14 April 2009 Preview: Quorn - Garthorpe
A large crowd is expected when the Quorn Hunt hold their annual Point-to-Point at Garthorpe.
There are six races scheduled on the card. An excellent 124 entries have been received and the course itself, considered one of the best in the country, looks to be in excellent condition. The ground has been forecast as good to soft. This will be the third of five meetings to be held here this season.
Admission prices for this and all other Garthorpe meetings this year are: £10 per car with driver, £5 for each additional occupant, £5 each pedestrian, children under 16 free.
The first race of the afternoon, due off at 1.30pm, is the Hunt Members. This race has been sponsored by Val & Harold Morton, Hunt Supporters. There are ten horses entered. Ronan the Warrior, likely to be the mount of Will Bissell, showed promise when a winner at Cottenham early season. Thenford Ryde has been third in his last two outings. However, the vote goes to Van Ness, who has been second in his last two Hunter Chases.
Race two is the Michael Farrin Memorial Mens Open Race, sponsored by Mr & Mrs P. Hewitt and Mr & Mrs J. Bealby. We have a very good entry of twenty three for this race. It looks highly competitive as a number of horses have strong chances. Denvale and Teeton Bollinger had only a neck separating them in the Open Race at Guilsborough recently. Network Oscar has won his last two starts and could have top rider Tom Greenall in the saddle. Nevertheless, this race could go to either Amicelli, fourth in the Foxhunters at Cheltenham; or Menchikov, a faller at Aintree in a race prior to the Grand National.
Robert Whowell & Partners, Accountants of Quorn, have kindly sponsored the Ladies Open Race, for which there are nineteen entries. The Rucker stable look to have a strong hand here - they have four entered. Unmistakably is a former winner of the Lady Dudley Cup; Petit Lord has won a similar event already this year, and Pirate Flagship cannot be ignored on last year's form. The Dawson yard have Vingis Park entered and cannot be ruled out. Also in with a chance is the consistent Hutchinson star, Free. He may be the one they all have to beat.
Twenty eight entries have been accepted for race four, the Maiden for 4, 5 & 6 year olds. The sponsor here is Six Hills Leisure Park. This race is to be run over two and a half miles. This race looks a little tricky to forecast. Forge Valley, the likely mount of Guy Brewer, was a decent fourth in a Maiden at Whitwell on the Hill. Rockfield has been third and fourth in similar events but will need to improve. The selection is the Gerald Bailey trained Kandelin, who has shown early promise but will need to improve on his last run.
Race Five on the card is the Restricted race; this is kindly sponsored by Prestwold Hall near Loughborough. A good entry of twenty two has been received.
This could rest between three form horses. Pingaro De La Vire unseated his rider when disputing the lead on his latest run and has the services of in form rider, David Maxwell. Our Whiz ran fourth at Tabley and has already won at Cottenham early season. However the vote goes to Henry Beauclerc who was a winner on this course last month.
Final race of the afternoon is the Open Maiden - this also has an entry of twenty two. Essennbee ran well when fourth in a Maiden at Welbeck. Newnham Rambo took fourth place in a similar race and should improve. Sprout has been placed twice this year and is in with a chance. Call Me A Lady was beaten a neck at Welbeck and could be in line for a win shortly.
