Cottesmore at Garthorpe 26/2 - Report

LAW OF GOLD (Dale Peters)

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.

race4 novice riders cottesmore garthorpe 26feb23 042
CHAMPAGNE NOIR (Ellie Holder)

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."

Recent Posts

27th March 2024
South Notts at Thorpe Lodge 2024 - Preview

Due to the unfortunate abandonment of the Woodland Pytchley meeting on Easter Saturday the Midlands area now focusses on the South Notts meeting on Easter Monday at Thorpe Lodge, Newark. Thorpe Lodge is best approached using the postcode NG23 5PY or What3Words police.keen.shun. There are six scheduled races including a new Maiden race for four […]

27th March 2024
Belvoir at Garthorpe 2024 - Report

The ground at Garthorpe dried well throughout the week leading up to the 2024 renewal of the Belvoir point-to-point at Garthorpe on Saturday 23rd March, and a big crowd of racegoers braved some icy hail showers and a typically arctic prevailing wind and partied in the bar long after racing had finished. Clerk of Course […]

20th March 2024
Belvoir at Garthorpe 2024 – Preview

There are 56 entries across six races for the Belvoir point-to-point meeting at Garthorpe, Leicestershire, on Saturday 23rd March. The loss of the Cottesmore meeting means that Garthorpe has fresh ground around the course for this Belvoir fixture. The ground at the time of writing is heavy, but the forecast is for a mild week […]

13th March 2024
Pytchley with Woodland at Guilsborough 2024 - Report

A week of drying weather in the run up to the Pytchley with Woodland fixture at Guilsborough ended with heavy overnight rain across the area on Saturday night and social media was awash with cancellations of equestrian sport on the morning of 10th March. It is a great testament to the team at Guilsborough that […]

6th March 2024
Pytchley with Woodland point-to-point 2024 – Preview

After a frustrating few weeks for the sport of pointing, The Pytchley with Woodland point-to-point will take place on Sunday 10th of March with the gates opening at 10am and the first race at 1pm. At the time of writing, the latest going report describes the course as soft, heavy in places, but the forecast […]

Supporters

A small random selection of the many generous companies who support Midlands point-to-point racing.
View all sponsors
Silcock and partners logo
William Herock Logo
Witham Hall School
Jupiter Asset Management Logo
The Jockey club
Rathbones
Saffery Logo
Macintyre Hudson logo
BMTC Law Logo
Clawson Self Store Logo
Goffs logo
Deene Park Logo
Rudd Construction Services Logo
Berrys Logo
PCS Pedersen Logo
Triangle Kia of Chesterfield
Robert Whowell and Partners
Rural Insight Land & Development
The Fox and Hounds, Knossington
Country and Equestrian Logo

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram