24 February 2009 Preview: Blankney - North Carlton
The Blankney Point to Point takes place on Sunday 1st March at North Carlton racecourse on the Lincolnshire Showground. The course is situated one mile north of Lincoln, the entrance is off Tillbridge Lane (A1500) and admission is £5 per car and £5 per person.
This is the second meeting to be held on this new purpose built course and owners, trainers, jockeys and race goers were full of praise for the new facilities following the Burton meeting a month ago. 107 entries have been received and the first of 8 races begins at 11.30am. With a drying week forecast, the going is likely to be good. Once again the big screen will be available to watch racing.
RGL Carpets have sponsored the first race, the Blankney and Burton Members race. Of the five entries just one horse Silver Streak is from the Burton and he represents the Robinson family of Linwood. This veteran grey pointer will be ridden by Tommy Parr and is likely to make the running. Keen Blankney supporter and retired dentist Oliver Chapple makes his race riding debut on board Pickled Walnut. Alex Theaker will also be having his first ride in a race on the former useful pointer Civil Gent. This horse has some National Hunt form from his days with Mike Sowersby and should go close. Martin Leach, who won a point to point at Southwell a few years ago, returns to action riding Ruth Parker's homebred Prime Princess. On form Martin Wells horse Yann's should win, he was placed fourth in a Hunter Chase recently and will be ridden by Miles Seston. Yann's also holds an entry in the Brown & Co Mens Open later on in the day.
The second race, the Confined race sponsored by Bluefin Insurance Services, has attracted seventeen entries and could be a competitive affair. Van Ness won the Member's race at Thorpe in January beating Persian Hero by four lengths with Flying Spur in third. Owned and trained by Roger Jackson, the grey Flying Spur ran well to be fourth in the Brocklesby Mens Open last week pleasing jockey Nick Kent and he may well still be improving. Major Shark was third at the Burton meeting for veteran Yorkshire rider Chris Cundall and he is a consistent sort. Trainer Gerald Bailey has two horses entered; Pennytino and True Legend. Pennytino won the Restricted race at Thorpe and should be able to progress. True Legend sustained an injury in 2007 but made a promising return to action when runner up at Tweseldown on February 15th. Ronan the Warrior won an intermediate race at Cottenham the same day.
Blue Business, a winner at the Burton meeting, bids for a repeat in the AL Cox Ladies Open race. Rider Angela Rucker also has Honest Endeavour entered and he won a Ladies Open at Chaddesley Corbett recently; these two horses will certainly take all the beating. However, others to choose from include Hello It's Me who was second behind Silver Jack at Thorpe in January. Caramia finished second behind Distant Memory in the LUHC Members race at the Burton meeting but has disappointed since. Jill Dawson has Pass It On and Vingis Park to choose from. Pass It On failed to complete the course at the Brocklesby last week, he pulled up after finding the going too soft. Vingis Park however won two Ladies Open races in 2008 and is a reliable performer.
Twelve horses have been entered for the Brown & Co Mens Open, the fourth race on the card. Flying Spur holds an entry and may prefer to run here rather than in the Bluefin Insurances Services Confined race. Holy Joe won well for Toby Greenall in a Novice Riders race at Friar's Haugh in January. Toby's brother Tom finished third on Unjust Law in a fast confined race at the Brocklesby meeting. Kjetil should find the good going to his liking and could go well for the Gerald Bailey yard. However, the winner is likely to be Menchikov for the Robinson family and Richard Armson. Menchikov won the Men's Open at the Burton meeting and has since been runner up in a Hunter Chase at Huntingdon, qualifying for a possible run in the Christies Foxhunters race at the Cheltenham festival. Runner up to Menchikov at the Burton was Network Oscar who is set to re-oppose on Sunday.
Velcourt Ltd have sponsored the Restricted race for which thirteen horses have been entered. Quinta De Lobo has been placed second several times in Restricted races and should be able to win one. However, the winner on Sunday is likely to come from the two horses with recent form; Lord Of The Knar and Little Fountain. Lord Of The Knar was second at Horseheath last Saturday for rider Alex Vaughan Jones and should be suited by the track at North Carlton. Little Fountain won a maiden at Tweseldown recently and could well progress.
The two and a half mile Maiden race has been divided and division one has been sponsored by Mr and Mrs Oliver Griffin. At this stage in the season a lot young horses are making their debut and may be best watched. The Real Tom Eoin from Mary Sowersby's Yorkshire stable has some place form from last season and may have improved enough to take a hand in the finish.
Division two has been sponsored by the Blankney Pony Club. Intense Suspense was fifth at the Burton meeting and should have improved. O'Gara was placed third in the Restricted race at Thorpe and could go close. However, the winner here could well be Gerald Bailey's Morning Moment, he will be ridden by Gerald's son Johnny and was second behind The Snurglar at the Burton meeting.
The final race on the card, the Open Maiden race, has been sponsored by PM Engineering Contractors Ltd. The likely winner is Accordion Roilelet who will be making his debut in England but holds some Irish National Hunt form. He will be ridden by Miles Seston.
