News

FOULSTONS RULER: could be tried in Open company for the first time
photo: Jackie Oliver

Two high-class Open races promise to provide the highlights of the Dunston Harriers Point-To-Point which takes place at Ampton, near Bury St Edmunds, on Sunday January 16.

In all 130 horses have been entered for the seven-race card which starts at noon with a 22-Entry Club Members Race and runs through until 3.30pm, when there are 13 possibles for the PPORA Club Members Novice Riders contest. Racing will be preceded by a hound parade at around 11.30am. 

The 20 potential combatants in the Mens Open include several potential stars of the coming season. David Kemp, who trains quite close to the course on the outskirts of Thetford, has entered both his stable flagbearers, Rydal Park and Where's My Baby, while Foulstons Ruler, a four-time East Anglian Point winner in 2010, could make his Open race debut.

These Pointing stalwarts could face a number of talented recruits from the professional ranks such as Kornati Kid, Badgerlaw and Offshore Account. Kornati Kid won a Grade Two Novice chase for Philip Hobbs two years ago, Badgerlaw's earnings topped the £100,000 mark when he was trained in Ireland by Jessica Harrington and Offshore Account (another Irish import) is a Grade 1 winner who finished fourth in the William Hill Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival only 10 months ago.

The Ladies Open has attracted just 10 Entries but these include several top notchers, not least Amicelli, who won the Cheltenham Foxhunter in 2008 and was fourth in that showpiece a year later. Massimo has also won around Cheltenham, but has been absent since running away with the Connolly's Red Mills Final there in May 2008. He is also engaged in both the Mens version and the opening Club Members.

Worcestershire Owner/Rider Angela Rucker could be represented by either Honest Endeavour or the dual recent Cottenham scorer Kicks For Free, while the top East Anglian horse of last year, Mid Div And Creep, may attempt to uphold the honour of the locals.

Ampton is four miles north of Bury St Edmunds just off the main road to Thetford, the A134, post code IP31 1NS. Approaching from Bury, follow the signs for Thetford from junction 43 of the A14 then turn right at the pub in the village of Ingham. The course entrance is barely 100 yards down this road.

Admission will be charged at £10 per head with under 17s free and racecards priced at £2.

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*.

_{*Service provided by Bluetogreen Ltd LS7 1PZ, company wholly independent of Weatherbys Ltd. Calls charged at 60p/min. Charges from non BT lines & mobiles may be higher. Terms & conditions at bluetogreen.co.uk. Customer Support Line 0844 993 0298.}

Back to Top