24 March 2010 Preview: Belvoir - Garthorpe
by Emma Forman
The Belvoir Point- to- Point will be held at Garthorpe on Saturday 27th March, the first race is scheduled for 1.30pm. This is the second of five meetings to be held at this first class venue in 2010.
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. Admission is £10 per car and driver, £10 for each additional passenger up to a maximum of £25 per car. There will be one free race card per car. Pedestrians will be charged £10 and will receive a free race card. There will be bookmakers, a licensed bar and a good range of trade stands. 112 entries have been received to contest the 7 races.
13 entries have been received for the first race; the PPORA Club Members Novice riders race. Presenting Alf was fourth in the Members race at the Cottesmore meeting and may run into a place here. Gus was fourth in the Confined race at the Blankney meeting at North Carlton in February and also has a good chance of being placed. Gus is trained and ridden by Kelly Morgan for Mr D Swan. However, the winner here could well be George Henderson with whichever horse he chooses; Aztec Warrior or The Luder. Aztec Warrior beat Carapuce by a length to win the Novice riders race at the last meeting here. The Luder was second behind Zilcash in the Confined race that day. If Henderson has a successful afternoon he should move into the lead for the D & M Barthorpe sponsored Midlands Area Novice Riders Championships; he is currently in second place.
Aztec Warrior, The Luder and Gus also hold entries in the second race; the Belvoir Members race which has attracted 9 entries. The Henderson family also have Canticle entered. This horse won the Restricted race at the Cottesmore meeting and was ridden by Adam Wedge that day. Wedge also won on The Camerengo when he scored for the first time in two years at Kingston Blount recently in the Intermediate race. If he lines up Picabo Kid will take all the beating. This horse is trained by Charlotte Covell near Lincoln and won the Confined race at North Carlton in February before going on to be fourth in a 2m7f Hunter Chase at Leicester. Given that Picabo Kid stays so well, the full 3 miles trip here will be much more to his liking and he will be ridden by Johnny Bailey.
Canticle may choose to line up in the third race the Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate race for which 16 entries have been taken. Margaret Moody's horse Pleasure Shared ran well to finish second to the very promising Horsham Lad at the South Wold meeting. Lord Daresbury's King Among Queens won the Restricted race at the Brocklesby meeting. However, he looked beaten when falling at the South Wold meeting, also at Brocklesby. The winner that day, Byways Boy, looked a progressive individual and could win again. Byways Boy and Pleasure Shared are both trained by Gerald Bailey.
Gerald Bailey also trains for owner / rider Richard Hunnisett who has three horses entered in the fourth race, the Mixed Open. Harapour unseated Richard at the start at the South Wold and after running loose ran a little disappointingly in the race. The King Of Angels was second at North Carlton behind He's The Gaffer before finishing sixth in the Hunter Chase that Richard's company Mallard Pawnbrokers sponsor. Denvale won a Mens Open race at Horseheath early on in the season and followed up at the South Wold making virtually all the running. Tom Bannister's My Old Piano will take some beating. He recently won a Hunter Chase at Leicester by ten lengths.
The Open race is the second race in the Garthorpe Open Race Bonus Accumulator Owner / Trainer Championship. This is a new initiative at Garthorpe for 2010 and there is currently £590 in the pool. Horses that are placed in these races score points and after one race at the Cottesmore meeting Joan Tice is in the lead with three points.
Enigma Variations, who won the Maiden at the Cottesmore, will be hoping for further success if he lines up in the Restricted race. There are several Maiden winners looking to progress here, another being Attrapeur who is trained in Yorkshire by David Easterby and won a 2m4f Maiden at Bangor recently. Newnham Rambo was second behind Canticle at the Cottesmore meeting and Cameroon was second in the Members race that day. Hardwick Wood won a Maiden on his debut at Whitfield and Brave Admiral won nicely at Dalston. This certainly looks a very competitive race.
Richard Burton could win the Open Maiden on either Enter Paradise, who was a good second at Eyton on Severn recently, or Front Street who recorded a good second at Chaddesley in February. Others to note are Spirit Of Man who was a good second at the Holderness meeting and is trained by David Easterby for Eric Brook. Stuart Morris's ride Lady Athlacca was third at the last Garthorpe meeting and Brian Duke's homebred mare Commanche Hop showed promise on her debut at North Carlton.
The final race, due off at 5pm, is the Open Maiden race over 2m4f for which 18 entries have been made. Laura Pomfret's Classical Melody was fourth behind Oojar at the South Wold meeting and may have improved for the run. The David Easterby trained Pipsacre was second in the other Maiden at the South Wold and may also have improved. Antonia Bealby's Cap Benat has also shown some promise earlier in the season.
