Sincere thanks once again to David Coulton for providing a Pointer Formguide for the
Harkaway Club meeting on 28th December
Don’t forget first race is now – 10 a.m.
Category Archives: News
HARKAWAY CLUB – IMPORTANT INFORMATION – PLEASE READ
Disappointment for Charing, but the Harkaway point-to-point on Monday, December 28 is set to go ahead as planned.
The cancellation of the point to point at Charing at such short notice is a bitter blow for our sport, especially after all the hard work to ensure the course was in great condition and it was safe. We would like to pay tribute to Sally Bowman and her team, as well As Nicky Featherstone, the Area Secretary, who have worked so hard to get it on firstly in November and then at this later date. Really sad. However, we have to remember we are not operating in a vacuum, and we need to react, and be seen to react, to circumstances as they change if we are to keep our sport going.
However, whilst the government position makes racing in Tier 4 areas impossible, there is no reason at present that point to pointing elsewhere in England cannot go on. Until further notice, we will stick to the system we have in place regarding the Tiers, except that horses and people from Tier 4 may not attend meetings. This will be reviewed over the coming weeks as the overall situation becomes clearer, recognising that the government has already stated that it will review their directives on 30 December.
To that end the Harkaway point-to-point at Chaddesley Corbett (Dec 28), being in a Tier 2 area, is planned to go ahead as previously stated with two zones including limited paying spectators, with everyone needing to have pre-registered. It is absolutely vital that this meeting runs without any problems. If you are attending, please ensure that you read the code of conduct linked to your tickets, self-police those who you are with, and follow any direction provided before or on the day. Most of it is based on wearing masks all the time away from your vehicle and keeping socially distanced, so this should come as no surprise.
To remind you again of the Tier System:
• Tier 1. May run a point to point with paying spectators if agreed by Local Authority. Those living in Tier 1 and 2 may attend in any capacity but latter should not stop en-route. Only Trainers and Jockeys may attend from Tier 3 areas. No-one, including horses, in Tier 4 may attend.
• Tier 2. May run a point to point with paying spectators if agreed by Local Authority. Those living in Tier 1 and 2 may attend in any capacity. Only Trainers and Jockeys may attend from Tier 3 areas. No-one, including horses, in Tier 4 may attend.
• Tier 3. May run a point to point but only have a green zone (ie no owners or spectators and all those attending should have a job to do). Only Trainers and Jockeys may attend from Tier 1, 2 and 3 areas, and may not stop en-route. No-one, including horses, in Tier 4 may attend.
• Tier 4. May not run a meeting.
Whilst this is the point to point position as a sport, and must not be broken, it is for you to take personal responsibility for interpreting more stringent government directives whether at UK, national or local levels. We all know that this is an exceptionally fluid situation, and we all need to be able and willing to react accordingly. Please keep checking this site for further updates.
POINTER FORM GUIDE FOR WHEATLAND MEETING
Many thanks to David Coulton for the Form Guide for Sundays meeting
DICK BAIMBRIDGE – JUST GIVING PAGE
Pointingwm has received a note from Dick Baimbridge’s grand-daughter Ellie thanking everyone for their kind words at this difficult time.
The family is in the process of making funeral arrangements, which is difficult at the best of times, increasingly so just before Christmas and more so during the Covid crisis, which means that only a certain number of people will be able to physically attend his funeral.
No doubt many people would have wished to pay their last respects to the great man and if they wish to do so the family have created a JustGiving page to raise money for the Injured Jockeys Fund.
They can do so by following the link below.
DICK BAIMBRIDGE
The sport as a whole and the West Midlands Area in particular will be saddened to hear of the recent passing of one of Point-to-Point Racings all-time greats Dick Baimbridge.
By comparison to others Baimbridge’s total of 519 winners during the 50-year training career may not look that significant, but none could match his unique and uncanny ability to produce winners from other people’s cast offs.
