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 of the day, a conditions race, by two lengths. Soldier At War, trained by Jennifer Owen and ridden by Connor Baker, has had a slightly chequered season to date but came home strongly to challenge the winner in the run-in.
"I'm very pleased with him." Dale Peters said, "He jumped better, and put the race to bed from 2nd last to the last. Looking forward to him for next season after a summer break."
It was another good results for local trainers in the Restricted Race, next, where Champagne Glory, ridden by Jack Andrews and trained by Stuart Morris claimed victory over Mount Pleasant (Archie Wright/Nicholas Wright) by a couple of lengths.
Nick and Archie Wright exacted revenge in one of the feature races of the day, however, where their Red Maple and Dale Peters’ The Unmentionable started as joint-favourites in the Mens Open. The seven-year-old Red Maple took the lead with two obstacles to jump and The Unmentionable couldn’t respond. The finishing distance was 12 lengths. Railway Muice (O. Watson) and Muckamore (H. Arkwright) battled out their own finish fifteen lengths behind these, which the former was adjudged to have won by a neck.
The Ladies Open which followed saw a result which is familiar in the Midlands area this season, as a Tom Ellis-trained horse won a well-contested finish with a horse trained by Edward Turner. In this chapter of that sporting tale, Gina Andrews and Koyote overcame the better-rated and bookmakers’ favourite No Hassle Hoff (Kate Gowing) by two lengths. "They're very similar horses," Tom Ellis said, "and I suspect that if they raced each other six times they would each win three times. They got the better of us at High Easter but this time it was our turn." Dounikos (Miss I. Hopkinson) trained by Caroline Robinson, also contested this excellent three-runner finish and took third spot.
Dale Peters trains Saynothingtonoone, which started as favourite in the three-mile Maiden, and made much of the running. Approaching the last, however, he was overtaken by Gunteur, trained by Tom Ellis and ridden by Jack Andrews, who went on to take the race by six lengths and with it seal the Barthorpe Trophy for the Leading Rider from any area, racing in the Midlands. "We got Gunteur from Doncaster last year but he picked up an injury at home. He probably wants a good top to the ground but I think we should have fun with him." Her Majesty The Princess Royal’s Pattern Cutter was some way third of the three finishers.
The last race of an enjoyable afternoon of racing was another maiden race, this time over two and a half miles. A five-year-old won this, in the shape of She Won’t Mind, trained by James Owen and ridden by Alex Chadwick, who eased away to record a twenty length victory over Crawter, a four-year-old from Station Yard Racing, ridden by Alice Stevens. Close behind was Hazard Collonges (J. Lovegrove-Fielden), with Nothinelsematters (Dale Peters) and Asandwhenyouwant (A. Wright) completing the finishers.
The Midlands team hope you have enjoyed this season in our area. The rescheduled fixture dates met with broad approval and the weather was kind in only denying us one fixture, despite the wettest March for forty years.
The Leading Horse in the Midlands Area was Champagne Glory. Dale Peters walked away with Leading Area Rider and Leading Area Trainer. The Barthorpe Trophy for Leading Rider in the Midlands with an RQC from any area was won by Jack Andrews, and the Novice Horse award goes to Wereinthistogether and Fortunes Hill who both finished on six points.
Dingley’s second meeting of the year was also the Midland Area’s penultimate fixture of the season, the Fernie’s, and brought a good number of runners to the Market Harborough course, where Charles Millington and his team had prepared an excellent racing surface.
The feature race of the afternoon was the Mixed Open for the Fernie Gold Cup, formerly the Four-Miler, sponsored by Welland Valley Feeds. Now run over three miles because of where the meeting sits in the calendar, this attracted three classy open horses who finished very much together. Seven No Trumps (B. Durrell), and Ragnar Lodbrok (Alex Chadwick) made much of the running, with No Hassle Hoff (K. Gowing) never far away. It was anybody’s race approaching the last, but Seven No Trumps made a mistake and lost two or three lengths and never really recovered, despite a spirited run-in. No Hassle Hoff put pressure on Ragnar Lodbrok but the classy eight-year-old, trained by Jennifer Owen for The Whisky and Water Partnership always had enough to win this one and crossed the line two lengths ahead.
