11 March 2009 Preview: South Wold - Brocklesby Park
The South Wold Point-to-Point takes place on Saturday 14th March at Brocklesby Park, Habrough, just off the A18 close to Humberside Airport, 5 miles east of junction 5 M180. The course is set in beautiful parkland and is an ideal day out for all the family.
This is the second of two meetings to be held at Brocklesby Park this year. The first race is at 12.30pm. Entrance is £8 per person with under 14s free. 141 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 & 7year olds, which is kindly sponsored by Richard Sanderson, an on course bookmaker. A lot of these young horses are open to improvement and several of them have some good recent form. Bellapais Boy who is just five may have improved following his third behind Lord Adonis in the Members race at Brocklesby in February. This gelding is owned by Geoff Hunter and trained at Kirmington close to the course.
Doctor Kingsley was third at North Carlton behind Hendaway on 1st March and is the likely ride of Richard Armson. Kingman Reef was second at the Brocklesby meeting behind Impact Zone and trainer Antonia Bealby and jockey Adam Wedge have been in good form recently. Miles Seston's mount Principal Lad showed some promise at the Sinnington meeting. Morning Moment was second behind The Snurglar at North Carlton and was fourth at Higham since when starting as favourite.
Nick Kent, who trains at Cadney, has Woodmaster entered. This six year old gelding made his Point to Point debut at Thorpe in January when finishing three lengths second to the highly regarded Peter Sent.
Robert Howell Construction Services Ltd are kindly sponsoring the second race, the PPORA Club Members Race for Novice Riders. Last year's winner Monte Cristo is entered once again. He provided flat race trainer Mark Johnston's son Charlie with his first winner on a day that ended early when the fog rolled in. Buy Onling is in good form having recently won a Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate race at Witton Castle in February. Creative Time was a 66- 1 winner of a Confined race at North Carlton for Harriet Bethell last month. Glenelly Gale was second in a Confined race at Charm Park for Rebecca Mason whose sister Joanna rode a double here at the Brocklesby meeting. My Best Buddy is a consistent performer and rider Johnny Bailey has already won on him. Ronan The Warrior is a game stayer who won at Cottenham in February for Will Bissell.
The third race on the card is the Confined race which has been sponsored by Gleadell Agriculture Ltd. Nick Kent's Gun Smith should go well here. A seven year old gelding, Gun Smith won an intermediate race in January before finishing second in the Confined race at the Brocklesby meeting in a fast time. He looks progressive and will take all the beating on Saturday. Beauchamp Oracle ran well to be second to Just Jove at North Carlton recently. However, Just Jove has in the past been beaten by Gun Smith so Beauchamp Oracle looks held on this form. Persian Hero has won eleven races for jockey John Russell and should go close.
Persian Hero also holds an entry in the D & M Barthorpe Electrical Contractors Mixed Open race. Mike and Jill Dawson from Grainthorpe have Pass It On entered here. Following a disappointing performance at the Brocklesby meeting, blood tests confirmed that Pass It On was under the weather that day and should run much better this time. Forty Shakes ran well at the Brocklesby to finish third behind the game mare True Friday. Eric Brook's useful Network Oscar was second behind Menchikov at North Carlton and has since been second in the Sinnington Members race. Sonevafushi won a Men's Open at Witton Castle recently and will take all the beating.
Keen Whip, who won the Restricted race at the Brocklesby, is entered again in the Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate race. Keen Whip looked like he had improved from last year and any rain between now and Saturday would certainly benefit him. Although there are only twelve entries this race could be quite competitive. Kings Reason was second in an Intermediate race at Chaddesley Corbett in February. Sweden won a Restricted at Ampton in January and The Camerengo has some Intermediate form this season. Viceroy Close may be the most progressive as he has won a Maiden, Restricted and Club Members - all in 2009.
The horse Keen Whip beat at Brocklesby was Ballyclement, who is entered again in the Restricted race, which is kindly sponsored by NFU Mutual. Ballyclement will be expected to go well again and is likely to be ridden by the in form Richard Armson. The Robinson family, who own Ballyclement, are aiming their best horse Menchikov at the Class 2 John Smith's Fox Hunters Steeplechase at the Grand National Meeting at Aintree. Lord Adonis represents the Nick Kent stable in the Restricted race. Following a fairly easy win in the Brocklesby Members race in February, Lord Adonis is expected to be able to progress and is owned by Victoria Branson and her Mother Mrs Kit Cottingham. Others to note are Hendaway who won a Maiden at North Carlton a few weeks ago, his was the fastest time of the two divisions. Scrappie also won the fastest division of his Maiden at the Sinnington for Lord Daresbury and Toby Greenall. Lord Of The Knar won his Maiden at this meeting last year for Alex Vaughan Jones but has been well beaten in Restricted company since. French Bey won the Members race at Garthorpe last Sunday but may find this a much stiffer task.
Essenbee, who finished runner up to Lord Adonis at Brocklesby, is entered in the final race on the card, the R. Wisby (Family Butcher Ltd) Open Maiden. This chesnut gelding is owned by Lord Yarborough, but following Mark Bennison's recent injury, Essenbee is now being trained by the Kirkby family and will be ridden by Chloe Kirkby. Although a nine year old, Essenbee is lightly raced and once finished a good second to Ask Bobby who has gone on to be a useful Mens Open horse. Mardonicdeclare once finished second to Farmer Frank but was beaten quite a long way. The winner could well be Miles Seston's mount Accordion Roilelet; he was second at North Carlton on his seasonal debut and is expected to have improved for the run.
