The annual awards lunch took place on Sunday 22nd of September at Dingley racecourse in their Charlie Wilson room The lunch was a sell out event and PPA Chair Caroline Bailey was on hand to present the awards. It was fantastic to see so many supporters of Point to Pointing in the Midlands. The winners […]
Belvoir at Garthorpe - Preview
The fourth fixture in the Midlands Pointing area is the Belvoir meeting at Garthorpe.
As usual there will be trade stands, catering, bar, bookmakers and a Tote as well as seven races on the card. There are 90 entries.
The going is currently Heavy (Updated Monday 12th March). Advanced tickets are available from midlandspointing.com at £10 per person or they will £13 on the Gate. Under 16s, as usual, are admitted free.
With the recent weather, decisions on runners will be very dependent on ground conditions at the end of the week. We will keep you informed via our social media channels, and the current going will be displayed above the logo on the menu bar on MidlandsPointing.com and on the home page of Garthorpe.com.
The first race on the card, starting at 12.30pm, is the PPORA Club Members race for Novice Riders. The local L'Eldorado is a strong contender here, with Meisha Micklewright in the plate. They have a two wins and a second place this season so far. Global Power and Open Hearted both won last time out, at Bangor-on-Dee, but the latter was beaten by L'Eldorado in January at Thorpe. Crowded Room and Farmer Matt have both won races before and could feature.
The Garthorpe Hunts Conditions race which follows has attracted 13 entries, including L'Eldorado, but as the owners have two other entries in the second race (Love Manhattan and She's Real) I would expect he will run in the first. Nick Wright is another with two entries in this race, namely Burtredgipandgump and Mr Maclennane. The former was here for the Cottesmore meeting where he finished 5th in the conditions race for older horses, while the latter won at Horseheath last time out. Johnny Weatherby has Chipmunk entered, who looked impressive before falling at the Brocklesby meeting in February. They are also down for the Intermediate which follows.
Chipmunk would be the highest-rated horse in the Intermediate race, along with Dynamic Island, if they choose it. Dynamic Island is one of two rides for Rory Bevin, the other being Bravehearted Harry which is also entered in the previous race. The Easterbys' Yoohoof must be a contender here, with two wins and a second last season. Mirs Choice won the Restricted here at the last meeting so will also be fancied. Our Milly Acres represents the Chatfeild-Roberts family, while the Harkins may run Glory Hunter, second last weekend at Didmarton.
The Mixed Open has 16 entries, including three from Gerald Bailey's yard. Of these, the most likely runner is Mr Madeit, who won a pretty hot conditions race here last time out. Open Hearted is also entered in this one and would be a contender. Soleil d'Avril represents the Easterbys in this line up and will be one to watch, but they are also entered at Charm Park the following day. L'Eldorado has the race as another option, this time with Tom Chatfeild-Roberts booked for the ride. Lottie Crane has the ride on Leavethelighton, which has a win and a second this season. Diana Ralph trains Invisible Man in this one, fourth to Golden Tobouggan here at the last meeting. James Henderson has well-rated Abricot de L'Oasis, with son Fred in the plate.
The top-rated horse in the Restricted race is Merrydown Black. They are also entered in the second race so may not run here. They were impressive finishing second to In A Blue Dust here at the Cottesmore meeting and will be looking to go one better this time. One of the two divisions of the Open Maiden here last time was won by in great style by Encounter A Giant and Alex Edwards, who are entered in this race and will attract backers. Bene Regina also won on their last outing, at the Brocklesby meeting, under Tom Strawson, but he is booked to ride Streets of Milan here. Quirky Kirky scored a second in their last race here.
The last two races of the day are both maiden races, for horses yet to win. The first, open maiden is run over three miles, the second, over two and half, is for horses aged 4-7 only. Five horses have entered both so they will decide on the day for which they would like to declare themselves runners.
The four-year-old Wolvesacre will have a big weight advantage over other horses, whichever race it chooses, as he will only be carrying 10st 7lbs. Among the un-pointed horses entered are three who have raced under rules, Big Brother George, Leopards Leap and Order In Court. All have achieved placings but never won. Of those who have raced, several have second-place finishes. These are Raleagh Mountain, Thomas Todd, Velvet Steel and popular one-eyed wonder Unseen. King of Rainbows in another to keep an eye on.
In the young horse maiden, which ends the day's entertainment, there are five horses which have raced under rules but never raced on a Point-to-Point track. Chosen Tribe, Kalangadoo, Mackie Dee, Northman and Order In Court. Of the raced combinations, Bite The Biscuit and Raleagh Mountain are the stand-out horses, and rated similar in ability. Good luck!
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