28 January 2008 Midlands Area Club - Thorpe Lodge
Robber's Glen: Northern raider's journey proved worthwhile
The Midlands Area Club Point-to-Point took place on Sunday in glorious spring-like weather. The sun was certainly shining for favourite backers with all seven races going to the market leader.
The highlight of the day was the D & M Barthorpe Mens Open Race. Top amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen arrived by helicopter to take the mount on Buckby Lane. This twelve year old gelding from Warwickshire led early on, was headed but hit the front once more with three fences to jump. Buckby Lane and Waley-Cohen looked like the winners at this point but had to go all out to beat Amicelli and Oliver Greenall who had made the journey down from Yorkshire.
D & M Barthorpe also sponsor the Midland Area Point-to-Point Championships for the leading horses and riders during the season. Stuart Morris went straight into the lead for the Gentleman's championship with wins in the first two races on Tallow Bridge and Northall Lad. Northall Lad beat Tom's Party and Guy Brewer by three quarters of a length in the Intermediate race sponsored by a number of Midlands Area trainers. Unfortunately Brewer later suffered a fall, damaged his collar bone and had to give up his remaining rides.
Val Jackson's journey from the north was made worthwhile when Robber's Glen beat Why Connie by five lengths in the Mercedes- Benz Ladies Open race. Robber's Glen is an eight year old who won three Point-to-Points last season and looks like he could win more in 2008.
Bravery Scotch followed up his Ampton win last week when beating Cottage River and Alpha Lima in the Sharp Nutrition Restricted race. Still only a six year old, Bravery Scotch could well improve further and provide more winners for Claire Allen.
The afternoon concluded with two divisions of the Open Maiden race. In division one Oliver Greenall made amends for his earlier second by winning impressively on George The Grey by seven and a half lengths. This horse looks like one to watch as he could well follow up in a Restricted race in the coming weeks. Another to note here was The Lumberjack, a six year old making his debut and finishing a good third. Division two went to the five year old Dream Garden who is trained locally by Antonia Bealby and was well ridden by Miles Seston. The fact that the winning time for this race was one of the fastest of the day made this a particularly impressive performance and Dream Garden looks sure to go on to better things.
