The Kimblewick (May) point-to-point on Sunday 11th May is the third of four meetings to be held at the Oxfordshire venue of Kingston Blount this season and has a total entry of 57 for the six races, which start at 2.00pm. Local trainer Alan Hill confirmed on Tuesday morning that the going is Good, Good to Firm in places and that watering will continue all week with the aim of achieving Good ground for racing on Sunday.
The Perrys of Aylesbury JAECOO Mens Open, over the shorter distance of 2m5f, has attracted seven entries, including two from the yard of Gina Andrews, who is chasing the national trainers title and is currently two behind reigning champion Josh Newman. Both are also entered in the Ladies Open and Loughan – who has been hitting the crossbar this season with three seconds and a third from four starts – is more likely to take his chance in this contest. Luca Morgan’s On Springs has won all three starts this season, including here on his reappearance, and is a rival to be feared, along with Empire De Maulde, who has won twice this year and since been second to three useful types, two of whom won at Cheltenham last week.
Gina confirmed her running plans, saying, “Loughan was beaten fair and square by I K Brunel here last time, and is probably better over two-and-a-half miles. (Her brother) Jack will ride”. Claire Hart advised that Samtara could make a quick reappearance following his Mollington win on Monday, telling me, “Having looked at Sunday’s race, we may go again. Now he’s won, he has nothing to prove, and options are limited for the rest of the season. We’re still learning about him, but he’s exceeded all expectations so far.”
Eight have been entered for the Ladies Open, sponsored by College and County Estate Agents and Gina’s aforementioned pair are among them, with I’m Spellbound, unbeaten and impressive in three starts this season, her likely runner. Alan Hill has won 101 races at his local course (he brought up his century here with Amrons Sage in February) and is aiming to increase this tally with I K Brunel, three times a winner here, including at the last meeting in April. Precious Bounty is in good form, likes quick ground and rider Marina Bealby is in contention for the national female novice riders crown, while Barely Famous has been runner-up on her last three starts but this may come to quickly after her latest race on Monday.
Alan said of I K Brunel, “We’ve shown our hand in winning two Opens this season, so have to give I’m Spellbound 5lb. He’s come out of his Kimble win in good order, and the course didn’t suit him as well as this one does – he loves the bends here. We’re unbeaten here… but then so is I’m Spellbound.”
“He has to win on Sunday to qualify for his end of season target, the John Corbet Cup at Stratford,” Gina told me about I’m Spellbound, “Otherwise he could go for the Ladies Final there. He’s been entered a lot recently but he’s a heavy-topped horse, so softer ground helps, and we’ve been nervous about running him on Good to Firm. We’ve probably been a bit too precious!”
The card opens with a Conditions Race (Level 2), sponsored by Bonners and Babbingtons and limited to horses with a South Midlands Area certificate – the race has five entries. Two are trained by Alan Hill and he confirmed Coolagh Park his more likely runner, saying, “The plan is to run him. He was beaten fair and square at Garthorpe last time, although I’d probably been too easy on him since his hard race at Fakenham and he may have blown up. Hopefully he’ll strip fitter on Sunday. Soldier Unknown is entered here and in the Ladies Open but will only run if Coolagh Park or I K Brunel can’t.”
Tim Underwood’s Presenting Point has been placed on all three pointing starts this season in small fields but has yet to beat a rival, so the main threat to Coolagh Park may come from Capparattin. Now trained by owner Jane Burton, he won two races this time last year when in the care of Station Yard Racing but has been below his best this year. Phillippa Taylor’s Rizzardo is out of form. “Presenting Point definitely runs,” confirmed Tim, “Although he won’t beat Coolagh Park! Charlie Marshall will ride him and all of mine on Sunday.”
The Highwayman Inn at Checkendon Restricted Race has 12 entries and five of them won last time out. Pontypridd-based Luke Price is in flying form, with 15 wins from 26 starts this season and he has entered two – Chilfrome winner Scoro and the mare Fiftyshadesof Bay (guess what colour she is?) who scored at Larkhill. Gina Andrews’ Pillar Rock has completed a Garthorpe double but would carry a 5lb penalty, Can Daddy Dance may not run again after winning at Mollington on Monday, and Dr Lockdown finished alone in a Paxford match.
This looks a highly competitive event, with plenty who didn’t taste success last time in with a shout. Tim Underwood’s Song For My Father unseated early when odds-on last weekend, having previously completed a double. Station Yard Racing’s Pocatello has been running consistently in this company, Penniless is another consistent type, Citizen Jane has a chance if repeating the form of her Bitterley second, while Creapapy disappointed last time after winning at Penshurst.
Gina confirmed this race, rather than the Intermediate, as the plan for Pillar Rock, saying, “Looking at the entries, it seems to be an easier race. He was given to us by Dan Skelton and is not the easiest horse at home, and not always the best jumper, so he’s surprised us this season. We may put him in our Ice and a Slice Racing Club next year.”
