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BOXBURY: (pink) could contest the Restricted after Witton Castle Maiden win
photo: Jon Hodd

The Blankney Point to Point takes place on Sunday 28th February 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. The postcode for those with satellite navigation systems is LN2 2NA.

This is the second of two meetings to be held on this course in 2010. There will be bookmakers, refreshments, a licensed bar and a range of trade stands; once again the big screen will be available to watch racing. A total of 159 Entries have been received and the 2m4f Maiden has been divided to give eight races.

The first race is due off at 12 noon; this is the Members race for which three entries have been received; Rowley Barclay has Jackson entered, he was second in the Members race at the last meeting here and is a reliable jumper. Milson Robinson's Roby De Cimbre won that day and the Robinson family have Exit To Luck entered for Sunday; his horse won seven races on the flat and was placed over hurdles when trained by Steve Gollings. Exit To Luck will be making his Point- to- Point debut and will be ridden by top Midlands Area jockey Richard Armson. Last year's winner Yann's completes the line up and he is expected to give owner Martin Well's daughter Olivia a first ride in a race.

Altogether, 21 Entries have been taken for the Confined Hunts race which has the potential to be a competitive affair. Richard Armson may team up with Thenford Ryde who is trained by Holly Campbell for Penny Zygmant. This seven-year-old bay gelding, second to Denvale at Horseheath in January, should be able to run well here.

Denvale's Owner/ Rider Richard Hunnisett has Harapour entered. He won three Confined races in 2008 before missing 2009 but could easily go close on Sunday. Gerald Bailey trains both Harapour and his mother-in-law's True Legend, who ran well to be third behind Fresh Fruit at Thorpe recently.

Point Proven was only beaten a neck in the Members race at Thorpe in a fast time and a repeat of that form could see him go close. Major Shark and Charlotte Cundall may make the journey from Yorkshire, having won a Novice and Veteran Riders race at the recent Sinnington meeting.

Charlotte Cundall also has the chance in the Ladies Open race with Andre Chenier. This horse is an Open winner and acts on any going. At the recent Witton Castle meeting Andre Chenier was beaten one length by Brocklesby Ladies winner Lutin Du Moulin, who is entered again here. Samantha Klug was second on Caramia at the Brocklesby and if all three horses turn up again it could be a fascinating renewal, although Lutin Du Moulin will take the beating. Another to consider is Poppy Day who won the Confined race at the Burton here for Joanna Mason.

Another Witton Castle winner, Sonevafushi, is entered in the Mens Open race. Tom Bannister's classy gelding made all that day and won easily; based on that performance it will be difficult to see him getting beaten on Sunday.

Dual Garthorpe winner Picabo Kid may run well and so might the Nick Kent-trained Paolo Soprani. Richard Hunnisett's The King Of Angels was fourth at Thorpe recently and ran in snatches that day; a return to the blinkers he wore when successful under Rules may lead to an improvement.

The local hope in this race will be Martin Well's Nadover who was fifth behind Robber's Glen in a Hunter Chase at Wetherby recently.

Chris Bealby's North Carlton Maiden winner Harlaxton steps up in grade and trip in the Restricted race, likely to be ridden by in-form jockey Adam Wedge. Another horse stepping up is Samantha Klug's Naturally Inspired. This mare won the Members race at Brocklesby in a time that was faster than the two Maiden races that day.

Boxbury won a Maiden at Witton Castle for the Bethell family from Yorkshire and he may be able to progress from that performance, whilst
punters wanting to back a horse with some good Restricted form could go for The Real Tom Eoin; this horse, trained by Mary Sowersby for Chris Richardson, is a good jumper and ran second behind King Among Queens at the Brocklesby.

The 2m4f Maiden race has been divided; a lot of these horses are inexperienced and many are set to make their racing debuts. In division one Margaret Moody's Kandelin may be good enough to score; this horse was third at the first North Carlton meeting and jockey Dickie Barrett has been in fine form lately.

In division two Barrett has a good chance on another Gerald Bailey trained runner, Byways Boy, who was second at Thorpe. Roger Jackson's Propriano Du Bourg was third behind Byways Boy that day and may have improved for the run. In the faster first division of the Maiden at Thorpe, Attrapeur was beaten a length and a half by Elite Beneficial; Attrapeur also has some hurdles form and may be good enough to win on Sunday.

The final Open Maiden race, over three miles, is due off at 4.05pm. There is a total entry of 23; the 10-year-old In To Win was a good second at Hexham last May, he stays well and should be in with a chance.

Liverpool has had a year off but had several placings in Maidens in 2008 and may go close for the Mason family. Eric Brook's Spirit Of Man was fourth at Thorpe, is trained by David Easterby and is likely to have the assistance of one of the Greenall brothers in the saddle. He may be good enough to win.

For further information and in the event of bad weather phone Talking Point 09068 44 60 61.

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