“it’s tricky in these small open fields,” Alex Chadwick told me, “because I don’t want to hit the front too early. If there is someone upsides, he’s more likely to win. He’s run seven times this season. Won five times. This is the end of his season.”
The first of two maidens was a 2m 4 f race sponsored kindly by Watling JCB and won by the Jack Teal-trained Nowmelad, with John Dawson on board, who came home four lengths ahead of Horizon d'Ainay (T. McCain-Mitchell). Shakeyatailfeather (Miss A. Stevens) was a dozen or so lengths back in third. "I'm surprised his form has not been better," Jack said, "he's a very sure jumper at home. He's a tough hardy type of horse."
The Charles Stanley Novice Riders Conditions, next, produced one of the best finishes of the day as the heavily odds-on favourite Bawnmore (Miss E. Holder), trained by Tom Ellis, was caught in the run-in by Take To Heart (Miss C. G. Butler) who won by a neck at the flags. This was perhaps an overdue victory for the Turner family who have suffered seconditis on a number of occasions in the Midlands area this season, particularly to the Ellis team.
“I thought it was going to happen again!” Ben Turner said. “Luckily he got a good jump at the last. The ground is a bit quicker there, which he liked, and she [Charlotte Butler] rode a great finish.”
Arguably the best finish of the day came from the Restricted Race, sponsored by Sharnford Tractors. The three top-priced starters, Mister Splash (M. Dodd), Duke Account (J. Dawson) and In Our Dreams (Miss A. Jackson-Fennell). The distances were half a length each way but it was In Our Dreams who hit the line first.
“Amber rode with great judgement and was patient and then strong and made a challenge at the perfect moment. Yeah, it was a very exciting finish and even better when you come out on top.” Assistant Trainer Charlie Poste said.
The bookmakers made the Matthew Teece Fencing Veteran Horse Conditions Race a two horse race, and so it turned out, with Clondaw Westie from the Alan Hill stable, and the Tom Ellis-trained Pass The Glass the only two (from four) to finish. It was Pass The Glass who was victorious by seven lengths here, under Hack Andrews. “It’s been a horse plagued with issues,” Jack said, “It's just nice to get back back in the winner's enclosure. It looked like a good opportunity for him but they still got to go and do it and he'd done it well in the end”
Hot favourites, Dale Peters and Wereinthistogether, took the final race of the afternoon, the Rod Millington Maiden Race, kindly sponsored by Travis Perkins. The margin of victory was about seven lengths, from second favourite Just In A Bit.
Jockey and trainer Dale Peters was full of praise. “We've looking forward to this for a long time. He's just he's came together in prep. We bought him sell him, but I think we're gonna keep him now. So he's six now so I'll have to see my career out with him. He's the only reason I'm still writing today.”
The last of our Midlands Pointing fixtures is also here at Dingley, hosted by the Fitzwilliam on 13th May. Tickets are available on our website for a reduced price, with under-16s admitted free of charge.
There will be trade stands, catering, a licensed bar, a fun dog show and various other activities for all the family. We look forward to seeing you there.
A dry week in the lead up to the Quorn’s point-to-point on Saturday 22nd April produced some excellent racing on soft/good to soft ground at Leicestershire’s home of racing, Garthorpe racecourse.
The meeting also broke new ground by hosting a schooling race, organised by Clerk of Course Jim Culloty which provided an opportunity for trainers to give horses a run in a more relaxed environment, with no betting or recorded results.
Unfortunately a bit of confusion between trainers resulted in several of them avoiding the first race, a conditions race sponsored by The Fox and Hounds in Knossington, in favour of others elsewhere. This left Ballinagore, trained by David Kemp for The Oak Partnership, as the only declared entry. Alex Chadwick completed a walkover and the horse will now head to Mollington for the mixed open there, with a view to an entry in the John Corbett as the ultimate aim.
The mixed open was our second race of the day and was kindly sponsored by Robert Whowell and Partners. Dale Peters led on Caryto des Brosses with Joe Wright on the well-backed Black Op and Martha Reeve on Dundrum Wood, both of whom looked like they could make this a good race. In the end, though, “Frenchie” showed his class to win by seven lengths to dispel trainer David Kemp’s fear that he didn’t seem 100% in the run up to the meeting. Dundrum Wood was second for the jockey’s Grandmother Shona Westrope and Emma Clark-trained Black Op was third.
