21 April 2009 Preview: Atherstone - Clifton-on-Dunsmore
by Graham Taylor
With good weather forecast and ground conditions near perfect, a decent crowd is expected to attend the popular Atherstone Hunt Point-to-Point fixture this coming weekend at Clifton-on-Dunsmore, near Rugby.
A very good entry of 151 has been accepted for this annual event. First race time is scheduled for 1.00pm. Admission prices are as last year, £8 per person, children under 16 free.
First race up on this seven race card is the Hunt Members Race and this has been kindly sponsored by M. J. Carter Associates. Five horses have been entered. Hot Lips Page finished second last weekend at Garthorpe and may go one better here. Sandy Lie is in with a chance considering his second at Thorpe in late March. However the selection has to be Torksey Lock, the winner of a Maiden race, also at Thorpe, on his latest run.
Howkins & Harrison are the sponsors of race two, the Confined Race, and this has attracted an entry of Twenty-Two. The Bailey stable has Little Fountain and Pennytino entered and both have won their last two races. The Albrighton gelding, Snowtre, is back to winning ways and is likely to be ridden by Claire Allen. Sovereign Quest looks to have produced his best run to date when winning at the South Notts and has to be the choice here.
Twenty-Three have been entered for the PPORA Mares Maiden Race,l sponsored by Sharnford Tractors Ltd. Oscars Alice, second at Larkhill in mid March, Slinky Malinky, placed recently at Garnons and Call Me A Lady, third at Eyton-on-Seven, could fight out the finish here.
The Mens Open Race, due off at 2.45pm has a field of seventeen entries and this race looks extra competitive. Sleep Bal ran a decent second in a Hunter Chase recently and is likely to have top rider Stuart Morris on board. Cheyne, owned and probably ridden by Richard Hunnisett, is expected to go close in this. But the selection here has to be Noakarad De Verzee, who likely to have the in form, David Maxwell on board. This pair looked unbeatable when winning an Open race at Dingley recently.
Race Five is the Ladies Open Race and James Bennett Ltd are the sponsors here. A total of twenty-one horses are entered. The Hutchinson stable at Thedingworth have both Free, a winner twice this season, and Limerick Leader, an easy winner at Dingley recently, entered. Petit Lord, a winner last weekend at Chaddesley Corbett has to be considered. Danaeve is another in with a chance and looks to be coming back to his best form. Any one of these could win this.
Twenty-nine have entered for the Restricted Race and G & C A Lee of Statfold Barn Farm have kindly sponsored this race. This race could go one of three ways. The Boat was a neck winner of a Maiden at Garthorpe in early March. The seven year old was brought down in a more recent race when looking dangerous. Babysitter also has strong claims after a decent win last weekend at Chaddesley. Nevertheless the selection here is Duke Of Kentford, who has won and been placed on his last two outings at Thorpe Lodge.
Final race of the day, due off at 4.30pm, is the Open Maiden Race, kindly sponsored by the family of the Late Mrs Harry Barton. This race has attracted a good entry of thirty-four. This looks quite tricky to forecast. Ald Helm was placed in a Maiden at Tabley. Trocadeno had a similar placing at Sandon. Lungarno was a decent third at Llanvapley. However what looks to be a very open contest the choice looks to be Pirate Depp, the probable mount of top rider, Tom Ellis, who was running on in a Maiden at Dingley in April.
The Atherstone Point to Point Racecourse is situated at Clifton-on-Dunsmore, next to the A5, 3miles north-west of M1 junc.18, two miles east of Rugby.
