The Brocklesby Point-to-Point races took place at a blustery, Storm Dennis-battered Brocklesby Park on Saturday. Despite the weather, runners held up well, with 37 of the 86 entries lining up on the day, and full credit should go to the organisers for their perseverance given the bad weather.
One of the highlights of the day was the successful return to action of Duhallow Tornado (pictured) in the Baillie Haylage Mixed Open following a 653-day absence from the track. While the ground and the course were to his liking, the slow pace didn't suit the eight-year-old, but Tommie O'Brien had him settled just off the leaders and managed to get him home a neck to the good of King of The Clothe (Jack Andrews). "We know he is good, I just hope he comes out of the race alright," said the delighted winning trainer. "If he does, he may go straight to the Cheltenham Festival for the Foxhunters."
O'Brien followed up with a win on Gold Clermont in the Duncan & Topliss Jockey Club Open Maiden for fillies and mares. The four-year-old debutant was entitled to be a bit green and did look to run back to the horseboxes at the top bend, but O'Brien was able to keep her engaged and went on to beat Latenightfumble by three lengths. Winning owner Tom Lacey was not present as he was saddling runners at Ascot; however, it is likely that Gold Clermont will go to the sales, possibly as soon as the Tattersalls Cheltenham on Friday.
Latenightfumble's rider, Gina Andrews, may have had to settle for the runner-up spot in that race, but she did ride a treble to make her the leading rider at the meeting and take her seasonal tally to 14.
In the INRG Solar Intermediate, Dubai Quest followed up his Thorpe restricted success, beating Omar Maretti and Dale Peters by 11 lengths. "He was travelling well in the back straight on the wood side and I knew then I would win," explained Andrews. Owned by the Oak Partnership, headed by Giles Sim, the seven-year-old will be aimed at the Intermediate Hunter Chase Final at Cheltenham in May.
In the following Clark Weightman Restricted, Revesby maiden winner Benefaktor moved up a grade, jumping much straighter and looking like he had learned a lot from his previous outing. Ridden by Andrews and trained by her husband, Tom Ellis, Benefaktor is owned by a syndicate of enthusiasts and on this occasion ran in Keith Load's blue and white silks. "That was a good performance to give a stone to the second horse Classic Lady on this soft ground," said co-owner Brian Crawford.
Andrews' treble was completed in the concluding Nunn's Mitsubishi Open Maiden with the four-year-old Getaway gelding Striking A Pose, who scored readily by 30 lengths from Master Thyne (Will Easterby). "He is a nice horse, he has a good pedigree, and would be one of the best four-year-olds we have," explained winning trainer Tom Ellis. "He will go to the sales now as that is a big part of our business."
There was an exciting finish to the PPORA Club Members' Conditions race sponsored by DDM Agriculture, with the grey mare Absainte beating the best-turned-out Squirrel Esquire (James Martin) by a length. Ridden by William Easterby, for whom this was the first winner of the current campaign, Absainte is owned by the Armstrong Partnership headed by Sharon Stiddard. She won at Brocklesby last year and although the soft ground didn't suit her, she rallied gamely. "I would think she will run next in the novice hunter chase at Catterick in March," said winning trainer Robin Tate.
The meeting had opened with sole entry Nicki's Nipper walking over in the Hunt Members' race for Clare Pickering.