31 March 2009 Preview: Pytchley - Guilsborough
PERSIAN HERO: may give his rivals this sight of him again in the Members
With ground conditions next to perfect and an excellent entry of 173 horses, a large crowd is anticipated when the Pytchley Hunt hold their annual Point-to-Point meeting at Guilsborough, Northants, this coming Sunday 5th April. First race time is 1.30pm.
Admission prices for the meeting are £20 per car. Pedestrians £5. Children under 16 free.
First race featured on this seven race card is the Hunt Members, Subscribers & Farmers Race due off at 1.30pm, which has an entry of 10. Pennytino and Little Fountain are from the Bailey stable and have both won two races this season. Persian Hero was a good second in a Members race at Thorpe Lodge earlier this year and won this race last year. Walters Laddie also has to be considered as he was going well until carried out at Welbeck recently.
Race Two is The Confined Race and this has an entry of 25. Bobbies Ryde from the Jimmy Tarry stable has been placed twice this year and has Tom Ellis on board. Teeton Dazzler gave Johnny Bailey a winning ride in a novice riders race at Welbeck. However the selection here is the ten year old, Sleep Bal, the probable mount of Stuart Morris, who was going well in an Open race at Garthorpe until falling in the closing stages.
The Ladies Open Race has attracted a field of 29 and this race looks wide open. Mad Victor is highly rated after winning a Ladies Open at Bangor. Sweet Citizen, from the Diana Williams yard, is consistent and is expected to go close. Jill Dawson has Sir Storm and Vingis Park entered, both have good form. Nevertheless the selection is Honest Endeavour, a winner three times this year and with the stable in good form he looks the pick.
The Mens Open Race has attracted an entry of 16. Sleep Bal, also entered in the Confined race, may find this even more competitive. Denvale and Buckby Lane have both been engaged in Hunter Chases this year and may appreciate the drop in class. Mel In Blue would have to be considered on last seasons form. However My Best Buddy, first and second in his last two races, and The Hookie Bookie, a good second last weekend, may fight out the finish.
Race Five on the card is The Restricted Race, where a total of 27 have entered. Pretty Lady Rose was a decent third in a similar event at Tweseldown and second in two previous starts this year. Always Willing won a Maiden at Didmarton and is expected to improve. However, Pass the Parsel was a head second in a Restricted at Cottenham and could go one better here.
With a huge entry of 64 for the Open Maidens Race a decision was taken to split the race into two divisions. Fenny Lane ran well when third on his first appearance this year and has to be a danger in Division One. The six year old Lucciolina from the Warwickshire stable of Robert Waley-Cohen caught the eye when a neck second in a 2m4f Maiden at Garthorpe and has to be fancied here.
32 have been entered for Division Two. Exuberance, the mount of Tom Weston, has shown promise on his last two starts. Caged Tiger ran third in a Maiden at Parham in Kent. Posh Dude has been placed twice and is expected to have Jo Docker in the saddle. Maddie's Dream fell two fences out when in contention in a Maiden at Didmarton and could be the answer.
Guilsborough Racecourse is situated close to the A5199, 10 miles NW of Northampton.