Tim said likewise about Song For My Father, telling me, “He’s a definite runner. He’s come out of Godstone perfectly alright, and he was unlucky when Yorky (the sidelined Phil York) was unseated. I only put him in the Intermediate in case it was a weaker race.”
“We’ll make a decision on Pocatello later this week,” advised Station Yard Racing’s Charlie Poste. “He ran OK last time – the second and third have won since – and his runs since his reappearance after a long absence have been solid. He should be able to win a Restricted before the end of the season.”
The highest entry of the six races – 14 – is in the Richardsons Chartered Accounts Maiden. Top-rated is Alan Hill’s Occupied Territory, based on his Godstone second, and Alan advised that he is a likely runner, telling me, “He ran better last time, and we think the quicker ground suited him. Owner Dan Cherriman will ride. Of the other two entries from the Hill yard (son Joe trains Barito and King James) – only Barito is an intended runner. “Barito has been entered a few times but hasn’t run yet,” Alan said. “He’s a sales horse, so Joe wants to look after him. He’ll walk the course at the weekend before deciding whether to run.”
Gina Andrews also has two entered – Constitution Grove, the mount of Ellie Holder, who has been placed three times, and Radical Optimism, who disappointed last time after a promising second on his debut. Also double-handed is Bradley Gibbs. The Hertfordshire handler has done well this season with his mares for local owner Chub Castle and the pair are represented here by newcomer Answer Soon. Bradley himself owns the once raced ex-Irish Korhogo Du Banco (no, I don’t know what it means either).
Gina advised that Radical Optimism was the more likely of her pair to declare, stating, “He ran pretty well on debut and the horse that beat him has won twice since, then – while he disappointed last time, the winner is a good horse and was sold for £135,000.”
Luke Price has entered pointing newcomer My Kent, whose only start was in a bumper, Taghadoe has regressed since a good start to the season, while the Lockinge form shown by Fred Hutsby’s Myneighbour – confirmed by his trainer as a probable runner – and Tim Underwood’s Kedg West was moderate. The latter’s trainer laughed, “It’s in the lap of the gods. I rode him yesterday and he worked really well – based on that, I don’t understand why he can’t win a Maiden.”
11 have been entered for the closing race, an Intermediate sponsored by Vinanz, headed by Luke Price’s ex-Dan Skelton mare Elle Est Beau, who completed a hat-trick at Kimble last time. He also has Lavorante, who has not raced since taking a Howick Members in early March on his reappearance. They are two of no fewer than six entries who tasted success last time out. Fred Hutsby’s Joe Kidd scored at Paxford, Right Hand Of God did likewise at Parham, while Petite Mike completed a double on his last start and is now stepping up in grade.
Fred is unsure whether to declare Joe Kidd, admitting, “My son Tom is ill at the moment, so couldn’t ride at Mollington. I’ll only run him if Tom’s able to ride – otherwise we’ll look for a Novice Riders race somewhere.”
Elen Wylie’s Jullou De Grissay was impressive winning his first two starts this season but was below his best when third last time, and Station Yard Racing’s Ping Pong Paddy has been showing consistent form for owner-rider Flora Lindsay. “It looks a competitive race, with several possibilities for title-chasing James King to ride” said Charlie Poste about whether to run Ping Pong Paddy. “He’s also in at Upcott Cross this weekend and has options at Edgcote and Dingley later this month so, as with Pocatello, we’ll make a decision nearer the time.” Alan Hill confirmed Highland Glory a likely runner for local owners The Sunday Night Partnership.
Admission is £15 per person, with payment by either cash or card on the gate. Under 17s are admitted free. Advance tickets may also be purchased, at the discounted price of £13, via the Kimblewick Races website here
The food and drink offerings include Burgervore Burgers, a traditional award-winning street food trader serving mind blowing burgers across Buckinghamshire since 2021, Oliveros Stone Baked Pizza, authentic Roman-style pizza, using fresh Italian ingredients, baked in a signature stone baked oven, The Cotswold Coffee Brew Coffee Bar and Rosettes Ice Cream. The Kimblewick Hunt Supporters Club will, as usual, be running the bar.
Among the trade stands are Perrys of Aylesbury (Vehicle Dealership), Ellen Halpin (Luxury Hampers), Harry and Conway (Gentlemen’s Waistcoats) and Orchard Garden Furniture.
The course is approximately two miles from Junction 6 of the M40 in the direction of Chinnor. There will be black and gold signs to the course from the M40 and in Kingston Blount village. For SatNav, use postcode OX39 4SG. We do not recommend you leave the motorway at Junction 5, as the route down Kingston Hill is both narrow and steep.