Turthen out to Rock the Caveman
The two-day Point-to-Point Owners and Riders’ (PPORA) meeting at Barbury Castle due to be held on January 17 and 18th has a number of new sponsors for this year’s meeting The Jockey Club Estates, which took over ownership of the Lambourn gallops two years ago and has done much to improved the facilities on offer for racehorse trainers and horses, has taken over the sponsorship of the feature race on the first day, the mixed open, while local veterinary surgery Donnington Grove, which works with many of the area’s racehorse and point-to-point trainers as well as with the general horse owner, is to sponsor the two and a half mile maiden. The Jockey Club is to offer a free schooling session at Lambourn to the winning connections. John Beasley, photographer and editor of the point-to-point world’s yearly must-read, the Big Green Annual, has teamed up with the New Racehorse Point-to-Point Sponsorship scheme to give their support to the Club Conditions race. On Sunday, Knight Frank sponsors of Barbury Castle racecourse, have taken over sponsorship of the mens’ open, while Geoffrey Deacon Thoroughbred Services has stepped up to support the last race on the second day, the 3m maiden. The national sponsors Connolly’s Red Mills, Dodson and Horrell and the Racing Post Weekender will once again be back at the racecourse backing their respective races over the two days - the intermediate, the novice riders and the ladies’ open. Fullers Brewery is, as usual, caring for human wellbeing and rewarding each winning stable with a slab of beer, but they are joined this year by Coolex Horse Wear, who more concerned with equine wellbeing, are giving a free state-of-the-art, versatile three-ply rug to successful connections. Entrance on the day will be £10 per head with under 16s free and the first race each day will be at 11.00amBarbury Racecourse is set in an amphitheatre on the Marlborough downs near Swindon, the course is very open so now temperatures have started rising and the frost is coming out of the ground let's hope this 2 day meeting can eventually go ahead. This meeting is always well attended and with the last 2 week-end's point-to-point fixtures being blighted by the weather point-to-point enthusiasts will be raring to go for this week-end's action. The PPORA has also received a collosal 501 entries for both days with 250 entries for Saturday and 251 entries for an exciting looking Sunday card so a bumper feast of racing looks in store with many of these races looking as if they will be split on the day.
Grenfell looks the pick for the opening Intermediate race following his easy victory at Cottenham a fortnight ago. This horse looks progressive and could take some beating in this field. Fox John looks his main danger following a return to form finishing 6 lengths behind Grenfell at Dunthrop. This was Fox John's first run of the season and he could push Grenfell all the way here if showing improvement following that opening run of the season. Shady Hollow also has chances following his victory in the Restricted race at Dunthrop but needs to improve as the race he won was 19 seconds slower than the winning time of Turthen in the race which Grenfell and Fox John contested.
Rockwithacaveman will be looking to add another pointing success to his name following 6 victories in points last season. I am going to overlook him in this race in preference for Turthen who was a mighty impressive winner at Dunthrop in December. The advantage of that run can see off Rockwithacaveman on this occasion. Others which hold chances are Ballylusky, Mel in Blue and The Man from Highworth. It will also be very interesting to see if Chilling place formerly trained by Phillip Hobbs can return to form following some lacklustre efforts over the bigger fences and this front runners course should suit him down to the ground and could also run well.
The PPORA Club Members race looks impossible to solve. The horses I like are Earth Man, Selassie, Splash and Dash, Sudden Arrival and We're Confused. We're Confused won well at Dunthrop but did not fence that well, if he can brush up on his jumping then he has a big chance here and will be race fit which does not apply to many of the other runners. Splash and Dash always runs well at this course and if fit enough to do himself justice he could stretch the field out and run into a place. The same comment applies to Sudden Arrival who was very disappointing at the Dunthrop meeting but could of needed that first outing of the season and should not be written off just yet. Selassie was entered to run at Cottenham but subsequently withdrawn due to the state of the ground, he looks to probably have the best form on show and should also go very close in a very open contest.
The Club Members Maiden race over 2m 4f has 61 entries and this looks like you could stick a pin in here. Drom ran a good race before getting tired at Dunthrop and this drop back to 2m 4f will suit him better than most and looks to hold as good a chance as any. Lord Bellamy would of probably gone close to winning at Kingston Blount last May over the 2m 5f trip, but made several jumping mistakes at crucial times in the race, if he can cut out these mistakes he should go very close in a race which does not look like it will take a great deal of winning. The winner Checked Shirt of that race has also franked the form by returning to Kingston Blount a fortnight later to take the Restricted race over 3 miles in impressive style.
The final race on the card has another massive 60 entries and looks another very hard puzzle to solve. The horses which take the eye here are Sweden who was a good winner in a irish point to point and was sent off Evens favourite at Cottenham before being withdrawn. I think he has a very big chance, as does Glen Tulloch who won well at the Dunthrop and should have a good chance of following up here. Another horse which should run well is Manta Point who led all the way in the Open Maiden race at Dunthrop. I think he looks an improving type and if Rachel King is able to dominate again should run into a place.
With so many entries and races looking to be split it is going to be really difficult to find any winners on the day, but hopefully you will keep your binoculars glued to the action and find a couple of future winners for another day.
Selections :
Race 1 - Grenfell (Fox John)
Race 2 - Turthen (NAP)(Rockwithacaveman)
Race 3 - Sellassie (We're Confused)
Race 4 - Lord Bellamy (Drom)
Race 5 - Sweden(Glen Tulloch)
Let’s hope this meeting can go ahead and the pointing action can resume so everybody can enjoy the week-end's racing .
Please email any comments to info@southmidlandp2p.co.uk