17 March 2009 Preview: Grove & Rufford - Welbeck
With good ground conditions and an entry of 125, some exciting racing looks to be on the cards this coming weekend when the Grove & Rufford Hunt hold their annual Point-to-Point meeting at Welbeck, near Worksop.
This racecourse is renowned as one of the prettiest parkland courses in the country with views of outstanding beauty. The opening race is scheduled for 12.30pm.
Admission prices are £10 per car with driver. £5 each additional passenger. Pedestrians £5. Children under 15 free.
Opening race of the day is The Confined Race and this is kindly sponsored by Avocet Hardware. The race has attracted an entry of 22. Both Pleasure Shared and Fr Freddie were winners at last week's Garthorpe meeting. The consistent Teeton Dazzler ran second behind the former at the same meeting. Farmer Frank won a Restricted at North Carlton but Distant Memory, third in a Mens Open at Charm Park, just gets the vote.
Second race, off at 1.00pm is the Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members for Novice Riders. The received entry here is 25. Teeton Dazzler, also entered in the opening race, is consistent. Well Presented won well at Brocklesby Park and has to be considered. However the fifteen year old Glenelly Gale ran second at Charm Park and may take this race.
The Mens Open Race has an entry of 15 and looks a competitive affair. The Hookie Bookie was a decent second last weekend at Brocklesby Park. The Accordion Man won on his first run this year at Chaddesley Corbett and is likely to be ridden by ex-champion jockey, Richard Burton. However the Bailey stable have two entered and although Denvale ran well in a Hunter Chase at Leicester recently, Cheyne finished a good second at Garthorpe and is the selection here.
Race four on the card is The Ladies Open Race and the sponsors here are Grove Cottages of Ambleside, Cumbria. This race has also attracted an entry of 15 and looks extra competitive. Hello Its Me won a similar race last month at North Carlton and will have the services of Kelly Morgan. Accomplished lady rider Jill Dawson has previous winners Vingis Park and Virgin Soldier entered and could win on either of these. Sweet Citizen rarely runs a bad race and has already won at Horseheath. Nevertheless with the stable in top form, the choice here is Blue Business, a winner of both his races this year.
Camwatch Securities have kindly sponsored race five, the Open Maiden Race for eight year olds and over, and here we have an entry of 14. This could rest between the eight year old Smolidor, a fair second in a Maiden at Godstone in February, and Hailes Hill Lad, the mount of Miles Seston, who was a creditable third in a similar race at Charm Park. Dreamaker and Clande Boy are others of note.
Race Six is the Open Maiden Race over 2 miles 5 furlongs, for four, five, six and seven year olds, and has attracted an entry of 34 and may have to be split on the day. Woodmaster ran a decent second at Thorpe Lodge in January. Henry Beauclerc and Kandelin were both placed at North Carlton recently. However the young four year old Modrano, beaten less than a length at Charing, has to be the selection on this season's form.
The Racecourse at Welbeck is situated 4 miles south/west of Worksop on the Ollerton road. (Use exit 30, M1) Please respect racecourse directions; there is strictly no access through the Garden Centre.