Melton Mowbray Market sponsored the Restricted Race, next, which was won by the hot favourite and only finisher Paper Mill. Charlie Case rode the seven-year-old for Michael Kehoe from the Bicester with Whaddon Chase, to victory after Karismatik, ridden by Max Chenery for Nicola Smith, had fallen at the second last.
The Novice Riders Conditions race, next on the card, was sponsored by Prestwold Hall. Give Us A Swig, ridden by Cian Murphy for Michelle Bentham, showed good pace to lead for much of this race, before running out at the downhill fence, three from home. This left Wishful Dreaming in the lead in the hands of Isla John and they, in turn, were headed when jumping the last by Sum It Up and Sean O’Connor. These two then contested an excellent finish won by Sum It Up by a neck at the flags. Third place went to Thomas Easterby on Barrack Hill which had started as the bookies’ favourite.
The William Hercock Maiden Race produced a very similarly close finish between Ultra Viers and Below The Radar. Alice Stevens had brought the latter into the lead with two to jump and looked to have done enough until a spirited rally by Ultra Viers and Joe Stevenson pipped them, literally, at the post. There’s Claude and Zac Baker were thirty lengths behind these in third.
Our last point-to-point race of the day was one of the national series of maiden races for four and five year-old horses sponsored by Goffs UK and run over two and a half miles. The four finishers in this one were led by Rehill Relic, ridden by Paddy Barlow for Tom Weston, who finished ten lengths clear of Wottinger (J. Dawson) and She Won’t Mind (A. Chadwick). “I’m encouraged by that,” Tom Weston told me, “it looked like he did that nicely.”
Midlands Pointing now travels back to Dingley for the last two meetings of this season, where the Fernie will host their meeting next Sunday, 30th April, and the Fitzwilliam will bring the season to a close on the 13th May.
The Easter break might have started in glorious sunshine but rain through the night on Sunday evening and into Easter Monday morning caused a few concerns at Thorpe Lodge.
The course itself, however, held up well, and the public arrived in numbers to support this popular fixture, which offers excellent viewing.
Martha Reeve and her Grandmother Shona Westrope's Dundrum Wood made all in the Ineos Grenadier Mixed Open, our feature race, pulling away from Badbad Leroy Brown (Paddy Barlow) and Desire De Joie (Archie Wright) in the final stages. This was the combination’s 3rd win from 4 starts (the other was a second) and the talented horse's 7th win from ten in points.
In true April fashion, the Frank Key-sponsored Ladies Conditions, which was first on the card, started in overcast conditions, endured a biblical storm in the middle, and completed in light rain. So heavy was the hail which battered the runners that Gina Andrews told me afterwards that her ride, Tigerbythetail, had locked his head to one side and slowed to a canter at one point "I've never raced in anything like it," Gina said. Lucy Wheeler and Early Retirement pulled up.
The Triangle Kia Intermediate race, next on the card, gave us a dramatic final run-in, as three of the four starters battled hard to produce a great finish. At the flag, Paddy Barlow, riding Runwiththetide, stayed on well to deny the runner-up, The New Kid (Dale Peters) by 3/4 of a length. This time it was third for Gina Andrews and favourite, Itsallintheclouds, two lengths behind. Runwiththetide has started with two from two between the flags and must surely be one to watch.
The Jon Barlow-trained Fortunes Hill and Joe Wright were the first of three home in the Frank Key Restricted Race, finishing a comfortable 12-lengths clear of Classic Ruler (Dale Peters for Stuart Morris). Favourite Money Spinner (Archie Wright), a good winner last time at Garthorpe, was pulled up.
The last of our five point-to-point races was the three-mile Maiden, sponsored kindly by the Arable Alliance. Sadly only one of our three starters completed this one, as Joe Wright recorded a quickfire double on favourite, Crobally Boy, previously a runner at both Revesby and Brocklesby. Lord Pethers unseated his rider Ellie Callwood on the second lap and Biddy's Wild Child was weakening when he fell at the second last.