His horses were never one season wonders and longevity and consistency were the hallmarks of them all and once he had resolved their individual idiosyncrasies, they were all able to fulfil their potential.
Alison Dare (6 National Titles) and Claire Allen (1 National Title) both played their part in the Berkeley trainers’ successes along with the trainer’s wife Joyce, while Mendip Express 38 wins, Stephens Pet 21, Split Second 20 and Nether Gobions 19 were the biggest contributors to the trainers’ tally
One of the old school Baimbridge liked things done in a certain way and given his record it would be very difficult for anybody to argue with those methods.
There is a long list of trainers who have used the sport as a spring board for careers under N.H. Rules, and there is little doubt Baimbridge would have succeeded in this exalted company.
It has been said “we will not see his like again”, in this case it is true
We offer our sympathies to all his family at this difficult time.
A young Dick Baimbridge at the start of his training career and celebrating his 500th winner with his wife Joyce and being presented with his award by Paul Nicholls
LATEST PLANNED FIXTURE ARRANGEMENTS TILL THE END OF THE YEAR
After yesterdays release of planned fixture arrangements up to the end of the year.
On the 12th November, the following adjustments have been made to that published programme
- Carmarthenshire at Ffos Las has had to abandon its meeting on 6 December. It may be resurrected in New Year.
- Wheatland at Chaddesley Corbett will now run on 6 December (all other things being equal)
- Harkaway at Chaddesley will now revert to 28 December as before.
Here are the latest planned fixture arrangements up to the end of the year – subject to government (national and local) requirements:
Sunday, 6 December
Carmarthenshire at Ffos Las Racecourse
Cornwall Hunt Club at Wadebridge
Saturday, 12 December
Avon Vale at Larkhill
Sunday, 13 December
BIRC at Barbury
Ratcheugh Racing Club at Alnwick
Sunday, 20 December
Curre & Llangibby at Howick
SEHC at Charing
Sunday, 27 December
Wheatland at Chaddesley Corbett
Monday, 28 December
Harkaway Club at Chaddesley Corbett
The Dunsmore Club meeting at Dunsmore (originally due to run on Sunday 15th November) and the Border meeting at Hexham Racecourse (originally due to run on Sunday 29th November) have both been abandoned.
The Ross Harriers meeting at Monmouth Showground on Sunday 28th February, 2020 has also been cancelled.
Wolverhampton – what might have been for Staffordshire’s other racecourse
As one of just six All Weather racecourses in the United Kingdom, there is plenty to make Wolverhampton unique in the horse racing scene. However, on a site that celebrates the best of National Hunt racing in the West Midlands, a focus on the pioneer of All-Weather racing might appear a tad contrary.
Yet Wolverhampton, as one of just two racecourses in Staffordshire, has a long history of Jump racing, which only drew to a close in 2002. The last winner was a Staffordshire-trained horse, Light Programme, in a modest Novices Handicap Hurdle on July 15, and truth be told, the passing of Jumping at Wolverhampton did not elicit a great gnashing of teeth amid the Jumps community.
Yet it wasn’t always so.
Thoroughbred horse racing has been present in Wolverhampton since the early 19th century. The first purpose-built racecourse was established in Broad Meadows in 1825, on land owned by the Duke of Cleveland, where a splendid grandstand provided viewing for the county’s gentry, whilst others could amuse themselves with stands and fairground games, as well as cock-fighting.
The lease of the site was ended in 1878 when the site was sold, becoming what is now known as West Park. Acting as the perimeter of West Park is the Park Road, which actually marks the circumference of the original racetrack.
Any visitor to Wolverhampton Racecourse will know that the railway viaduct dominates a largely urban landscape surrounding the course; this is no rural idyll. Yet ironically, the racecourse would very likely not exist were it not for the growth of the railways in Victorian Britain.
