MHC POINT TO POINT RACES - Sunday 18th May 2014 PREVIEW [BY EMMA FORMAN] The Midlands Area Point-to-Point season reaches its climax at Garthorpe on Sunday where the D&M Barthorpe sponsored Area Awards will be decided at the Melton Hunts Club meeting. With Dale Peters and Tom Strawson within a point of each other for the Gentleman Rider’s award; Lutie Akinci and Kelly Morgan also split by a point in the Lady Rider’s championship, plus a significant Yorkshire entry set to raid Garthorpe an exciting meeting is in prospect. Racing begins at 1pm with two Pony races; the Racetech sponsored 148cm & under Novice Riders’ race over 6f followed by the 148cm & under Open race over 7f at 1.10pm. 94 entries have been taken in total for the 7 Point-to-Point races starting at 2pm. The opening Henderson Asset Management Melton Hunts Club Member’s Conditions race has attracted 14 entries including two course specialists; Panama Canal a three time course winner and Valance who has won five times at this venue. Panama Canal was the first leg of Tom Strawson’s treble at the Quorn meeting here and the Robinson horse is his best chance of a winner on Sunday. Johnny Weatherby’s Valance will be ridden by Kelly Morgan who will be hoping to hold on to her one point advantage in the Lady rider’s title race. Alex Vaughan- Jones’s Sandpipers returned to form on his latest start when winning at Dingley and cannot be ruled out while King’s Legacy from Alan Hill’s stable is probably the one they all have to beat. This race is the penultimate leg of the Garthorpe Hunts Member’s race competition where horses qualified with the Garthorpe hunts score points and compete for a £500 prize to be awarded at the Meynell meeting on 1st June. The Belvoir currently have a clear lead over the Cottesmore in second place. The Restricted race is run in memory of Migs Greenall, it is sponsored by the Greenall family and 12 entries have been taken. Dale Peters is currently one point behind Tom Strawson for the Leading Gentleman rider award and will score points if Miller’s Glen can make the frame. This eight year old won the Maiden at the Belvoir meeting and has since being placed second in a Restricted; he should be able to score in this company. Mouse Back Brown may be able to fill a place for Judy Wilson and rider Dickie Barrett who is looking to break a run of second places. Amithereyet has been placed in four Restricted races for the Docker family, he has been unlucky not to win one and should go close once again while the Steph Easterby yard may bring Billy Two Tongues, a Members race winner from Yorkshire; another to add to the shortlist. Ten entries have been made for the Lance & Urky Newton Men’s Open race sponsored by Jupiter Asset Management. Panama Canal could line up here instead of taking up his earlier engagement and if he does he will be taking on Quorn Gold Cup winner Say No. George Henderson is expected to take over from younger brother Fred who is in Australia and Say No already has the Leading Horse Award in the bag after a very successful campaign. Gun Money who was runner up in the Quorn Gold Cup could re-oppose here and Dale Peters is likely to ride Realt Ag Leimt for his father Michael. The Stephanie Easterby yard has a live chance with My Old Piano and the 12 year old is back in form having won his last two starts in Open races. The winner of the Sandicliffe Group Ladies Open race will qualify for the £10000 iTotal Control Ladies Open Point-to-Point Championship Final Hunter Chase at Stratford on Friday 30th May and 11 entries have been taken. Claire Hart is currently leading the Garthorpe Lady Rider’s Championship sponsored by Southwell racecourse and has the chance to score some more points here with Palypso De creek. The dual 2014 Hunter Chase and Open Point-to-Point winner finished second to Cottage Oak at Chaddesley Corbett last Sunday and will only run if the wet weather continues to give some cut in the ground. Others to consider in his absence include Alan Hill’s Rave The Brave who may be ridden by Hannah Watson and Tinker’s Burrow who is in third place for the Leading Midlands Area mare award. Odey Investment Management are sponsoring the Open Maiden race which has attracted 14 entries. Glassawine trained by Julie Marles has shown some promise having been placed twice; he will be ridden by Pete Mann and should go close. However, the race could go the way of the Yorkshire trained Barton Jubilee. Chris Pimlott’s six year old was only beaten three quarters of a length in a competitive Maiden at Witton Castle on his first start in a Point-to-Point and must be fancied to go one better. The Midlands Area Club Member’s race sponsored by Melton Mowbray Tyre Recycling has attracted the largest entry of the day; 22 horses are listed. Sandpipers could choose to run in this race instead of earlier in the afternoon as could Empire Builder who is also trained by Gerald Bailey. Dale Peters has the chance to score some more points with Done A Runner; Toby Hunt’s gelding won a Restricted race and has been second in a Confined since. However, Steph Easterby holds the aces with three horses entered; Banny’s Lad, Carlton Ryan and Sportingfriendship. The latter is probably the pick; he is a confined winner and in good form having won on his latest start. North Lodge Racing is sponsoring the final Maiden race due off at 5.30pm for which 11 entries have been taken. This race is over the shorter two and a half miles trip and Anddante has some form over this distance and over three miles. Apassionforfashion could go close for Cherry and Jacqui Coward; she has shown signs of ability but has been disappointing of late. Another to consider is Empyrean who could improve on a third place at Mollington. There will be a good range of trade stands, a children’s play area and food outlets including “The Grumpy Huntsman” licensed bar. Admission is £10 per person with under 16’s and car parking free. Clerk of the Course Brian Crawford and his team will water the course as necessary. Garthorpe is situated on the B676, 6 miles east of Melton Mowbray and 7 miles west of the A1. For those with satellite navigation systems the postcode is LE14 2RS.
Posted on: Mon, 12 May 2014 21:09:13 +0000
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