20 January 2009 Preview: Midlands Area Club at Thorpe Lodge
FLYING SPUR: winner of two Confined races last season is entered in the opening Club race
The Midlands Area Point to Point season begins on Sunday with the Midlands Area Club meeting, the first of two race meetings scheduled for Thorpe Lodge near Newark.
The course is situated 4 miles south west of Newark, near the A46 and 5miles from the A1. The course is reported to be in good condition and the first race is scheduled for 12noon. 87 entries have been received and there will be 6 races on the day. Entrance is £10 per person
The first race on the card is the Midlands Area Club race which has attracted 7 entries. Persian Hero who has won no fewer than 11 races for his jockey John Russell could be the pick here. Although 13 years old now he is consistent and genuine and he also has form on this course. Flying Spur won two confined races last season at Welbeck and Brocklesby. He would be a popular winner for his local owner/trainer Roger Jackson. Another who cannot be overlooked is Sovereign Quest trained by Tim Tarratt for Liz Inman. Sovereign Quest is fairly consistent but finds it difficult to win having been second on five occasions last season, he will however benefit from the assistance of leading Midlands Area jockey Richard Armson.
Sovereign Quest also holds an entry in the second race, the Intermediate race. Bobbies Ryde could be the danger to him here, he was second in a Confined race and an Intermediate race last season looking like he might be progressing. Tom's Party may make the journey from Yorkshire and although a little quirky he could go close. Gun Smith, now trained by Nick Kent, won a bumper and has form over hurdles when trained by Jonjo O'Neill.
Tom's Party's stable companion Ask Bobby may line up in the Mens Open. Trained by Mary Sowersby, he is very consistent and ran close in the Grimthorpe Gold Cup at the Middleton meeting last season. Ask Bobby could well be the pick but there are others to note. Richard Armson is likely to ride another solid performer True Friday, who won three races in 2008 and likes cut in the ground. Ballylusky also won three races last season and cannot be overlooked. Oh So Lively has some good form including a second behind Vingis Park at Garthorpe. Cheyne is trainer Gerald Bailey's horse to follow for 2009 but will be without his owner/rider Richard Hunnisett who has a broken arm.
The Ladies Open race should be an interesting race since Jill and Mike Dawson's Pass It On is likely to make his Point-to-Point debut. The former Jonjo O'Neill trained gelding should find conditions ideal at Thorpe. If he can win two Open races before 23rd February then he will qualify for the Christie's Foxhunter Steeple Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Touch Closer and Home By Midnight look the next best. Also the Tim Tarratt trained Darn Good has some decent Ladies Open form from last season.
Roger Jackson's Farmer Frank would be the pick if he lines up for the Restricted race. Only a six year old, Farmer Frank won two races in 2008 and should be open to further improvement. Ski Dazzle is a Thorpe course winner and can boast that he got within three and three quarters of a length of the highly regarded Bentota. Pennytino won a maiden at Brafield and is another that can be expected to have improved this year.
The final race on the card is the Open maiden race. Of the twenty six entries nineteen of them have yet to run in a Point-to-Point. Trainer Nick Kent has two entries which look interesting prospects. Lord Adonis has yet to race over fences but he did finish sixteen lengths behind Champion Hurdler Katchit when racing over hurdles. Woodmaster, like his stable companion is yet to jump a fence in public but ran in two bumpers when trained by Ferdy Murphy. However, from a betting point to view it may be best to look for a horse with some recent maiden form. Glad Star was third at Cottenham on the opening day of the season at Cottenham in November and Touchdown Kid ran second at Dunthrop in December.
For further information and in the event of doubtful weather please telephone Talking Point - 09068 44 60 61