The day ended with a light-hearted Hunt Challenge, which saw six non-racing jockeys compete over a lap and a bit of the point-to-point course, trying to get as close as possible to a bogey time, set by the organisers and sponsors, Fernwood. Georgie Grace was deemed to have been the closest to the time on her horse, Captain Scarlet.
Midlands Pointing returns to Garthorpe in a fortnight's time as the Quorn host their point-to-point on the 22nd April. Their six-race card includes a Novice Riders Conditions race and a Goffs UK-sponsored Maiden for 4 and 5-year-olds. After racing at Garthorpe there will be a schooling race, for which you can find details on our social media channels.
The Easter weekend started in glorious sunshine, attracting a large and enthusiastic crowd to Dingley racecourse for the Woodland with Pytchley meeting on Saturday 8th April.
Six races on the card were well supported, with 32 runners across the card, a fitting reward for all the hard work put into the course by Clerk of Course Charles Millington and his team who had to deal with difficult weather in the run-up.
The feature race of the day was the Mixed Open, sponsored by Macintyre Hudson. Alex Chadwick and favourite Ragnor Lodbrok won this, making it three from five for the horse, owned by the Whiskey and Water Partnership headed by point-to-point stalwart Gerald Bailey, and trained in East Anglia by Jennifer Owen. "We love days like this." Gerald said, "It's about having the boot open!" Jennifer Owen added, "Alex rides him every day. He's a great asset to us and I think he enjoyed that." Ben Durrell finished second on board his own Bonamargy, and The Unmentionable (Dale Peters) was some way back in third.
Four runners started the first race of the day, the King West Hunt Members which saw Mountain Assault, trained and ridden by Dale Peters, time their race to perfection to draw clear before the last. This was the third win in succession for this combination. Favourite Minella Wizard was nine lengths back in second, with Lucinda Ticehurst's What A Moment in third with the owner on board. A special mention to Will Bishop, winner of many a top-flight hunt ride, who completed his point-to-point debut on board Top Up The Fashion.
Rathbones kindly sponsored the Conditions race which followed which saw Seven No Trumps, trained and ridden by Ben Durrell claim victory from second-placed Thunderstruck and Dale Peters, with evens favourite Walkonthewildside (Jack Andrews) back in third.
Seven horses started the Restricted which was sponsored by local pub chain Greedy Gordons. Yippee Ki Yay, trained by Nicky Sheppard for the Herbert family, won this easily with Milo Herbert in the plate. Jack Andrews, riding Champagne Glory for Stuart Morris and Mrs Latilla-Campbell, was a distant second and Dash Full Of Cash (Rupert Stearn for Jennifer Owen) was third.
Two maidens closed out the card, the first of which was a three-mile Open Maiden, sponsored by Berrys Accountants. Cottesmore Huntsman's wife and Hounds columnist Phoebe Jones led this for two laps on Elmdale before being unseated as they approached the Ashpoles. In the end home-bred five-year-old Chasing Glance made an excellent start to their racing career by coming home strongly, first of the seven runners under Jack Andrews for Tom Ellis. "A little bit of a surprise." Simon Andrews said, "He's obviously a nice horse and he jumped well, but had to be clever at a couple, including the last. A nice prospect." Maskadam started favourite and finished second for owner/trainer Dale Peters and third was Here's Bingo (Martin McIntyre).
The last race of the day was a two and half miles Maiden for mares and fillies, sponsored by The Jockey Club and BMTC Law. Robert Waley-Cohen's Chabichou Dupoitou (Martin Mcintyre) made most of the running here, but was headed coming down the final hill by Smugglers Haven and Alice Stevens, giving us the best finish of the day as these two contested the run-in. At the flag it was Smugglers Haven by a length to bring 50 winners between the flags for Alice Stevens. Queens Walk (Jack Andrews) had started favourite but bronked down to the first and looked a handful, pulling up with three to jump.
Thetford trainer David Kemp proved again that Garthorpe is a happy hunting ground for him as he scored a treble in consecutive races on Sunday. There were also doubles for trainer Tom Ellis and jockey Dale Peters.
