The penultimate Midlands area point-to-point of the season will take place at Dingley this Saturday, 25th May, with the first race at 2pm.
The team at Dingley have been hard at work, ensuring the running surface is good. The ground has been variflexed and rolled and will be watered from Monday 20th onwards. The bends will be moved to fresh ground where necessary and the open ditch will be re stuffed.
This is a seven-race card which includes ladies and mens open races, two maidens, a members race, restricted race and a conditions race for older horses.
The Ladies Open race sets off at 3.45pm with champion jockey Gina Andrews on either Big Man Doe or Celtic Silver. The former is also entered in the Mens Open before this so the latter seems more likely. Competition could come from Sa Kaldoun or Ravethebrave. Ravethebrave’s trainer Alan Hill also has the veteran Start Royal in this one.
The Mens Open race has 14 entries including Chasforgold which won last time out at Woodford last month. Zac Baker gets the ride on multiple 2019 winner Big Man Doe if it runs in this race and not the Ladies. Local jockey and trainer Dale Peters starts this meeting with 95 wins in point-to-points and has either Dido or Bi Quini Tiep here. Other to watch could include Aunty Joan, Franks A Million, Mighty Leader and Maguires Bridge.
Bi Quini Tiep is also entered for the opener, the members race, but Dale Peters also has The Unmentionable entered, looking for a bit of luck after two falls on the flat in its last two outings. The other runners are Arkose and Poetry Emotion.
The second race is a conditions race for horses of eight-years-old and upwards. 17 horses are entered here, including several with long journeys to make. Beggars Velvet, Midnight Monkey, Gersjoeycasey, Flugzeug, Dusk Till Dawn, De Clare Man and Moscow Blaze could all feature. There is local interest in the Stuart Morris-trained Cornerman, with Jack Andrews in the plate. Foxhunter-winner Tabitha Worsley has the ride on aptly-named Always A Chance.
Cornerman is also entered for the Restricted race, later in the day. Here they will be up against Charles Brown, a winner here at the Fernie meeting. Morris might run Teeton Turnip in this instead. Dale Peters has Bonamargy in this one, while Jon Barlow brings popular one-eyed grey Unseen.
The card is completed by two maiden races: the first over three miles, the second, two and a half. Richard Pringuer and Tom Ellis have Cup Of Gold and Get The Gate, respectively, entered in both of these and will decide on the day. Get The Gate, being a four-year-old, will get a weight allowance. The first maiden includes several horses from notable yards making their racecourse debuts, and others who have already been in the frame.
As usual the racecourse at Dingley will also cater for those who might not be watching all the racing, with a good selection of trade stands, catering outlets and activities for children. There will be a raffle to win a wheelbarrow full of booze, champagne prizes for those judged to be the best dressed man and lady and a silent auction for a range of days out and other experiences.
Entry on the gate will be £15 to include a racecard. Two random racecards contain golden tickets entitling the holder to a bottle of champagne. Tickets can be also be purchased in advance (£13) online at Midlandspointing.com/shop.