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ENIGMA VARIATIONS: progressive form this season and could contest the Intermediate
photo: Jackie Oliver

The South Notts Point-to-Point takes place at Thorpe Lodge, Newark on Easter Monday 5th April.

The course at Thorpe Lodge is situated four miles south west of Newark near the A46, five miles from the A1. For those with satellite navigation systems the postcode is NG23 5PY. A total of 95 Entries have been received for seven races, starting at 2pm. The course is in excellent condition and admission is £7.50 per person.

Altogether, 19 Entries have been taken for the first race, the Confined, which could turn out to be a competitive contest. The Anne Jepson Memorial Trophy will be presented to the winner in memory of the long-standing South Notts secretary. In the absence of a Members race this year the Jim Seely Challenge Cup will be presented to the first South Notts-qualified horse past the post. This could be won by one of Roger Jackson's horses Iron Hague or Propriano Du Bourg, whichever horse runs is likely to be ridden by Miles Seston. Both Roger and his wife Sally, who farm locally at Gonalston, are involved in the organisation of this meeting.

Andy Parkin's Gun Smith is also qualified with the South Notts and this horse won an Intermediate race at Thorpe in 2009. This season he was the easy winner of the PPORA Club Members race for Novice Riders at the South Wold meeting, however Trainer Nick Kent also has him entered at Fakenham in a Hunter Chase and he may choose that alternative engagement.

The Henderson family have the choice of The Luder or Aztec Warrior in this race. Aztec Warrior has won two PPORA Club Members races for Novice riders at Garthorpe so far this season. The Hutchinson family have Zilcash entered and he beat The Luder when winning at the Cottesmore meeting. Trainer Gerald Bailey has both Pass The Parsel and Byways Boy to choose from; Pass The Parsel is owned by Margaret Moody and won twice this season before falling in a Hunter Chase at Fakenham, whilst Byways Boy beat Noble Ben by two lengths in the Restricted race at the South Wold meeting. He is owned by Welbeck secretary Jane Bowen and her husband Alan.

The Bournston Group have kindly sponsored the Ladies Open race for which eleven Entries have been made. Moustique De L'Isle gave sixteen year old Emma Garner her first win when beating Super Lord by a length in the Confined race at Welbeck. The Hutchinson family have Limerick Leader entered and both he and Petit Lord ran in the Ladies Open (A Weekender / Brightwells Insurance Order Of Excellence Race) at Bangor on 14th March. On that occasion Limerick Leader finished third and Petit Lord was second behind the classy Christy Beamish. If Petit Lord and Angela Rucker turn up they will take all the beating.

The Newark Livestock Market is kindly sponsoring the third race, the Mens Open for which thirteen Entries have been received. Aztec Warrior, The Luder and Iron Hague may run here in preference to the earlier Confined race. Richard Hunnisett, who won on Denvale at Garthorpe last Sunday, has Present Glory or The King Of Angels to choose from. Buckby Lane was second behind Denavle when he won at the South Wold, whilst Richard Armson's mount True Friday was second in the Mens Open at the Cottesmore meeting and has since been placed in a Hunter Chase. The King Of Angels was second behind He's The Gaffer when he won the Mens Open at North Carlton for the Churton family; since then he has been disappointing in a Hunter Chase at Sandown but has a very good chance on Monday if returning to form.

Jackson's Butchers are sponsoring the Intermediate race. The winner of this race is eligible to run in the £7000 3m1½f Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate Point-to-Point Championship Final Hunter Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday 5th May. Byways Boy and Pass The Parsel may line up here instead of in the Confined race. Victoria Branson has Distant Memory entered; this horse won a Club race in 2009 and was a good third at Charm Park in March. Enigma Variations has progressed this season, winning Maiden and Restricted races at Garthorpe and should go close again on Monday.

Nine horses have been entered for the Restricted, due off at 4.20pm. This contest looks to be between Harlaxton and Oojar; Harlaxton is owned by Chris Bealby and trained by his wife Antonia, who is in form having saddled a double at Garthorpe last Sunday. The seven-year-old Harlaxton won a Maiden at North Carlton and then finished second in a Restricted race there; he is likely to benefit from having Adam Wedge in the saddle. Oojar won the fastest division of the Maiden race at the South Wold meeting and may make the journey down from Yorkshire.

A total of 21 Entries have been taken for the four- to seven-year-olds Open Maiden Race. Gerald Bailey trains Kandelin for Margaret Moody and this horse had been placed third twice this season before falling when going well at the South Wold. Roger Jackson's Propriano Du Bourg has been placed in Maiden company including when fourth behind Byways Boy, who has since won a Restricted race. Joan Tice's Teeton Coral is another with a good chance having been placed second behind Oojar at the South Wold.

There are 13 entered in the eight-year-olds and over Open Maiden race, the final race of the day due off at 5.30pm. Essenbee and Chloe Kirkby are likely to make the running and have a chance if the ground dries up. Mark Barthorpe's mare Anamcqueen has been placed in Maiden races this season and is trained by Stuart Morris. However the winner could well be Margaret Pinney's Springfield Dante; trained by Nick Kent this nine-year-old has found form this season and if he runs as well as he did when second at Welbeck behind Monkerty Tunkerty he will take the beating.

Following the last race there will be the South Notts Hunt Challenge. This is an opportunity for riders to have a go at riding a circuit and a half of Thorpe Lodge excluding the open ditch. It will be a great spectacle and well worth staying for.

Other race sponsors include Brydon Property Developments, Frank Key Ltd. Builder's Merchants and The Fernwood Group.

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