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 […]
Fitzwilliam at Dingley - preview
The Fitzwilliam Point-to-Point race meeting will be held on Saturday 26th May at Dingley racecourse, on the A427 just outside Market Harborough. Entry is £15 entry to include a racecard but discounted if purchased before hand on www.midlandspointing.com. The course is being watered as necessary to produce good going on the day.
The first race of 7 races is at 2pm and there will also be a fun fair, trade stands, silent auctions and a wheelbarrow of booze raffle, as well as a best dressed lady competition!
Five horses are entered for the first race, the Hunt Members race, and Man of Steel is likely to be the favourite. He won here last time out, with Gina Andrews in the plate, and should be a good bet if a good jockey is booked. The in-form Dale Peters yard has Bi Quini Tiep in this one as well, and will hope to follow up on their restricted win here at the Dingley meeting earlier this month. The other three runners in this race have entries in other races on the day, so check the board to see which one they declare for.
The second race is a conditions race for PPORA Club Members. These horses are all eight-years-old or over and have not won a race in the last 18 months. This makes it understandably difficult to choose a winner, but there are a few horses to consider and many more which could produce on the day. Bavard Court has several places this season and Throthehatch also has some good results. Letbeso, Head Spin and According to Trev could also be in the running.
Both the Mens and Ladies Open races have attracted good fields, both in number and in quality.
The Mens Open race comes first on the card, at 3.10pm and has 15 entered. Jimmy The Jetplane is the stand-out horse in this one, with good recent form in Point-to-Points and under rules. They will enjoy good ground and this may be why the horse is entered for eight races at five different courses over the long weekend. As a result we can't be sure they will declare. Other to follow could be Aunty Joan, with a first, second and walkover in recent outings; Gunmoney, with a win and second and a third since March; Done A Runner, with a win and a second since April, and Oliver James, second last time out. There are plenty more to consider so judge them on the day.
The Ladies Open which follows also has Jimmy The Jet Plane entered, so the same caveats apply. Eighteen others are entered so we are hopeful of a good field for this one. His Excellency was second last time out, to TheTalkingHorse, at Garthorpe, as it sure to be up there. Sharp Suit is another well-rated horses, second on his only outing this season, a multiple winner previously. Ravethebrave is the only horse here to have won on their last run, in his case in the Ladies Open at Mollington. Bavard Court, Legend To Be and Midnight King are others to consider. Sa Kaldoun and Start Royal lack recent wins but, with the change of ground in the last fortnight, that might not be completely relevant.
Best rated in the Restricted race is Blackwood Rover, who was second in the conditions race at Garthorpe recently, losing out to hot favourite She's Real there. The Glover won their maiden at Guilsborough in April but is a debutante at Dingley. Cornerman has second placed finishes at Dingley in the past and will be looking to go one better this time. Free Scorpion won last time out on similar ground, Gowell and Staple Head on slightly softer going.
Two maidens complete the card this week, one over three miles, the other 2m4f. A significant number are entered for both races and will decide based on the ground and other declarations. Check the board on the day for accurate numbers.
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