02 March 2010 Preview: Duke of Beaufort's - Didmarton
by Pete Mansell
SHEKNOWSYOUKNOW: may bid to repeat his '09 Members success
photo: Alex Harris
The Beaufort meeting is always one of the highlights of the Point-to-Point season with entries from a host of top class stables competing for prize money over the undulations of the Didmarton course.
The Members race is always keenly fought and it generally pays to support a Bush runner at this meeting. Unfortunately their success rate has not been that high in recent years and they will struggle to take the prize this year with Gossip.
Chippenham farmer Mike Hawker won this race in 2009 with Sheknowsyouknow and a repeat performance could be on the cards following her recent pipe opener at Badbury Rings. The stable has a useful second string in Twenty Degrees. Mytabean has been disappointing for Chavenage trainer Tim Cox this season whereas Royal Bruere has shown that a race of this type is well within his capabilities.
Emmet Hotel could make a re-appearance for Sherston based Alison Dare. He was a useful performer two years ago but it would be a major training feat if she can get him back to winning form. Alison rode 287 winners between the flags but Polly Gundry is rapidly closing in on that record and she enters this weekend's programme just 3 winners shy of that total. Both riders were raised in the Berkeley country so it would be fitting if Miss Gundry could pass that landmark at a local meeting.
She has a good chance of doing so with Ned the Post entered for the Members, Duxy Hill Lady in the Conditions, while Rockwithacaveman has a more difficult task in the Mixed Open, where the entries include prolific winning performers such as Gaelsbob, Hambaphambili, Mustangsallyrally, Osako D'Airy, Posh Dude and Bowdens Lane.
Fergal O'Brien appears to hold the key to the Restricted. Bradley won his Maiden at this meeting in 2009 but he was disappointing on his re-appearance and will need to put in an improved performance to land the spoils.
Stablemate Getyouracttogether is improving with every race and he gets on particularly well with Sam Drinkwater so they should get the better of Mr Nagle, Remember Bampi and Tango witha Mango.
