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CLOSE CALL: Senor Alco (right) just holds off Accordingtotheboss at Alnwick; both could head to Overton this weekend
photo: Grace Beresford

The Northern Area Point-to-Point season resumes on Sunday after a three week break with the Dumfriesshire & Stewartry meeting at Overton Farm, Crossford. It has attracted 103 entries on a six race card, which starts at 12.30pm.

Proceedings get under way with the 2m4f Open Maiden Race and this will be divided on the day if more than 16 of the 26 entries are declared. The former Howard Johnson-trained gelding Gin Cobbler has been runner-up on both starts at Alnwick this season and has the scope to go one better here. Of the others, Cherry's Bay was placed three times in Yorkshire last year, Sugar Sensation finished third in four of his seven starts between the flags in Ireland in the last two years, while Reland was runner-up four times under Rules when trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Senor Alco and Amulree won their respective divisions of the Open Maiden at Alnwick last month, and the duo head the 12 entries for the Restricted Race. Slight preference is given to the former who jumped and travelled well when beating Accordingtotheboss by a short head after a prolonged duel down the home straight. Their rivals include course winner Amour Daria and Reef Dancer, who may both prefer a sound surface.

Most of the runners in the Ladies Open Race will be making their seasonal debuts and so paddock appearance is paramount. Tiger Billy scored three times in this grade in 2010/11 including a course and distance success in March, Justwhateverulike won six handicap chases from Sandy Forster's yard prior to December 2009, while the dark horse is the ex-Irish chaser, Swift Counsel, who finished nine lengths fourth over fences in September off a mark of 123.

Gunner Jack usually goes well fresh and can land the Mens Open Race on his reappearance. There is plenty of quality among the other 13 entries, including course winners Almost Blue and Commercial Express, as well as ex-chaser Harmony Brig, who finished runner-up to Special Portrait at Sheriff Hutton a fortnight ago, winning handicap hurdler, Lewlaur Supreme, and the useful Monogram, who beat Rakerin Lad in a good time at Alnwick.

The Open Maiden Race has 28 entries and will divide on the day if more than 18 horses are declared. If the aforementioned Accordingtotheboss can reproduce his recent Alnwick form then he must surely go one better. Former Irish pointer, Tommysteel, caught the eye when third to Amulree at Alnwick on his first start for Victor Thompson's yard and should come on a lot for the run, while Cloud Buster also merits consideration on the strength of a career-best effort when five lengths second to My Dads Horse at Aspatria last May.

Anotherbuck is taken to repeat last season's victory in the NPPA Club Members Race in the hands of Ed Wrigley. The main threat may come from Siobhan Doolan's evergreen 15-year-old gelding Joueur D'Estruval, who struck first time out here last year in the Ladies Open, while the promising Glen Lord might just need the run after being off the track since May 2010.

Admission is £10 per person, which includes a free racecard. The course lies adjacent to the A72, 3 miles south west of Carluke, and is well signposted from the M74, leaving at J8. For Sat Nav users, the post code is ML8 5QF.

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