The Woodland Pytchley Point-to-Point will take place at Dingley on Easter Saturday, 15th April. Dingley racecourse is on the A427, 1m East of Market Harborough and in addition to six horse races there will be trade stands, caterers, a licensed bar, bookmakers and entertainment for the children.
The first race on the card is the Members race which starts at 2pm. This has entries spanning a wide range of ratings and form but the obvious contender is Golden Milan, with Lucy Wheeler on board.
The second race is a 2m4f Maiden race for four, five and six year old horses and the first three past the post will qualify for the Goffs Spring Sale Point-to-Point Bumpers. This has some interesting runners with little or no form. Caryto Des Brosses should be the market leader on paper, but Captain Cook and Equus Secretus are unknown quantities and could upset the form.
The third race of the day is the Mixed Open race, again run over 2m 4f. This has entries which include the Waley-Cohen’s Warne, Johnny Weatherby’s Decade Player, Curraigflemens, His Excellency, Limpopo Tom and Theodore Lamb. However the Easter weekend is a busy one for Point-to-Point racing and many of these horses have multiple entries so we have to hope we can attract a good field for what looks like an interesting race.
The PPORA Club Members race for Novice Riders is up next and the first four combinations in this will qualify for the National Novice Rider Final at Garthorpe on the 21st May. Being a qualifier it has attracted a good field of 20 entries. Curraigflemens could choose this one over the Mixed Open and could be a leading contender with the right jockey. The other one to definitely watch, if it declares, is Silvergrove, with two recent wins, if connections choose Dingley over Higham. Arkose, Bayley’s Dream, Lifelong and Pinerolo are other to keep an eye on in the collecting ring.
The Subaru Restricted race is part of the National series and the first three horses past the post will qualify for the Subaru Restricted Point-to-Point Series Final, Stratford-on-Avon, Friday 9th June. This qualifier has attracted 13 entries. Of these, Aunty Joan, Mr Maclennane and Quizzacle Nomad stand out. Seamusjay has also showed promise.
Finally we have a 3-mile Open Maiden Race which has attracted entries from some of the younger horses who are also entered in the earlier young horse maiden. Of the older entrants the ones to watch might include It’ll Be Grand and Misola Bird and I for one would love to hear a finish called between Teeton Turnip and Teeton Tinker. The lovely one-eyed grey Unseen is entered here and would be a very popular victor.