Dunstall Park, as the racecourse prefers to call itself, was a substantial estate on the edge of the city owned by Sir Alexander Staveley Hill. The opening of the Shrewsbury & Birmingham Railway in 1849 impinged on the estate, and the organic growth of light industry brought about by the railway accelerated his disgust. When his father died, leaving him an alternative estate to live in, he sold Dunstall Park to a public company set up for the purpose, run by Accrington MP Robert Hodge and a Mr John Lees. Sir Alexander was invited to join the Board and became the first Chairman.
The first race meeting was a two day Jumps affair in 1886, some 12 years before Lord Ellenborough bequeathed Cheltenham to a purpose-built racing company. How the two venues have pioneered different directions in racing!
The first feature event sported a modest prize of just £70, equating to £9,158 in today’s money. Compare that to Wolverhampton’s last event, the Ladbrokes Place Bet Here Novices Handicap Hurdle, where the total prize fund amassed a miserly £4,210, less than half the amount of its first race 116 years earlier. Small wonder Jumping died out.
In 1895, Wolverhampton became the county’s only course to stage flat racing when Lichfield closed. The racecourse company invested with the railway in a racecourse station.
But controversy was never far behind. In 1910, the first fixture was cancelled as a mark of respect for the death of the monarch, Edward VII. Then the company secretary was found to have embezzled funds over a period of 23 years. The same year, Wolverhampton hosted the Midlands Aero Club’s first Air Show, just 4 years after the first ever flight.
Racing continued from 1912 to the outset of war in 1914, and resumed in the summer of 1918, although no Jumping took place until the following January. More racing history was made – sadly for all the wrong reasons – in 1924 when jockey Capt. Tiuppy Bennet took a fall in the Oteley Handicap Chase and was kicked in the head. Subsequently, in all races under Rules, riders were obliged to wear a crash helmet.
To give you an idea of the quality of racing at Wolverhampton in its heyday, Champion Hurdle winner Saucy Kit (1967) prepped for the race with a successful outing in the National Hunt Hurdle Cup at Wolverhampton in October of that Champion season.
However, in the main, time was running out for Wolverhampton’s Jumps calendar. With a change in ownership, Ron Muddle, pioneer of All-Weather racing in the UK, and owner of Lingfield Park, its first exponent, made the bold decision to create the UK’s first floodlit All-Weather course, spending over £15m to open in 1993, when 10,000 attended.
Jumping persisted as the poor relation till an unremarked demise in 2002, a year when Forest of Dean trainer and another West Midlands area Pointing graduate David Wintle was leading trainer. But since that transformative innovation, the venue has become renowned as one of the premier locations for evening races. In 2014 the all-weather track was replaced and upgraded with a Tapeta surface, more akin to the leading evening racetracks found in the USA.
All-Weather Championships
Boasting seven categories of competition, the All Weather Championships (AWC) contributes to roughly one-fifth of the British racing fixture list since its creation around twenty years ago. Along with the all-weather track at Wolverhampton, other key venues include Chelmsford City, Kempton Park, Lingfield Park, Newcastle and Southwell. Also featured in the fixture list are the Cagnes-sur-Mer, Chantilly and Deauville tracks in France, plus Dundalk in Ireland to encourage continental interest.
The AWC season typically lasts between October and April, with hundreds of races held across the key all-weather venues during that period. These fixtures are also regarded as a great way for owners and trainers to train their horses throughout the winter months. As one of the most popular venues, all-weather horse racing betting at Wolverhampton is keenly followed by bookmakers and punters alike, with odds available for every race.
While many of the most prominent races in the AWC calendar are held at Wolverhampton Racecourse, the season-ending main event is currently held at Lingfield Park on Good Friday each year. This is also known as Finals Day, which also boasts one of the biggest purses in British horse racing.
And whilst it’s often been argued that All-Weather racing has eroded the ownership base for Jumping, harvesting juveniles which would otherwise go jumping, even the most cynical must acknowledge that the genre adds to the rich flavour of British racing, and success such as enjoyed by British trainers at Santa Anita on Saturday night wouldn’t have existed without it.