Genuinely good ground resulted in 42 runners at a time of year when lack of rain has made track preparations hard in some areas. Clerk of the course Jim Culloty had been confident that the grass cover had retained plenty of moisture, and rain in the days leading up to the fixture freshened the surface up still more.
The headline race of the day was the Saffery Champness Mixed Open, won by Law Of Gold and Dale Peters. "He really needed another run", Trainer David Kemp told me three weeks ago, when Law of Gold was second to Premier Magic in the Open, and he was proved right when the ten-year-old romped home to win this by five lengths. Precious Bounty, the mount of Gina Andrews, was leading approaching the last and, to many eyes, looked to have it won, but Dale Peters asked for another push from the winner to secure the victory. "You're always asking him for a bit more," Dale said. Dandy Dan (Miss L. Keen-Hawkins) was the third horse home.
The first race of the afternoon was the Conditions race sponsored by The George Bar. Ten runners started this race and it proved to go as the ratings suggested, giving David Kemp another win with his eight-year-old Milan gelding Ballinagore, ridden by Alex Chadwick. The winner definitely looked stronger having come fourth in his first run of the season in a similar race here at the Melton Hunt Club meeting, running away well to win, despite a poor jump at the last. David Kemp said, "He was in a hot race for the grade last time and I think it woke him up to big boys racing. He's been in smaller fields, restricted maidens, up to that point, but as a result he's really come forward." Morning Vicar (Rupert Stearn) have provided a good contest until the final stages and finished thirteen length behind the winner, with Neumond (Jack Andrews) a further eleven lengths behind them.
The third leg of the Kemp treble came in the third race of the day, the Retraining of Racehorses and The Jockey Club Veteran Horse Conditions race, where Rupert Stearn was able to improve on his second place in the first race with a very impressive win aboard Clara Sorrento. The twelve-year-old grey was another who improved as a result of the Conditions race at the Melton Hunt Club meeting, opting this time to lead a race with slightly less pace from the front. Hadmeathello (Miss C. Emsley) came in second, some way behind, and General Custard (T. L. Frogley) was a length or two behind them. Favourite Al Shahir (Jack Andrews) was pulled up with a couple to jump.
Ellie Holder rode Champagne Noir to win the next, The Witham Hall School Conditions Race for Novice Riders, beating favourite Millbank Flyer (Edward Rees) by seven lengths, with Imperial Acolyte (Miss K. L. Featherstone) a long way back in third place. Tom Ellis said, "I'm really pleased for her because she's a great little jockey and tactically very aware. They had a mishap last time out at Revesby so this was great."
Dale Peters completed his double in the Renovation Underwriting Restricted on Mountain Assault, owned by his Father, in the closest finish of the day. Harbour Queen (Miss C. Emsley) had led over the last after favourite Champagne Glory (Jack Andrews), leader for much of the race, had hit the second last and lost ground. These three then contested the run-in, Mountain Assault getting it on the nod on the line.
The last race of the day was the Maiden, sponsored by Pork Pie specialists Dickinson & Morris, and once again there was a battle between the yards of David Kemp and Tom Ellis. Ontherunagain (Jack Andrews), trained by Stuart Morris, led for much of the race, but in the final stages it was All The Ammunition (Dale Peters) for David Kemp, I'm Spellbound (Gina Andrews) for Tom Ellis and Mount Pleasant (Archie Wright) for Nick Wright who were stronger. The second fence was bypassed after damage to the wing in the first lap so it was a very long run-in and this seemed to suit I'm Spellbound who pulled away for an impressive win by about eight lengths. "There's plenty of room for improvement on his jumping," Gina Andrews said, "but he can definitely gallop so hopefully his owners are going to have some fun with him."
The Brocklesby point- to- point races took place at Brocklesby park on Saturday 11 th February with a good turnout of 42 runners from an entry of 96 declared to line up to contest the 7 races on a beautiful early spring day with the going officially declared as “good”. A large crowd was in
attendance and a party in the bar went on into the evening.
The opening Brocklesby and Lincolnshire hunt members, subscribers and farmers race kindly
sponsored by Grimsby Roofing Services was a match between Sovereign Gold and Star Present.
