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WANTAGE ROAD: among a number of possible representatives for the Mason family
photo: Jon Hodd

The Brocklesby Point-to-Point takes place this coming Saturday at Brocklesby Park, Habrough just off the A18 near Humberside Airport, about five miles from junction 5 of the M180.

The course is set in beautiful parkland and is an ideal day out for all the family; pack a picnic, binoculars and some warm clothes. The first of eight races begins at 12.30pm. There will be bookmakers, a licensed bar, refreshments and a good selection of trade stands.

Entrance is £8 per person or £10 with a race card. Children under 16 will be admitted free. 134 Entries have been received.

On a sad note, Warwick Dixon will be missed at the meeting this year. Warwick was for many years an excellent public address announcer and sadly died of cancer last August. His good humour and sense of fun will be very much missed in the weighing room at the Brocklesby and the other local Point-to-Points he worked at.

Robinson's Interiors are kindly sponsoring the first race, the Members race for the Countess Of Yarborough Challenge Cup; four Entries have been received. Geoff Hunter's Bellapais Boy has finished third in this race for the last two years. This horse, who is now seven, will be ridden by Dickie Collinson and has the advantage of experience. George Pickering, who won this race riding Last Of The Bells in 1975, has Landenstown Star entered. This gelding is a six-year-old and has some NH form having been placed in a bumper in 2009. Landenstown star is trained by Samantha Klug, who will be in the saddle on Saturday. The King's Speech is a five year old trained at the Kent's Newstead Priory stables and may make his debut in this race for Nick Kent and Wendy Wesley. However, the winner could be the four year old Another Grand, trained by Oliver Williams. This gelding made a promising Point-to-Point debut at Thorpe recently when finishing a good fourth and has a weight advantage due to his age. Another Grand is owned by The Folk From The Shire Partnership, which consists of keen Brocklesby supporters Fiona Griffiths and Danny Ablott, who will be acting as a paddock steward on the day.

Clark Weightman are sponsoring the Confined Hunts race in which Jo Mason has the choice of Liverpool and Wantage Road. Both these horses have won this season at North Carlton and Jo is in fine form having won on Yann's last Sunday. Keen Whip has a good chance here for the Brader family; this gelding likes Brocklesby and will be ridden by Mark Walford. The Robinson family have Menchikov entered; this horse returned from a season's absence to win the Confined race at the Burton meeting at North Carlton in January. He will be partnered by top Midlands jockey Richard Armson. Pennytino is another with a chance; she won at Thorpe recently for the Gerald Bailey stable.

AGA are sponsoring the Ladies Open race and this race is a qualifier for the £7,500 3m1f110y AGA Ladies Open Point-to-Point Championship Final Hunter Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday 4th May. The Mason family are expected to run the game Grimthorpe Gold Cup winner Poppy Day here and she will take some beating. Lutin du Moulin was going well for Anna Dawson before falling at North Carlton on Sunday and is a decent horse with a chance. Jacqui Coward has two possible mounts here in Charlies Memory and Cottam Phantom. Samantha Klug has both Great Grimsby and Caramia entered here and in the Confined race; Caramia was second here last year and Great Grimsby was second at North Carlton on Sunday.

The Mens Open race is kindly sponsored by Singleton Birch. Oscar Churton has Crozan entered here; this horse was a classy performer under Rules for Sue Smith and last won in 2009. Now an 11-year-old, Crozan is now trained by Marti Mulhall and should be able to give his new connections some fun in the amateur sphere. Lord Daresbury's former Aintree Foxhunters winner Trust Fund may run here or in the Confined race and would take some beating if he is in form. Judy Wilson's Coolefind would also have a very good chance and the consistent veteran Denvale should be able to run into a place for Owner / Rider Richard Hunnisett.

Nick Kent's stable has a good chance in the Nunn's Mitsubishi Restricted race. Here they have Ivan's Back entered who is owned by Victoria Branson and her mother Mrs Cottingham. Ivan's Back won a Maiden at Thorpe recently in impressive style by a distance; he could well step up to the next grade on Saturday and is an exciting prospect. Jacqui Coward has Lewesdon Tom entered; this progressive eight-year-old is trained by Jacqui's mother, Cherry. He won a Maiden at Sheriff Hutton at the end of January and may be able to follow up here. Margaret Moody's Galway Jack was second in a Restricted race at Horseheath earlier in the month and has a chance. The Bethell family have the eight-year-old Boxbury entered; he won a Maiden race and a Hunt Members race last season and has already finished third in a Restricted race at Duncombe Park in 2011. Boxbury may take the beating and has the distinction of being one of the Mackenzie & Harris Annual's 12 star horses for the season.

DDM Agriculture are sponsoring the PPA / PPORA Club Mares Maiden race in which there are two local horses with chances. Mark Barthorpe may run Anamcqueen; this mare has been placed on several occasions and may be able to get her head in front on Saturday. Brian Duke from Market Rasen may run his homebred mare Legendary Hop. She is trained by Antonia Bealby and ran very well on her debut run Thorpe when she finished third. Guy Brewer's possible mount Bailey's Benchmark has some form in hurdle races and this experience could be to her advantage. Chris Dawson's ride Silk And Roses is another with a chance; she finished third on soft ground at Witton Castle earlier this month. This race is a qualifier for the PPA / PPORA Club Members Mares Maiden Series.

The Open Maiden race has been divided at Entry. Division one is sponsored by St Hugh's Hospital and Guy Brewer has no fewer than four possible mounts. Oojar has already 'won' a Maiden on this course before being disqualified and may be able to make amends. Mark Walford's mount Cricket Bat finished second at the Sinnington earlier this month and may be the pick of the bunch.

Division two is sponsored by Paul Wiseman Electrical Contractors. Guy Brewer has the choice of three horses here; In A Good Way may have a chance having been placed third at Flagg Moor last April. Chris Dawson's mount Lost Reference also has form; he finished third at Cottenham recently. Roger Jackson's Propriano du Bourg should also have a chance.

There is a new trophy, the Lilian Pickering Perpetual Challenge Trophy, which will be presented to the Leading Rider at the two meetings at Brocklesby Park in 2011.

To hear all updates supplied throughout the week and on the morning of the meeting, call the Talking Point news line on 09068 44 60 61*.

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