Where to now for Wolverhampton?
Fans and followers of horse racing can stay informed about all the latest news at Wolverhampton Racecourse. The site includes updates for all the races being held, plus information regarding any festivals and other events being held at the venue. Details are also available for other facilities such as restaurants and hospitality or hotel accommodation.
Speaking of the latter, the venue outlined plans to establish the first-ever UK ‘racino’ racecourse and casino venture in 2007, similar to the famous and iconic Aqueduct Racetrack in New York City. However, those plans were ultimately shelved in 2014 amidst lengthy and complicated applications with local authorities, and the government of the day rowing back on the concept.
Nevertheless, all-weather events and other activities keep the venue firmly on the horse racing map, with plenty to ensure visitors are entertained. After all, racing is the beating heart of this West Midlands venue, guaranteeing that Wolverhampton Racecourse will remain a thriving venue for years to come.
Sadly though, the days of Jumping at Wolverhampton are gone for ever. And perhaps, given its reputation at the turn of the millennium, that may be just as well.
LOCKDOWN MEANS THAT SUNDAYS WHEATLAND FIXTURE AT CHADDESLEY WILL NOT TAKE PLACE
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FORM GUIDE FOR WHEATLAND – SUNDAY 8TH NOVEMBER
MANY THANKS TO DAVID COULTON FOR PROVIDING A POINTER FORM GUIDE FOR
THE WHEATLAND FIXTURE ON SUNDAY 8TH NOVEMBER
WEST MIDLAND PREVIEW
The 2020 season will probably define the sports future and the coming months provide challenges for everyone involved. Point-to-Pointing showed great resilience to overcome the Equine Flu outbreak, and needed the same resolve when Corona Virus first struck a year later.
There was optimism over the summer the sport could return with limited restrictions so plans were made for an earlier start, but the second wave of the virus which now hangs like the sword of Damocles over our daily lives.
Plans for the sports resumption under strict guidelines have gone through numerous drafts, but just when the situation looks as though it has stabilized, further restrictions are put in place, which requires further amendments and the process goes on.
Despite the best efforts of everyone involved events have been called off at the last minute which has proved frustrating for all concerned, however in typically British stoical manner people have adopted the attitude that “life has to go on”.
Some meetings will be better prepared than others to weather the problems of Covid but big challenges still lie ahead.
We now know that all meetings prior to December 31st 2020 will be held behind closed doors and arrangements are now being put in place to provide a viable fixture list for the remainder of the season should that prove necessary. This allows owners and trainers the opportunity to run their horses on a regular basis, but national and local lockdowns could still make an impact – Flexibility will become a key phrase over the coming months.
The Devon and Cornwall Area have used part of a £10,000 grant from Totnes and Bridgetown Racing Company Ltd to purchase live steaming equipment. This will initially be free to view, but it is unlikely the remaining 13 Areas will have the financial resources to follow suit.
The Ledbury fixture are Maisemore Park on 25th October will also be live streamed and these trials will provide useful information regarding the viability of these projects and any potential revenue streams in the future.
Point-to-Point Racing has always provided a proving ground for aspiring trainers and jockeys, and this has led to Ryan Potter and Max Young making the decision to pursue careers under N.H. Rules.
The sport faces many problems but indications are these early fixtures will be well supported with Mel Rowley one of those priming her horses for these events.
Successful in the 2019 Cheltenham Foxhunters HAZEL HILL was denied a run in 2020 following his last-minute withdrawal due to an irregular heartbeat. He had shown good form prior to Cheltenham and will be aiming to retain his perch at the top of the tree.
WISHING AND HOPING was touted as a Festival hopeful in some quarters after wins in a Ffos Las Open and Hunter Chase victories at Taunton and Catterick and is ready to step into his stablemates shoes if required.
SALVATORE recorded successes at Larkhill, Chaddesley Corbett and Didmarton where he left Ballybroker Breeze and Barney Dwan trailing in his wake.