On paper, the Francesca Poste trained Sovereign Gold looked the pick of the pair and there was
not much to split them over the 3 miles trip. However, once the race was clearly on in earnest over
the final two fences, it was the Jack Teal ridden and trained Star Present who got the upper hand
on the run in. Star Present, running in the lucky, familiar at Brocklesby, pink and black colours,
carried at least 11 times to victory by owner John Cottingham’ s father Kit’s horses over the years,
that prevailed. The good looking son of Presenting looks likely to be able to continue his run of
good fortune and John Cottingham said that, in keeping with family tradition, he is likely to remain
in point to points rather than diverting to the track. Star Present was sourced from Ireland by Jack
Teal and the runner up Sovereign Gold was piloted by Amber Jackson Fennell who made amends
later on the card.
Training, riding and owning the 8-year-old Get Bye, Amber Jackson Fennell was able to strike at
the last for a clear and decisive victory in the concluding Nunn’s Isuzu Ltd Maiden race to turn the
tables in the final race of the day. Jack Teal, this time partnering Crobally Boy for Paul and Karen
Clifton went down by a length and a half in defeat. The third horse was the five-year-old Lord
Pethers for owner Joanne Callwood and trainer Tom Ellis. Jackson Fennell commenting, on the
fact her horse had reached the age of 8 without breaking his maiden said; “He won’t be for sale;
he has had his problems with ulcers but now we turn him out every day he seems to have turned a
corner.”
Amber Jackson Fennell was bringing up a double on the day in the Maiden having scored in the
earlier Jockey Club Mares and Fillies Maiden on board her own Grenadine Save making her the
leading rider at the meeting. By the fashionable Walk In The Park, the 7 year old mare had been
inconvenienced by the soft ground on her last start, relished the good ground at Brocklesby to get
the better of Alan Hill’s 5 year old Telescope mare Threeunderthree by 3 and a half lengths. “She
found plenty in the home straight and will head for a restricted race next confirmed Amber.” on
walking to weigh in.
Earlier, in the Brigg Office Supplies Restricted race, there was another success for Walk In The
Park when Walkonthewildside followed up his Maiden victory at Revesby with success for the
Docker, Crawford, Hewitt, McKenzie and Spence partnership and trainer Tom Ellis. “I couldn’t
believe how well he was travelling turning in.” said jockey Jack Andrews of the 7 year old, whose
preparations had been hampered by the frosty weather but this did not prevent his decisive victory
over Il Padrino for Louise Bevin and Jack Teal who will surely move to the next grade in the next
few weeks.
The feature race of the day, the Baillie Haylage Mixed Open race, went to the The Unmentionable
trained and ridden by Dale Peters’ for Belvoir farmers Nevelle and Freda Clark. “That’s my first
winner of the season, believe it or not. I kicked from the bend and off he went; he has progressed
from last year.” Said Peters. Both Peters and the Clarks were unsure of where the 10-year-old
might go next but were happy to enjoy the 12 length victory over the Philip Rowley trained
Salvatore.
The conditions races were both popular on the card with a good entry for both events. The Clark
Weightman PPORA Club Members Conditions race produced a good finish between The Whistle
Blower who was prominently and confidently ridden by Paddy Barlow, to get the better of Dale
Peters on the David Kemp trained How To Get Away by a length with Willewonga in third. Owned
by John Wallwin from Cropwell Bishop, the eight-year-old was well suited by the track and kept on
gamely to keep all challengers at bay. The Whistle Blower won his maiden at Brocklesby and will
perhaps be back again next year for the hat trick.
The DDM Agriculture eight year olds and over conditions race was won by the 11-year-old Mr
Snuffles who got back to winning ways for Don Constable and the Shropshire point to point yard of
Laura Richardson. “It’s the best he has ever jumped and he quickened up nicely.” Said jockey
Huw Edwards. Bought from Ireland originally for 800 Euros, connections were unsure of where
their next engagement would be preferring to enjoy the moment instead.
The second Midlands Area meeting of the 2023 season was the first of four fixtures this season at Garthorpe, as the Melton Hunt Club took up an earlier position in the calendar on Sunday 5th February.
Unusually calm and sunny weather brought a good crowd to the Leicestershire track where they were treated to competitive racing across the whole six race card on good racing ground.
