson is hoping for a good run from Lord Golan who has had a season off and now returns to the fray. Merrydown Black is entered here and ran very well at Brocklesby for a good second but also in the Members and the Conditions race at this meeting. Mazurati is another to watch.
Finally the Maiden race, which has nearly 30 entries so may need to be split. Thomas Patrick looks a likely candidate here, as do Quizzacle Nomad, Le Fou Royale, Harodale, Emtidaad and Dewi's Mate who all have second place finishes and aim to go one better.
As usual there will be entertainment for all at Garthorpe and we hope for a great day's racing on this popular course, which is on the B676, 5 miles East of Melton Mowbray. The post code is LE14 2RS. Tickets are available from midlandspointing.com where you can also read Garthorpe's photography policy.
There was a great finale for the North West season where the Meynell and South Staffordshire at Garthorpe had an excellent turnout of 82 runners from an original entry of 131, which resulted in some competitive racing. Full praise is due to Clerk of the Course Brian Crawford and his team who once again did a sterling job in preparing genuine good ground, with good to firm in places. In addition to the seven races, proceedings commenced with seven pony races which meant it was a very long day for the crowd and the organisers.
14 runners went to post for the Mixed Open which looked a really open affair on paper. However, when Nick Orpwood gave Battle Range the office after the third last, the combination steadily drew clear to win by twelve lengths from Broughtons Bandit with Time Gentlemen a further five lengths back in third. Trainer Jacqueline Coward who had a winner with this gelding on her last ride a couple of weeks ago before retiring as a jockey, admitted that this is the only horse she will really miss race riding. The winner is in such good form she may consider looking for a Novice Chase over the summer.
Nick Orpwood and BATTLE RANGE
There was a double at the meeting for Zac Baker on The Gunner Brady in the Intermediate and Well Said in the concluding 4, 5, And 6-year-old Maiden over 2 ½ miles. The Gunner Brady was a convincing winner of the Intermediate winning by seven lengths from Love Manhattan with the odds-on favourite Proximo never travelling well and only finishing a well beaten fifth. Tracey Bailey was delighted with the gelding’s third win of the season having surpassed his seasonal target to run in the Subaru Restricted Final at Stratford where he only managed to come eighth.
The second leg of the Baker double was a pillar-to-post one where Well Said set a strong pace and always had too much in hand, eventually winning by seven lengths from the favourite Kabanga Bay. The six-year-old winner trained by John Bryan was having his third ever run, having been bought privately in Ireland a few months ago by Michael Oliver for his brother Martin and Jack McGrath.
The opening Club Members Race saw another outstanding ride from Gina Andrews who sent the heavily-backed favourite Quick Oats to the front at the third last and held on well to win by a length and short head from Dunowen Point and Push Ahead, with Twentypoundluck only a neck away in fourth. The fast-improving winner was completing a hat-trick of wins at Garthorpe and loves the fast ground.
In the PPORA Club Members race for Novice Riders, Jack Andrew on local course specialist Lough Inch set out to make all and although the prolific Tempelpirate was produced by Ben Hicks with a good challenge at the last, the superior jump from Lough Inch quickly settled the matter with Liz Harris’ charge staying on well to win by three lengths. Tommy Morgan had decided to take on the favourite in this race rather than opting for the Intermediate and was delighted with the result.
Jack Andrews and LOUGH INCH
The Restricted over the shorter two and a half miles saw sixteen of the nineteen entries stand their ground, making it a very open contest. Richard Collinson on the favourite looked to have slipped the field on Torann na Dtonn but Sam Davies-Thomas came with a sustained late run on the Jimmy Tarry-trained Nelson’s Legend to get up in the last few strides winning by half a length.
In the older horses’ Maiden, several held chances as they entered the straight but Tommie O’Brien who had held up Davie’s Delight came with a strong run at the second last and won going away from Black Sambuca. The winner is trained by Jake Coulson near Macclesfield and was bought privately in Ireland by trainer Katy Price for owner Nick Carter after been placed in Irish points during the winter.
There is an excellent entry of 131 runners for the seven races at the Meynell and South Staffordshire meeting at Garthorpe this Saturday commencing at 2.30. Additionally, there are 47 entries for seven pony races starting at 12.15 so a long and excellent day is in prospect for the North West Area finale for 2016.
The Mixed Open looks a very competitive affair with Battle Range, Champagne Rian, King’s Legacy, My Old Piano, Say No, Time Gentlemen and Thetalkinghorse amongst the entries. Last year’s winner Time Gentlemen disappointed when favourite at Chaddesley Corbett recently whilst King’s Legacy was impressive over a shorter 2 ½ miles at Tabley. Battle Range and My Old Piano have been running well in the Yorkshire area of late. However, the Gerard Bailey trained Thetalkinghorse has won on his last two visits to this track and is taken to shoulder a 10-pound penalty and win here.
The PPORA Novice Riders sees course specialist Lough Inch who also has an entry in the Intermediate. He was outstayed on softish ground by Western Promise at the recent Knutsford Races meeting at Tabley, but should gain his revenge over that rival with the expected quicker ground here. Champagne Rian has struck up a winning chord with Hugh Nugent and won a similar race for the third time in a row at Chaddesley on Monday and will be competitive if running here instead of the Mixed Open. However, if the prolific Tempelpirate runs, he should have too much class for the opposition.
The Intermediate has some interesting improving types but if they turn up here the race should be between the aforementioned Lough Inch and Proximo, who both have excellent winning form for a race of this nature. Proximo from the Stuart Morris yard has won his last two Club Members races at this venue and is slightly preferred.
Dica, Mattara, Niki Royal, Say No and Twentypoundluck look the ones to concentrate on in the opening Club Members Race. Dica was declared for the Cartmel Hunter Chase on Wednesday so may not turn out again so quickly. Mattara has some excellent placed form under Abbie McCain this season but usually finds one too good at the business end.. Say No has only run twice this season and was a well beaten third in an Open behind Thetalkinghorse. Twentypoundluck won a similar race at Heslaker and would have a chance here. Niki Royal may be good enough having run really well of late under his owner/rider David O’Brien, winning at Andoversford and Heslaker before coming second last time out at Tabley to the prolific mare Fruit Fayre.
The Restricted over the shorter trip of 2 ½ miles is a very tricky contest and a case can be made for many of the runners. A sporting each way chance is taken with the easy Higham Maiden scorer Torran Na Dtonn who was a good second subsequently in a Restricted at Kingston Blount to Emgee.
The Maiden for older horses is another competitive affair and Sand Artist ran really well in third behind Shempas Iron at the last meeting here. The Fred Hutsby trained five year old Overly Cautious ran with great promise in a hot Maiden on Monday at Chaddesley Corbett chasing home the runaway winner Cracking Find and if he is turned out again he is likely to prove hard to beat.
The concluding 2 ½ mile Maiden for 4, 5 and 6 year olds features a number of unexposed types who may show improvement. The pick of those on known form is Holy Dancer who was a good runner-up to Odds On Oscar in a similar race here last month.