The Pytchley’s meeting at Guilsborough on Sunday 13th March opened with the first pony racing of the Midlands season before a six-race jumps card which produced a double for jockey Dale Peters.

The first pony race was a novice race for 148cms ponies which was won by Thomas Stanley on Dunlewey Pomegranate, with Sofia Finney and Trefriw Playboy second and Niamh Shearn and Mullycrock Lady in third.

There then followed two open races, for 138cm and 148cm ponies respectively. The first was won by Lucas Murphy on Wee Antony with Hamish Mcgregor and Churchill second. Sommie Fleming and Warmwell Lizzie were third. Finally the 148cm Open was won by Sebastian Perry and Pick Pocket. Eliza Mcpherson on She's A Lady and William Dunlop on Darksvelt were second and third respectively.

Joe Hill trained the five-year-old gelding Quick Sharpener, winner of the first horse race of the day, the four and five years old maiden sponsored by Billing Finance. Dale Peters rode the Flemensfirth gelding to a tight finish, holding off the Nigel Padfield-trained Magnetic Zero (Gina Andrews) by a neck. Joe Hill said, “We ran him once previously at Kingston Blount last season, but in hindsight he wasn’t quite ready but he’s progressed nicely. He's now for sale.” 

George Edgedale owns and trains Kilpin, the winner of the second race, the Dallas Burston Maiden. The race looked to be going the way of Wireless Operator (Gina Andrews) as they jumped the last well clear, but the winner saw a chance on tiring ground and got up to win another tight finish on the line.

Go Go Geronimo, owned by John Chatfeild-Roberts, ridden by his son Tom and trained by local trainer Gerald Bailey, continued a good run of form by winning the Restricted race, next, in another close finish. This seven-year-old gelding had a string of second-place-finishes before winning his maiden at Duncombe Park earlier this season. He quickly followed that up with another second at Brocklesby before victory in this one by a neck, having held on well under pressure from The New Kid under Dale Peters.

After a string of close finishes the Berry’s-sponsored Mixed Open race saw a comfortable win for the odds-on favourite Diplomate Sivola, ridden by Ben Sutton and trained by Alan Hill. Sam Red (Lucy Turner) and Bingo Star (Zac Baker) were second and third respectively.

Dale Peters completed his double for the day with victory in the PPORA Club Members Conditions race sponsored by The Hawthorns. Peters rode The Unmentionable, which he trains for Freda and Neville Clark, to a very measured win, leading at various stages of the race before pulling clear with two to jump and staying on well. Early Retirement, trained by Gerald Bailey and ridden by Tom McClorey, was a dozen or so lengths back in second, and Craigmor (James Hayward) was third for Alan Hill.

The sixth and last race of the day was a Conditions race for older horses, aged eight-years and older. Judy Wilson's seasoned campaigner Volnay de Thaix belied his 13 years and lived up to his favourite billing with another impressive win under Zac Baker for trainer Stuart Morris. He was given a good run by Gina Ellis on Killinkere, who looked to be well in with a chance with a couple to jump before eventually finishing second by 12 lengths. The Devil's Drop (Thomas Drewry) was third.

Midlands Pointing now moves quickly on to the third of three quickfire meetings in the area as the Belvoir host their meeting at Garthorpe on Sunday 20th March. Clerk of the Course Brian Crawford was happy to report that the ground was drying nicely there and that the forecast was good for the week ahead. Theirs is a seven-race card which begins at 12 noon, tickets are £15 online or on the gate.