News

DESCRIPTION: did not complete the course in the Foxhunter last time but could return to Pointing
photo: Phil Britt

The first running of the Essex Grand National over four miles is the highlight of the seven-race East Essex Point-to-Point at Marks Tey on Saturday April 2nd, which has attracted a superb entry of 112 horses and promises to produce some thrilling racing.

The new race, which is sponsored by the Queen's horse bedding manufacturers, Bedmax Shavings, boasts maximum prize money of £500. 

Caveman, who is bidding for a hat-trick and won at the last Marks Tey fixture four weeks ago, looks the pick of the 15 Entries but has a number of credible potential opponents.

These include Jilted Lover and Bannister Lane, who finished third and fourth in the Kent Grand National at Detling in February, along with Ballygalley Bob, who took to Pointing with aplomb when recording two early season victories before getting stuck in the Horseheath mud last time out.

The other feature races on the card are the AGA Ladies Open, where 19 horses are engaged, and the Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate, which has 18 possible runners.

The in-form Joe Turner yard has a strong hand in the Ladies with both King du Berlais and Parrain;  they may face strong competition from outside East Anglia in the shape of Description, who came a cropper in the Cheltenham Foxhunter last time but had previously won a pair of high class Larkhill events, or Roaringwater, who followed up a Detling victory with a close third in a Fakenham Hunter Chase.

The Intermediate could lie between Roaringwater's stablemate, Little Legend, who was an easy winner in Kent last time out, and Finnish Melody, who is stepping up in class having won her last two starts.

Some rain is forecast but the clay soil at Marks Tey means that the land retains moisture well so the going will not be as firm as at many other venues. If the rain does not materialise, meeting Secretary Stephen March states that two tankers are on standby and the course will be watered at the end of the week.

The action gets under way at 2.00pm with a Hunts Club Members Race where Foulstons Ruler stands out among the six entries and runs through until 5.30pm when there are 17 possibles for a Countryside Alliance Novice Riders race.

Admission will be charged at £10 per head with under 17s allowed in for free. The steeplechasing will be preceded by a pair of chidren's pony races which come under orders at 1.00pm.

Marks Tey is west of the village of the same name and the junction of the A12 and the A120, post code CO5 9EZ. It needs to be approached using the London-bound carriageway of the A12 then taking the left turn signposted for Easthorpe.

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