11 March 2008 South Wold - Brocklesby Park
West Coaster: Welbeck victor last time out
The South Wold Point-to-Point takes place on Saturday 15th March at Brocklesby Park, Habrough, just off the A18 close to Humberside Airport. The first race is at 12.30pm and the highlights include the Men's Open race which is a qualifier for the £10,000 3m½f Volkswagen Touareg Championship Hunter Chase Final at Towcester on Monday 12th May.
There is also an Intermediate race which is a qualifier for the £7,000 3m1½f Red Mills Intermediate Point-to-Point Championship Final at Cheltenham on Wednesday 7th May. Entrance is £8 per person with under 16s free. 158 entries have been received to contest the 7 races and the track is in excellent condition.
The first race on the card is the Confined Maiden for 5, 6 & 7 year olds and there are several entries here from local stables. Bentota is an unraced maiden trained by Mike and Jill Dawson at Grainthorpe who could make his debut here and will be ridden by the in form Richard Armson. Nick Kent has two entries - Kit's Last Penny and Distant Memory. Distant Memory was second at the Brocklesby meeting in the Member's race at a time when a lot of the Kent horses had been suffering from a virus. This Overbury gelding is clearly a bit of a character but he has ability and if ridden by Steve Magee again could well go close. However, the pick could be Antonia Bealby's Ski Dazzle who was narrowly beaten by Walter's Laddie at the Brocklesby meeting. Walter's Laddie was a close second when stepping up to a Restricted at Garthorpe on Sunday so the form looks good. Ski Dazzle will have every assistance from the saddle being ridden by Miles Seston.
Glenelly Gale could be the one to back in the PPORA Club Members Novice Riders race. He is one of a number of horses expected to make the journey down from Yorkshire and will be ridden by Toby Greenall. This combination was second in the Men's Open at the Burton meeting at Market Rasen in February. Another Yorkshire horse to note is West Coaster who won at Welbeck a few weeks ago. He is ridden alternately by twin sisters Becky and Laura Mason who are Mick Easterby's granddaughters and very competent jockeys. Their elder sister Joanna won on West Coaster at Brocklesby last season so the track clearly suits him. Local interest will be centred on Lodestar who may run here; he will be ridden by Chloe Kirkby and should also go close.
Teeton Bollinger was an impressive winner of the Confined race in a fast time at the Burton meeting for owner Joan Tice and jockey Dickie Barrett. He will take all the beating whether he runs in the Confined race or the Men's Open. Teeton Bollinger is trained in Northamptonshire and so is the Gerald Bailey entry Agua Ardente who could run well. Nick Kent has Ramirez and Sea Ferry entered. Jenny Burt's Burton winner Norfolk Jive could line up here but also holds an entry in the Intermediate race. Flying Spur was the first leg of a double for owner Roger Jackson at Welbeck and could run here or in the Men's Open.
Ramirez and Glenelly Gale also hold entries in the Men's Open race. This could be a very exciting contest with top rated Ballylusky, Noakarad de Verzee, Buckby Lane and Irilut entered. Top amateur Sam Waley-Cohen, successful in this race last year on Katarino, could ride either Buckby Lane or Irilut. Skew Whip who was placed 3rd behind Teeton Bollinger in the Burton Confined could be the best chance of a Yorkshire winner for the Brader family and Richard Wakeham.
The highly regarded Welbeck winner Farmer Frank will take all the beating whether he runs in the Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate or the Restricted. Farmer Frank was the second leg of owner Roger Jackson's double at Welbeck and will again be ridden by Steve Magee for trainer Nick Kent. Chorizo could be the danger here as he was a good winner for Oliver Greenall in the Burton Restricted. Greenall is in contention for the National Point-to-Point Championship race; he is a close second behind James Tudor. If Farmer Frank chooses the Restricted race Greenall could again be the one to beat on Malton who won a Maiden at Charm Park last weekend or North Island winner of a Maiden at the Brocklesby meeting. Nick Kent also has Ruckholme entered and Gerald Bailey's Sideline Critic also has place form this season and cannot be ignored.
The final race on the card is the Open Maiden for 8 year olds and up. Steve Magee could finish the day be winning this on The Hussey's Duke for trainer Steve Wiles. Another with a chance could be Farmer Tom who has shown some promise for trainer Antonia Bealby and jockey Miles Seston. Local interest here will be with Valhuec who will be ridden by Kevin Green and could improve for his fourth placing in the Brocklesby Member's race in February.