Ben Bromley is still eligible for Novice Riders events and looks well placed to take advantage of that situation with the likes of BALLYKAN, UCELLO CONTI and VIVALDI COLLONGES in his armoury and will have more fire power than most in this category.
Ben Bromley receiving his TCEH Novice Riders prize from Judith Healey at Didmarton
The former was beaten twice by Call Me Vic before scoring at Larkhill, while Vivaldi Collonges beat stablemate Now Ben at Cottenham. Ucello Conti won 11 races under Rules and should have no difficulty adding to that total.
ANOTHER BROWN BEAR carries the Barlow family’s colours, while BURNDOWN was sourced from Gigginstown but his last win was back in 2016. CALIENTE three runs last year yielded just one place when third behind Teeton Surprise at Larkhill.
DRAMATIC PAUSE is back with Rowley after a spell under Rules with Tom Symonds. The 7-year-old won a Bumper for the Ross on Wye handler but subsequent wind surgery may indicate why he was unable to build on that success.
Both FOREST CHIMES and GOLDENBRAVE ran unsuccessfully between the flags in Ireland, although the latter did subsequently win a Bangor Maiden.
KILLINEY COURT is a multiple winner under Rules and finished second to Thumbstone Blues at Cothelstone. Owned by Michaela Tallett, he may be able to provide her with that illusive first winner.
TROOPER JONES was prominent until weakening three out in a Chaddesley Maiden, while stablemate UNDISPUTED won a 2-1/2 mile Cottenham Conditions and a similar event at Badbury Rings.
MY BOBBY DAZZLER and MY BOY OLLIE are both out of winning Point-to-Pointer Ease and Grace. The former needed two runs before getting his act together, while his brother has yet to see the course.
LILITH was second on her debut but had just one run last year and was 12-lengths behind Organised Solution before falling at the last at Chaddesley, while SULU MAGIC has a long absence to overcome.
“Can do better” was the post-race comment after TAQUITO’s his racecourse debut in a Horseheath Maiden, while OPTIMISED was placed on three occasions and it is hope he will break that sequence.
AUTUMN EQUINOX, CASTLE KEEP and GUNPOWDER RUM will benefit from their experiences at Rowley’s Bridgnorth academy and if they have any ability, they are in the best place to maximize it.
THE ODYSSEY was successful as a 4-year-old while HE’S A KNOWALL a 5-year-old by Oscar, HEERATSUNSET is owned by breeder Ray Bailey, MALAITA, THE PLAYER QUEEN and THE WREKIN are ones for the future.
Another Shropshire resident Caroline Robinson is busy preparing six horses. ALLBLAK DES PLACES three outings last year resulted in one placing and it was a similar situation with RULES OF WAR.
SAMBREMONT’s form pails into insignificance behind his brother Djakadam, but connections may be able to squeeze a little win out of him. EMERALD CHIEFTON struggled in the closing stages when finishing just behind the leaders on three occasions last season.
RYANS FANCY won on his debut at Dowth Hall in 2019 and finished third and fourth in “winners of one” races later in the year, and with that profile should be able to succeed this side of the Irish Sea.
THE DELLERCHECKOUT started the year by beating Don Bersy in a Men’s Open at Barbury and followed that by defeating Haymount in a Sheriff Hutton Ladies. Success in a Ludlow Hunter Chase followed before a poor run in the heavy at Haydock.
The Dellercheckout winning at Sheriff Hutton
Congratulations to Phine Banks who married Richard Woodward in September, but will continue to ride under her Maiden name in Point-to-Points.
Phine Banks winning the first of last seasons Oriental Club Races
Phine will be sharing rides with her sister Abbi with the latter reunited with old favourite ARTHURS SECRET who finished third behind Ravished on his only run last season.
