26 January 2009 Report: Midlands Area Club - Thorpe Lodge
SILVER JACK: and Camilla Ewart go on to win unchallenged in the Ladies Open
The Midlands Area Club Point-to-Point took place at Thorpe Lodge on Sunday. Despite recent wet weather the track was in excellent condition and was riding on the soft side of good.
It was a good day for jockey Dickie Barrett who rode a double for Northamptonshire based trainer Gerald Bailey. In the Mens Open race, sponsored by Doncaster Bloodstock Sales, Barrett was deputising for injured owner rider Richard Hunnisett on board Cheyne. This useful chesnut gelding won readily by four lengths, with True Friday back in second and Ballylusky in third. The second leg of the Barrett/ Bailey double came in the Sharp Nutrition Restricted race with Pennytino. This mare won a maiden last season and could improve further.
The only other runner from the Bailey stable was Persian Hero who was backed into 8-11 favouritism for the opening Castle Rock sponsored Mark Ashton Memorial Club Members race. However, the thirteen year old veteran pointer and jockey John Russell had no answer when challenged by Van Ness on the run-in and were beaten by three and a half lengths.
The Intermediate race was sponsored by local Point-to-Point trainers including Nick Kent who took the race with the Simon Walker ridden Gun Smith. Gun Smith is the winner of a bumper and was placed second over hurdles prior to joining the Kent yard and could be one to follow in the coming months.
Nick Kent also sent out the six year old Woodmaster in the C & G Concrete Maiden race. Woodmaster was having his first race over fences and finished second only beaten by three and a half lengths. He should be able to go one better before too long. The race was won by Peter Sent who provided Luke Morgan with his second winner of the weekend having won the Mens Open at Larkhill the previous day. Connections were quick to publicise the fact that Peter Sent is up for sale.
D & M Barthorpe, who sponsor the Midland Area Awards, also sponsored the Ladies Open race. This went to Silver Jack and Camilla Ewart who took up the running four fences from home and won unchallenged.
The next meeting in the Midlands Area is the Burton Point-to-Point on Sunday 1st February at the new Point to Point course at North Carlton. First race is at 12noon and admission is £5 per car park and £5 per person.
