Clerk of the Course Charles Millington and his team at Dingley are hard at work during another week of beautiful dry weather, preparing a great racing track for the Fernie meeting, on Sunday 4th of May.
The hard work they put in for the Pytchley with Woodland meeting paid off with good entry numbers and again we see the rewards of that hard work, with a total of 76 entries across the six races. I will caveat that by saying that as with all meetings at this time of year some horses will have entered other point-to-point meetings on the same weekend and may choose the other meeting over the Fernie's.
The feature race of the day is the Welland Valley Feeds Fernie Four-Miler Mixed Open Race where several very classy pointers have lined up. Aramax is fresh from a strong performance to win the open here two weeks ago and may well start as favourite, although unproven over this extra distance. The Whiskey and Water Partnership, who own Aramax, also have Ragnar Lodbrok entered and may not run both horses. The latter has had a slightly sketchy season finishing second at high Easter on his last outing but pulling up several times before that. Larry, 2nd to Aramax here two weeks ago has subsequently won a match race at Parham, so may well be comfortable running here again a week later. Bothwell Bridge is a local horse owned by the Fernie Dingley Syndicate, and a strong performer, but seems to have lost the winning edge slightly of late. The Dale Peters-trained Thunderstruck was third here behind Aramax at our last meeting and may fancy their chances over the extra mile. Galileo Silver will have lots of support at Dingley, being a grey and ridden by Dan Cherriman - they also have a second entry. The Stearns have entered veteran pointer Midnight Cowboy for only his second outing this year, having missed the 2024 season. Dusart is entered here as a backup plan to his entry at Cheltenham on Friday.
The first race of the day is a 2 1/2 mile Maiden race sponsored by Watling JCB which will start near the finish line at the bottom of the Dingley Hill. As is often the way with these races a number of the 18 horses entered in this one have not run before while others have run several times. Validation, Patricks HIll and My Jetta Plane all finished second on their latest outings. Jack Teal‘s Matching Energy showed the speed needed to win a point-to-point flat race on his own previous outing and receives a 10lb allowance as a four-year-old. Art Dancer, Barito and Drinkupwe'releavin all make their racecourse debuts.
The lineup for the next race, the Tattersalls Conditions Race for Novice Riders, is a strong one. Drakes Well, the ride of Tom Hutsby, has multiple wins this season, and will be a strong contender, even with a 5lb penalty. Louis Hadfield, from Laura Morgan‘s yard, won well on his Coeur Serein last weekend at Garthorpe and should feature prominently if the horse is well recovered. Molly Legg on Young Rich, likewise, ran well to finish second at the Quorn meeting last weekend. Ragnar Lodbrok is entered here as well as the Four Miler. Laura Morgan is also represented by her own Glen Cannel, a seven-year-old which has given jockey Will Grant three consecutive seconds this season. Golden Tobouggan defies his 14 years, and has been placed twice this season. Kilfilum Woods won his most recent race but can be unpredictable.
Gina Andrews has a choice of rides in the Sharnford Tractors-sponsored Restricted race which follows the Open. Can Daddy Dance has been placed at this level in all his three runs, while Cheytac has won a restricted race and therefore receives a 5lb penalty. Dale Peters rides Cash Or Card for Beryl Close and should feature here with strong performances in his previous runs. Atlantic Fleet ran well here at Dingley for third last time and will look to improve. James Henderson’s Pax has won twice before and is a horse with lots of potential. Jack Teal rides and trains Callmesusie and benefits from the 7lb mares allowance. A number of the entries here won their maiden last time out and will step up in company here.
The penultimate race of the day is the Conditions Race for horses of nine-years-old and over, sponsored by Berry Accountants and Berry Wealth Management. The Stearn family's No Risk des Flos is by far the best-rated in this field but may only choose to run if the ground is on the soft side. Bothwell Bridge, Coeur Serein, Dusart and Galileo Silver all have other entries on this card but may choose to run here. Dale Peters has entered a slew of horses across this card and has the experienced Mountain Assault in this one, a capable pointer who knows this course and has won here on more than one occasion.
The final race of the day is the A & J Sectional Buildings Maiden Race with no weight for age allowance, and has 14 entries. Drinkupwe’releavin and Ted E Williams are both making their racecourse debuts and both down to be ridden by Dale Peters. Validation, Patricks Hill, Kirsch de Cotte and Carpe Diem all scored seconds on their last outings and look to go one better. Job Well Done ran in Ireland over hurdles before coming to Jack Teal's yard but hasn't finished a point-to-point yet.
Keep an eye on our home page and social media channels for regular going updates from the grounds team at Dingley, where watering started on Tuesday and continues apace.
Tickets for the Fernie meeting are available on the Midlands Pointing ticketing page and include a racecard. Tickets on the gate on the day will not. Children under-16 are admitted free of charge, as are dogs, as long as they are on leads. There will be a trade stand village next to the collecting ring, children's amusements, a bar, bookmakers and lots of food and drink. Do come along, bring a picnic and enjoy a day of racing with one of the best views anywhere in the country. Gates open at 11am.