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PINGARO DE LA VIRE: unbeaten in 2011 Points and a strong contender in the Mens Open
photo: Julie Drewett

Sunday is the busiest day on the Point-to-Point calendar so far this year, so it is not surprising that entries are smaller than anticipated. The Cotswold fixture at Andoversford is crucial to Fergal O'Brien if the Naunton trainer is to have any chance of retaining the Area title he has won for the last 3 years.

Entries from his stable dominate the Members race but his owners are sporting enough to take one another on. There is no such thing as a racing certainty but the nearest thing you can get to it is that O'Brien will train the winner of this race.

O'Brien has a couple of entries in the 19-strong Confined but on this year's form Silver Jaro and Virginia Preuil will have difficulty getting the better of their rivals.

There has been a good crop of young riders in the area this year but two of them - Rollo Deutsch and William McNeile - are still waiting for their first winners. Craven ran disappointingly at Siddington recently after showing promise at Didmarton so the Deutschs will be hoping he can recapture that earlier form.

Pingaro de la Vire has been running consistently down in the South East where opportunities are easier but this race comes into the same category. It is difficult to see him getting beaten and this contest is much closer to Kim Smylys stables at Stanton.

There could be family rivalry in the Ladies Open where sisters Katherine Smith-Maxwell and Angela Rucker both have horses entered, but with opportunities elsewhere a clash between Double Mead and Kicks for Free seems unlikely. Both horses have shown their appreciation for the drop down in the Pointing ranks but Double Mead is in such good form, the prize looks his for the taking.

If the big guns sidestep their engagements it might be worth taking a chance with the Trevor Jewitt trained Hi Wycombe. He is still a maiden but was fifteen lengths clear of the opposition when falling at Siddington recently. That may be the limit of his stamina but Andoversford could play to his strengths as long as his rider keeps something in reserve for the climb to the post.

The Mens Open looks tailor made for Noakarad de Verzee. The Kim Smyly trained gelding has been running in Hunter Chases recently and there is nothing of that calibre in this race. Tribal Venture had good form a few seasons ago but has struggled to make the frame this year.

Runners from the O'Brien stable should be thereabouts in the Intermediate. It would be no surprise to see Gemini Aahs involved in the finish, while this track could bring out the best in Creevytennant. He was successful at Didmarton despite the fact that he jumped to his right at every fence. That was a smart performance in those circumstances and no doubt the stable has been working to eradicate those problems. If they remain unresolved it would not be a major problem as he continues on the upgrade.

Ruperts Vision bounced off the ground to land the Restricted at Siddington and with conditions likely to be very similar at Andoversford he is expected to give a good account of himself.

27 horses have been entered for the Maiden. Plettenburg has failed to fulfil early promise but this is one of the easier opportunities he is going to find all season, although O'Brien could chose this race for the debut of Beggars Velvet.

Atlantic Tammy represents Hucclecote breeder John de Lisle Wells but his horses generally need a race or two for experience before they show their best form. Panicmadic seemed to get bogged down in the conditions that prevailed earlier in the season so this ground should be in her favour.

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