19 April 2011 Preview: North Cotswold - Paxford
by Peter Mansell
Easter is one of the busiest periods of the Point-to-Point season, and with warm weather predicted to last over the Holiday weekend, a big turnout is expected for next Monday's North Cotswold meeting at Paxford, near Chipping Campden.
Extensive efforts are being made to obtain the best possible going, which should ensure the meeting is well supported by owners and trainers.
Nick Sutton and Offshore Account will find these obstacles less formidable than those they faced at Aintree. They will probably start at very short odds for the Members on the strength of that performance, so it may pay to look elsewhere for some value.
Naunton-based Marcella Bayliss has entered three horses in this race and the selection could get things off to a winning start.
Ruperts Vision was beaten a very short head at Andoversford recently, so the trainer will be hoping she is not at the wrong end of another close finish. The horse will relish the conditions and that is a major point in his favour. Stablemates Roiofthetigers and Twiga Woods provide backup in what looks a tricky contest.
Celestial Dragon had little more than an exercise gallop when winning at Tweseldown last week, while Fergal's Find is being used as a schoolmaster for jockeys from Fergal O'Brians stable at Naunton.
Quenzo Conti was last seen out with Craig Smith in the saddle. As landlord of the Plough at Ford there would be major celebrations at that establishment if he finished in front.
The Noble Roman ran well on his debut and owners Paul and Lucy King from Weston sub Edge are due a change of luck.
Mark Wall has a good record over this course. The Bibury rider teamed up with Isle Of Skye when they were successful at Barbury recently, but this Club Race is a much stiffer contest and it is difficult seeing them get the better of Buckingham Bill, Ice Cool Benny and Timeshift.
A number of potential runners in the Ladies Open ran last weekend so it depends on how quickly they recover from their exertions as to whether they line up on Monday afternoon.
Angela Rucker is always looking for winning opportunities for her horses, and could have found one for Blue Business or Honest Endeavour.
The Rucker's Cedrus Libani finished runner-up in the Dudley Cup and connections seem to have got him back on the straight and narrow. He should put up a good performance in the Mens Open, but faces a worthy opponent in the shape of Sheknowsyouknow. This mare never seems to run a bad race, and gets on so well with Mark Wall they could cause an upset.
The Restricted has attracted a small but select field in which Mulranny, Prof De L'Isle and Classical Rocker look to provide their supporters with a good run for their money. The former is expected to prevail, providing trainer Fergal O'Brien with yet another winner.
Road To Recovery has not lived up to early season expectations, but has a chance to redeem himself in the four, five, six and seven-year-old Maiden. It will be no easy task because Flying Gnu and Friendly Natives both have useful form, with the latter predicted to land the prize for his Forthampton-based connections.
Marcella Bayliss has a good chance of landing a first and last race double with Roiofthetigers holding an engagement in the older Maiden. My Daring Venture finished runner up at the Worcestershire meeting seven days ago, and connections will be looking for the horse to go one better in this event.
