By Emma Forman

Photos from the meeting: point-to-point-racing/2019/quorn-garthorpe-28apr19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Quorn at Garthorpe (opens in a new tab)">The Quorn at Garthorpe.

Racegoers attending the Quorn Point to Point races at Garthorpe on Sunday enjoyed a bumper 8 race card as well as a good range of trade stands, food outlets and Nick Pomfret singing in the Grumpy Huntsman bar. The racing highlights included a first ever riding double for Alex Chadwick, a training double for David Kemp and a Quorn Gold Cup win for the Henderson family with Abricot De L’Oasis.

The Melton Mowbray Market sponsored Mixed Open race for the Quorn Gold Cup, was run over 2 and a half miles this year and this suited the former Dan Skelton trained 9 year old Abricot De L’Oasis who won a Hunter Chase last season but this was his first Point to Point success. Owned and trained by former Belvoir Point to Point secretary James Henderson and ridden by his son Fred, Abricot De L’Oasis held off a strong challenge from An Scairp and Tabitha Worsley. “It is great to be back at Garthorpe but I don’t get any less nervous.” Joked James Henderson. “The boys are having to take it in turns with the rides; we could do with a few new horses, I plan to visit Goffs UK May sales to hopefully buy an older horse as well as a young one.” He added.

Barry Belchem’s Harmony Row made amends for an unlucky slip up at Guilsborough by landing the Coppice Homes Restricted race by 2 and a half lengths from Teeton Turnip who stayed on gamely for Mark and Pat Barthorpe. The pace was very slow early on which didn’t suit the third horse Alburn and Philip Armson. The winner, Harmony Row, had made the journey from David Kemp’s stables near Thetford where he trains 8 pointers alongside the family business farming herbs and salads. Winning rider Alex Chadwick, started the week by winning the Queen’s Cup Hunter Chase at Fakenham on Easter Monday and only had to wait for the next race to complete his Garthorpe double. This time the winning margin was just a head when Blackwood Rover beat Kayjaydee in the Kite Construction nine year olds and over Garthorpe Conditions race. “He is a very difficult horse to win with and you cannot hit the front too soon which was a bit tricky as he kept jumping so well.” Explained Chadwick. The second horse Kayjaydee, now a 12 year old, won her maiden at Garthorpe and raced with enthusiasm. Her owner Paul Broughton plans to breed from her but she may run again at Dingley as she is so well at present. Both Alex Chadwick and Kayjaydee’s jockey Tom Broughton are Pony racing graduates.

David Kemp had earlier landed the Robert Whowell & Partners Quorn Conditions race with the progressive 6 year old Law Of Gold. Ridden by Dale Peters, Law Of Gold’s task was made easier by a last fence blunder from the second horse Smoke Man, and he went on to score by 5 lengths. Both these horses are by the stallion Gold Well. “We have come here for the good ground; it is very dry in East Anglia.” Said Kemp.

Merrydown Black won the opening Quorn and Cottesmore Members race sponsored by Davidsons Group in a match with Love Manhattan to give rider Sophie Walker her fourth success. “We take him hunting to keep him interested, he has also had a few days turned out in the field since running at Thorpe on Monday.” She said of the eleven year old who was winning his first Point to Point since winning a Maiden in Ireland.

The final three races showcased some emerging talents in the young horse ranks with Eric Brook’s four year old Wagner winning the Willian Hercock Open Maiden race with Ed Glassonbury in good style. This was followed by 2 divisions of the Point to Point bumper sponsored by JRL Group. The first division was won by another 4 year old Liz Lucas’ homebred Way Past Midnight. This filly is trained by Philip Rowley and ridden everyday by his wife Melanie; he was partnered in the race by 19 year old Noel George who is the son of licenced trainer Tom George. The winning owner will now consider whether to send Way Past Midnight into training to run over hurdles or stay pointing. Another homebred took division 2; this time the 5 year old Classic Ruler for the Knight family and Stuart Morris. Ridden by Jack Andrews, Classic Ruler may run again before the end of the season.

Results from Garthorpe

Race 1 - Members

1st MERRYDOWN BLACK (Sophie Walker) 5/2
2nd LOVE MANHATTAN (Meisha Micklewright) 1/3F

Race 2 - Conditions

1st LAW OF GOLD (Dale Peters) 11/8
2nd SMOKE MAN (Tom Chatfeild-Roberts) Evens
3rd TJONGEJONGE (James Martin) 6/1

Race 3 - Mixed Open

1st L'ABRICOT DE L'OASIS (Fred Henderson) 5/2
2nd AN SCAIRP (Tabitha Worsley) 8/1
3rd QUICK OATS (W. Hickman) 11/4

Race 4 - Restricted

1st HARMONEY ROW (Alex Chadwick) Evens
2nd TEETON TURNIP (Jack Andrews) 9/4
3rd ALBURN (Philip Armson) 7/2

Race 5 - Conditions 9YO+

1st BLACKWOOD ROVER (Alex Chadwick) 2/1
2nd KAYJAYDEE (Tom Broughton) 16/1
3rd CORNERMAN (Jack Andrews) 5/1

Race 6 - Open Maiden

1st WAGNER (Ed Glassonbury) 5/2F
2nd RIVERCOURT GUY (Dale Peters) 7/1
3rd BRIGSTOCK SEABRA (Philip Armson) 20/1

Race 7 - JRL Flat Race Div I

1st WAY PAST MIDNIGHT (N. George) 6/4F
2nd THE GOLDEN REBEL (Dale Peters) 5/1
3rd CHONGALOLO (Jack Andrews) 5/1

Race 8 - JRL Flat Race Div II

1st CLASSIC RULER (Jack Andrews) 8/1
2nd THOMAS KERSHAW (Mrs C. Hardwick) 9/4F
3rd DURBAN BREEZE (Archie Wright) 5/1