On past form Arthurs Secret is vulnerable on his seasonal debut but is likely to click into gear after that and his trainer Martin Weston also has a plethora of 3-year-olds to run in the spring with the law of averages suggesting one of them could prove useful. DIAMOND KING is rarely out of the frame as he showed by finishing third to Barney Dwan at Cocklebarrow.
After multiple placings ROUND ROBIN finally opened his account in 2019 but struggled when upgraded to Restricted’s finishing fifth at Cottenham, second at Bangor and fourth at Didmarton. The Easter period may provide him with a winning opportunity.
Christine’s sister Angela Rucker and husband William have two horses for the new campaign. GOLD OPERA ran 34 times under Rules for six successes and performed well by finishing second of nine in a Haydock Hurdle back in December 2019. That should provide the Worcestershire stable with some fun when they are not following their “Saturday” horses under Rules.
PAXMAN, a 6-year-old by Jeremy won an Irish Maiden at Inchydoney in impressive fashion in May 2018. Three runs over Hurdles for Evan Williams proved disappointing but he has a good chance of finding winning opportunities between the flags.
Pat Tollit’s HIDDEN CHARMER beat Tb Broke Her at Chaddesley and on that form further successes should be forthcoming.
Will Gaskins mare is trying her luck under Rules this year with Tb Broke Her recently joining Ryan Potter’s yard at Caradoc from where “she might be able to sneak a low-grade handicap” according to her owner.
Gaskins’s R BREN is now trained by Potter’s neighbour Jo Priest. She has been in since August and is being targeted at the Restricted at an early Chaddesley meeting. BALLYBROKER BREEZE looked the winner until outpaced by the race fit Salvatore at the Albrighton (North) fixture and could return to the Worcestershire venue or Maisemore to make his seasonal debut.
CHU CHU PERCY won a Cold Harbour Ladies two years ago beating Cloudy Joker and Cheltenham de Vaige and is being aimed at similar events this season, while ALFSTAR sprang a surprise by beating Optimised at Bangor so it could pay to follow him if he makes a return visit.
Dymock based trainer/rider Sam Jukes and Clive Bennett have been a formidable combination over the last decade and their Blackland Farm stables is set for another successful season.
MARCLE RIDGE ran well in last year’s Foxhunters and is likely to follow a similar path and could be seen out at the first Maisemore fixture. The horse is named after a local landmark near Bennetts yard as is newcomer MISS MAYHILL who is related to Nicky Henderson useful hurdler Shiskin.
MISS SEAGREEN is rarely out of the frame, puts her best work at the finish and that should carry her to further victories. SHOMETHEWAY was impressive on both his runs last year which saw him record victories at Ffos Las and Buckfastleigh.
Shometheway and Sam Jukes winning at Ffos Las
THE WELL ROAD, CHASFORGOLD and STONE are not the force they once were but placed in the right races all are capable of enhancing their records.
Jake Slatter record in recent years matches those of many bigger yards as he extracts success from previously modest performers.
Slatter is preparing two young horses for Jim Collett who has made a welcome return to the sport. ROSE ILLAND finished 30-lengths second to Organised Solution at Chaddesley Corbett and if she continues to improve a Maiden is hers for the taking.
ASK THE LADY’S form in Ireland was nothing to shout about but the experience gained in those outings is sure to stand her in good stead in the future.
The Toddington trainer also has LESA’S OSCAR but she is a few weeks behind the others and will probably not be ready until the Harkaway meeting at the end of December.
Jake’s father Nick has a 4-year-old called DRAGOON SPRINGS and he is likely to make his debut in a Maiden restricted to his age group at Chaddesley.
WATERLOO WARRIOR’s training was disrupted when Angela Slatter broke her arm recently. He impressed last year with two victories from five runs, in a Dunsmore Intermediate and Brocklesby Conditions. An early Intermediate or Oriental Club Conditions have been pencilled in as potential targets.
