Sleep Bal To Return To Winning Ways

Dunthrop near Chipping Norton stages the Farmers Bloodhounds meeting on Sunday 21st February 2010. They have received 144 entries on an interesting looking 8 race card. The first race starts at 11.30 a.m. with Cars being charged at £20 each with single occupants at £10.

The highlight of the card is the Ladies Open race which has attracted many decent runners. This looks a great race on paper with Limerick Leader looking to continue his winning sequence following a hat-trick of victories last season. Limerick Leader does look the one they all have to beat but will face a stern test if many of the other fancied runners turn up on the day.

The opening race on this 8 race card is the Hunt Members race. This looks an ideal opportunity for Sleep Bal to return to winning ways. Sleep Bal has been contesting much stronger races recently and his opponents here do not look anywhere near as strong and should land the first race of the day. Mister Bertolli has showed some reasonable form in the past and could run well if able to put a disappointing first run of the season behind him.

A very interesting Open Maiden for 5 year olds and upwards is up next and with 5 or 6 solid contenders this looks an extremely hard race to call. Aid Helm, Mister Cee Jay, Oujamaflip, Radical Gunner, Taken on Trust and War Hawk looking the best of them. Taken on Trust had 2 decent thirds last season and may need this opening run of the season. Oujamaflip finished a decent 3rd at Whitfield and looks to hold a good chance of getting in the winners enclosure. War Hawk finished 6th on his first outing and should improve again and must also come into the reckoning. It will be an interesting race to watch as many of these runners had a hard race at Whitfield and it wil be very interesting to see if the form holds up.

Division 2 looks just as open as the first with Medic, Doctor Kingsley and Dammam looking leading fancies. However, the horse i like is Dan Maguire who fell on his seasonal appearance but looks good enough of taking a race of this nature and I will take him to put those jumping frailties to one side and record his first success here.

As mentioned above the Ladies Open Race looks a really strong race with Limerick Leader looking the one to beat. Angela Rucker will have the choice between Petit Lord and Blue Business. Blue Business looks the stronger of the two and if turned out could give Limerick Leader a fright. The same applies to Long Night and Double Honour. Double Honour will love the testing conditions and also looks a big Danger. An interesting outsider could be Derawar who won the Ladies Open race at the course last year over the extended 3 miles 5 furlongs and with stamina likely to come into play here he could finish in the place money. A fascinating race looks in store.

An open maiden over the shorter 2m 4f follows and this looks a great chance for Divine Intervention to go one better following his decent second on his first run of the season he looks a very likely improver for Sue Wilson and will be very difficult to beat. Double Tangle who was nibbled in the market at Whitfield and was in the process of running a decent race looks his main danger but if he puts in a clear round Divine Intervention is definitely the one to beat.

The Mens Open race looks a good chance for Irilut to get back to the winners enclosure, Irilut was disappointing at Whitfield earlier in the month but with that first run of the season under his belt he should improve considerably and all being well should land another Mens Open Prize. The Hookie Bookie is probably the main danger as Marblehead looks to be on the downgrade following a few lacklustre runs recently and James Pine usually saves his best form for later in the season. So we can hopefully get some of our losses back from Whitfield on Sunday.

A very open restricted race is up next and this could go to Bouncing Bob who was not disgraced when finishing 5th on his seasonal debut and could make his fitness tell with further improvement likely to come. I also think he could be some value here against more fancied rivals. Blackcomb Mountain looks to be his biggest danger but with many unexposed runners in the field this does look an open contest.

The final race of a interesting card sees a good chance for Goscar Rock to continue his climb through the ranks following his decent restricted victory and should score here. The Camerengo and No John No look the main dangers but Giscar Rock looks the one to be on for me.

Selections :

Race 1 - Sleep Bal NAP (Mister Bertolli)
Race 2 - Oujamaflip (War Hawk)
Race 3 - Dan Maguire (Medic)
Race 4 - Limerick Leader (Blue Business)
Race 5 - Divine Intavention (Grand Silence)
Race 6 - Irilut (NAP) (The Hookie Bookie)
Race 7 - Bouncing Bob (Blackcomb Mountain)
Race 8 - Goscar Rock (No John No)

Dunthrop will also be staging the re-arranged Heythrop meeting at the track on Saturday 27th March 2010.

Let’s hope the sun will be shining and it's not too cold and everybody can have a really enjoyable opening days racing .

Please email any comments to info@southmidlandp2p.co.uk