There was a treble for trainer Tom Ellis, two of which gave Jack Andrews a double on the day, while Premier Magic exerted his authority on the Mens Open and there were maiden wins for the Tom-Weston-trained Bond Broker and Captain Biggles trained by Tom Ellis.
The opening race of the day was the Alpha Drain Services Conditions race which had a classy field, half of which were also entered in the Men’s Open. After early progress was led by Clara Sorrento (Rupert Stearn) and Smoke Man (Tom Chatfeild-Roberts), a later faller, Tom Broughton and One For Rosie hit the front and drew clear after the last to register an impressive win for Jason Maguire's team in the fastest time of the day. Ask Dai was second for Bradley Gibbs, with Jack Andrews and Golden Tobouggan in third.
Jason said, "Obviously it was a first run. We've had the horse for a couple of years but he isn't the easiest to train and he's done a lot of work in our rehab yard." He went on, "it was a bit of fun to give him a chance and see if he would stay the distance. He's never been three miles before."
The Tattersalls Cheltenham Four and Five-year-old Maiden was next, one of the nationally sponsored series of races which present a shop window for the best young talent in the country. There were a number of very nice young horses on show in this race, including Nene River, ridden by Jack Andrews for Tom Ellis, who led for the first half of the race before falling at the last fence on the back straight with four to jump. Impression Chic (Bradley Gibbs) had taken up the lead at this stage but was overtaken with two to jump by the four-year-old Bond Broker (Gearoid Harney) who went on to win comfortably. It was another second for Bradley Gibbs with Impression Chic, while joint favourite Guivinec trained by Francesca Poste and ridden by Alice Stevens back in third.
"We bought Bond Broker as a foal in Ireland, broke him and prepared him to run. This was the first of the Tattersalls Cheltenham-sponsored races we had him ready for, so it was an obvious target," trainer Tom Weston told me.
Jack Andrews got onto the scoreboard for trainer Tom Ellis and owner Stephen Howlett in the Belvoir Cricket and Countryside Trust Restricted race. His mount Itsallintheclouds went off as favourite but he chose to bide his time at the back of the field, moving up to lead turning onto the home straight. The grey gelding finished five lengths ahead of Champagne Glory (Dale Peters) and a long way clear of Goldenbrave (Billy Chatterton).
Jack said, "I think he's beaten a good horse of Stuart Morris's in second and the way he quickened up from the back really impressed me."
It is common for high class open horses to avoid each other at Open level, for understandable reasons, so it was particularly rewarding for the Garthorpe crowd to be treated to a Mens Open, sponsored by Buscot Park, which included several of the highest rated point-to-point horses in the country at present.
This time Bradley Gibbs topped the results on the board as he steered a very impressive odds-on favourite Premier Magic to his eighth successive win in point-to-points, beating second favourite Law of Gold and Dale Peters into second place. Al Shahir, with Jack Andrews in the plate for Tom Ellis, was third.
Owner's daughter Claire Sherriff said, "He's just got so much ability, but coming to the last I thought he must have been tired, but Brad just sat up and let him pop it, landed and just took off again, so you never know how much he's got left."
It was the first run of the season for Law of Gold in second. David Kemp said, "the cold spell stopped us using the gallops and put us back a bit this season. We will be better for this run but could have done with another one."
Ellie Callwood continued to extend her impressive point-to-point record in the Fairfax Saddles Ladies Open with a very assured victory on Precious Bounty, taking the horse's record to seven wins from nine starts and her own to 9 wins and seven seconds from 29 starts. The Yeats nine-year-old is trained by Tom Ellis and made all in this race, beating No Hassle Hoff and Kate Gowing by nine lengths, with For Rita and Alice Stevens in third.
The last race of the afternoon was a three-mile maiden sponsored by Jupiter Asset Management with thirteen runners. It was won by the 6/4 favourite Captain Biggles and Jack Andrews, another grey from the yard of Tom Ellis. This was another impressive win for the yard by a horse with lots of potential.
The next meeting in the Midlands Area is hosted by the Brocklesby on Saturday 11th February where the seven-race card will begin at 12pm. You can read Emma Forman's preview on the Midlands Pointing and PTPRC websites and the going at Brocklesby is currently good, good to soft in places.