Waterloo Warrior jumps the last on his way to victory at Dunsmore
Area Secretary Nickie Sheppard has had her hands full in the lead up to the new season ensuring that all the I’s are dotted and T’s crossed as the sport negotiates it ways through the minefield of Rules plus protracted negotiations with local councils to ensure our meetings can take place – that has been no easy task.
RISK AND ROLL and ORGANISED SOLUTION did connections proud last year and it will be interesting to watch their future progress.
Risk and Roll went into the notebook after finishing fourth to Shantou Flyer at Larkhill and his followers were rewarded when he took a Leicester Hunter Chase on his next outing.
Organized Solution and Milo Herbert on their way to victory at Badbury Rings
Despite the shortened campaign the stable managed to get five runs into Organised Solution. Fourth on his debut at Larkhill and second behind Goldenbrave at Bangor. This was followed by impressive wins at the Albrighton and Woodland (North) and in a Badbury Rings Restricted. He was still in a prominent position when unseating at the 9th in a Didmarton Intermediate.
The 4-year-old ONE FER MAMMA is an un-known quantity and his first run will provide some indication to his ability.
Julie Mansell’s has seen some of her pointers go off to see if they are good enough to race under rules, but the Hasfield trainer retains DIVA DU MAQUIS who was well supported when she made her debut in a Mares & Fillies Maiden at Barbury. She was still in contention until blundering badly at the 11th. It is harsh to judge her on just one performance.
Mansell has taken responsibility for SHAMILAN. Louise and George Daly’s 7-year-old used to carry Heather Haddocks colours under Rules, where Tom George saddled him for two places.
Starting any new venture is challenging and even more so in these corona virus driven times, but Max Comley’s set up at Brockhill Quarry seems to provide a perfect location for the trainer to enhance his growing reputation.
Max Comley
CLOUDY JOKER finished third on his only outing in 2019/20, but the previous season he had unseated when leading at the last in the Skinners Ladies Final at Stratford. If he can reproduce that form, he will give his supporters a great deal of fun in the coming months.
KNOCKADERRY FLYER has a Cheltenham Hunter Chase success to his credit but was one of those affected by last years shortened season. The Allsop’s have MADAMME HANNAH and MADAME VOGUE. The former had one run as a 5-year-old so is open to improvement. Madame Vogue had two runs for Suzy Smith and was pulled up when last seen at Huntingdon.
CLONDAW BUNNY came from Dean Summersby’s yard in the West Country and the new yard will do well to match his exploits which included three wins, three seconds and three thirds from fifteen runs between the flags.
BIT OF BLINDING was pulled up at Sheriff Hutton before finishing grabbing a minor placing at Cottenham so his reappearance will be watched with interest, while PAUL’S HILL finished third to Chameron in the Coronation Cup.
BERNARDELLI came from Nicky Richards and should be able to maintain a consistent level of form in this grade, whereas PROVE ME WRONG is highly rated by connections which seems at odds with his form as sixteen runs in Ireland provided just one success in a 4-runner Maiden back in 2017.
CRANBROOK CAUSEWAY was placed under Rules before finishing last of two in atrious conditions at Cocklebarrow, while owner Tom Jones has PERISHING MISSILE and DARA’S PRESENT.
James Ridley has moved from Kinnersley to Ketford near Bromesberrow Heath where he is preparing CHASE ME who scored a hard-fought win over Coco Live in last seasons R.A. Conditions and that indicates he is continuing his upward progression.
Chase Me heads Coco Live at the last at Larkhill
TEMPLEBRADEN and GREEN WINTER are stalwarts of Ridley’s stable, the former having won a multitude of races between the flags although he only managed one outing last year.
Stablemate Green Winter did well to divide Shantou Flyer and Salvatore at Larkhill, and finished in a similar position behind Cameron in the Coronation Cup. Both are capable of winning further races before the season is out.
CASHMOLL won a Bredwardine Maiden in 2019 and looks a progressive type while HURRICANE HARRY won a Maiden for Max Young before finishing third in a Haydock Hurdle. His form fell away subsequently but it would not take much to revieve his fortunes. NO PROMISES had a couple of runs in Ireland and still has time on his side.
On the face of it WHAT’S THE PROBLEM third place in a 2019 Stradbally Maiden does not look very inspiring but he was only beaten a neck and half a length and should be up to Maiden class at the very least.
CREWS PITCH is joined by a 3-year-old by Schiaparelli and a 4-year-old by Valiran, out of Fairy Dawn (which means that he is closely related to Kicking King).
Katherine Smith Maxwell reports her horses are not as forward as normal as she had to spend a few days in hospital.
SILVERGROVE ran well until weakening three out in a Horseheath Open but his subsequent run can probably be ignored as he was pulled up with a badly twisted shoe at Charing.
There was much to admire about SAUSALITO SUNRISE’S 10 length success in the first of last season Point-to-Point Classics The Lord Ashton of Hyde Cup and he will be hard to beat if maintaining that level of form.
Sausalito Sunrise plough through the mud to score at Cocklebarrow
BLACKWATER BRAMBLE returns after winning three consecutive races in 2019 and may be able to run up a similar sequence in the coming months.
Geoff and Tracey Barfoot Saunt have four “possibles” to run pointing, although any or all of them might shift to Rules if the situation dictates.
TENSION TIME came from Lucy Wadham after running third in a 3-mile hurdle in the soft so has a hint of ability.
BOMBAY BASIL seven runs in Ireland went unrewarded but he could make the grade in the right company. TWICE THE MUSTARD finished a long last in a Wolverhampton Bumper so the Wotton-under-Edge stable have their hands full turning his form around.
EARTH SPIRIT has changed stables a couple of times and that is never a good sign which means connections may have to go back to drawing board.
Barfoot Saunts son Harvey has three for Pony Racing including Shoot the Stars and Brooks Spring and can’t wait for the season to commence.
Shelfield Park Clerk of the Course Nick Pearce has several young horses he might Point-to-Point in the Spring but admits nothing is set in stone. WORKBENCH is reportedly heading to Maisemore with the rides this year shared by Murray Dodds (who recorded his first winner on this horse at Higham last year) or newcomer George Cowley.
Tor Collins and Sarah Dawson have enjoyed numerous successes in the past and the latters horses make up the majority of the occupants at Collins’s Broadway stables.
ZAMPARELLI was prominent for a long way in a Skinners sponsored Ladies Race at Badbury Rings and can build on that performance, while TOWER VIEW was pulled up on both his 2019/2020 outings. Dawson also has LITTLE PRETENDER and FLICK THE SWITCH but both may need further experience before showing their best. GALAVANTIN was pulled up at Barbury and made mistakes on his next outing and will need to cut out those errors.
Down in the Beaufort country, Charlie Dando and partner Brooke Gardener-Wallen are busy preparing ACCORDING TO HARRY who beat Fly West in their Members race 12 months ago and must go close if aimed at the same event in March.
Charlie Dando and According the Harry after their win in the Beaufort Members
Dando jointly owns RAVENSDALE with Steve Bush but connections have their work cut out based on his performance at Badbury Rings. EVERYBODY’S TALKIN also ran at his home meeting and was 7-lengths clear of the field at one point but weakened in the closing stages in the race won by Miss Seagreen.
CARRIG DUBH always seems to make the frame but got his head in front when winning a Knightwick Confined on the Clifton-on-Teme’s new course. BRASS IN POCKET also runs consistently but does not win that often and was last seen when falling three out at Didmarton.
LOODEEN was prominent for a long way at Milbourne St Andrew but seems to be one of those horses that is difficult to place.
Charlie’s father David has two horses at their home in Little Sodbury. KIT BARRY would be the best known of them but he made no show when pulled up in a Mens Open at Badbury Rings, while stablemate. JACK MORGAN has had a number of runs between the flags the best of which was fifth place in a Berkeley Maiden in 2019.
