KINGSTON LOOKS A REAL BANKER

The Heythrop stages the second meeting at the Duntrop point-to-point course on Sunday 20th January 2008. The clerk of the course John Trice-Rolph has moved the running rail on all the bends of the course to enable the horses to run on fresh ground following the Farmers Bloodhounds meeting staged at the course in December. This meeting has a 7 race card commencing at 11.30 a.m and it looks a really good meeting with plenty of decent horses entered up. Although it does seem unlikely any of the races will be split on the day with 107 entries. For directions to the course please click here. There will also be several stalls a fully licensed bar and various other catering facilities.

Hunt Members

Not the greatest of races to get the meeting underway but on paper this race looks a match between Passerella and Moscow Court. Passerella recorded a good effort to only get beaten a couple of lengths by the Hutsby trained Rash Move at Higham a fortnight ago. Passerella is likely to improve for that opening outing and should have a good chance of going one better in this event. The form between Passerella and Moscow Court looks very tight but I slightly prefer the form of Moscow Court on this occasion. Moscow Court had know chance of winning the very hot Mens Open race at Larkhill won by Something Small earlier in the month and it was no surprise to see him pulled up. Moscow Court was up near the front for most of the way in this race and will appreciate this drop down in class. I think he could have to many guns for Passerella on the best of last season form and should open his account for the season. The other horses form in this race does not look very inspiring but keep and I on the Gerard Nock runner Denada in the market as he has saddled many winners at this course in previous years.

Confined Race

The Confined race looks a far more trickier event with many of the runners in good form. The horse with the best chance looks to be Full Minty who ran such a good race before getting run out of it at Cottenham behind Ballylusky in December. Full Minty made Ballylusky pull out all the stops on that occasion and I think this is the strongest form line on show in this race. Reel Dancer also ran a good first race of the season and he should not be dismissed lightly as many of the runners which finished behind him on that day have run well since. Half Inch also recorded a good victory in the Club Members race at Higham and continues on a upward curve but may find a couple of these to strong at the business end of the race. Simply the One put in a much-improved performance under a good Stuart Morris ride at the course in December and could also have chances in what looks a very open event. The 2 runners, which have not been out this season but have good form, are Gunther McBride and The Hookie Bookie. Gunther McBride did not look quite so good last season and I am going to overlook him on his seasonal reappearance. Also the Tarry trained runners usually need a run so it might be worth waiting for The Hookie Bookie for another day. A very interesting race looks in store with many of the 15 runners entered looking to hold a chance.

Ladies Open

The Ladies open race looks a good opportunity for Polly Gundry and The Kings Fling to open their account for the season. Although lacking a run this season I am sure The Kings Fling will be fit enough to do himself justice. The Kings Fling should take this race from Blue Business who was close to taking the Ladies Race at Tweseldown a fortnight ago going down by only a short head behind Shareef. Blue Business will have fitness on his side but I think The Kings Fling may have too much class for that opponent. Redskin Raider is the dark horse in this race and will be ably assisted by Miss. S. Sharett from the saddle he could upset the front two if putting his best foot forward, but maybe his form is not quite as strong as the two principals. Chicuelo as mentioned recently is well out of sorts at the moment and can't win this race unless returning to form which on current evidence looks unlikely. Espresso Forte who ran a good race behind Reel Dancer at the Farmers Bloodhounds meeting in December would also have a chance but this horse finds it hard to get its head in front and will probably have to settle for a place at best this time around.

Mens Open

This race on paper is a match between Irilut and Honourable Spider. A great race would be in store if both made an appearance although Irilut is probably the more likely to turn up on the day. Irilut has been the model of consistency in his last two starts and will be very hard to beat. Lets just hope that Peter Bull and Honourable Spider do turn up on the day and provide race goers with a real cracker of a Mens Open. Irilut would still be the selection to keep the good run of the Waley-Cohen horses going but it could go all the way to the wire this time around. Honourable Spider never showed at Larkhill a fortnight ago but will be a different proposition this time around. With that first run under his belt he could prove very troublesome to Irilut if setting off in front and showing the same running and jumping performance which earned him a good Folkestone Hunter chase victory last season. The other runners worth a mention in this race are Strong Weld and Kaki Crazy but they would have to improve greatly on what they have achieved so far to ruffle up either of the front two.

PPORA Club Members (Novice Riders)

This race looks to be between 3 horses Cross The Highman, Magicien and Kingston Banker. As discussed previously Cross The Highman is very consistent and has run some decent races. My main concern is the jockey Miss C. Mitchell, as she did not seem to give the horse any assistance from the saddle when finishing second at Tweseldown a fortnight ago. If she can assist the horse better this time around they should go very well. Kingston Banker also had some decent form to his name last season and was a good fourth first time out behind Lady Myfanwy at Ideford March. Hornbill finished 3rd in that race and after running so well at Barbury Racecourse at the weekend finishing a very decent 1/2 length second behind Splash and Dash. This makes Kingston Banker's first run of the season look all the more impressive. Kingston Banker tired towards the finish of that race but should be spot on for this after a fortnights rest from the course. I reckon he is the best bet of the meeting and will take plenty of beating. Magicien who recorded two victories towards the end of last season also has chances but I would be surprised to see him run as he wont like the prevailing soft ground conditions.

Open Maiden 6 year Old +

This looks another open race with several runners holding good chances. The horses I like are Blazing Guns who is very consistent and deserves to break his maiden duck. Fenny Lane who ran a decent second at Cottenham behind the very well touted Lord Brunello and Johnny Be who ran a decent first race over sticks at the Farmers Bloodhounds meeting in December. The strongest form line does seem to be with Blazing Guns but he maybe a little one-paced at present. I am going to select Fenny Lane as the winner of this race as this was a very decent first effort behind Lord Brunello and should be good enough to score. Johnny Be looks a major threat after being left at the start at the same Farmers Bloodhounds meeting in December before cruising through the field nicely before running out of steam towards the end of the race. I think he could have a very good future ahead but on this occasion may come out second best behind Fenny Lane. Noble Profile should also be in the shake up in what looks to be a very strong maiden race.

Open Maiden for 4,5,6 and 7 Year Olds

This race looks to hold an excellent chance for Port Talbot to gain compensation for unseating the rider when still going well at the Farmers Bloodhounds meeting in December. Port Talbot was about ten lengths clear at the time and was still travelling strongly. If he can avoid another repeat of that jumping error he looks to have an outstanding chance of recording a first victory. Marblehead seems to be Port Talbot's main rival after finishing a good 3rd in a Larkhill maiden, Larkhill maidens are usually quite competitive and would not need to improve much to take a race of this nature. With a few of the horses in this race never stepped onto a racecourse the advise is to tread carefully and to watch any market moves in the betting ring. As this race holds plenty of unexposed horses, so be careful not to get your fingers burnt.

As the actual declared runners for each race are not known until the day, we will make a selection of which horse we believe will have a good chance of winning the race. A second selection will also be given in case this horse does not run. The best two bets of the day will be tagged in the form of a Nap being the best bet, and a Next Best being the second best bet of the day.

Selections :

Race 1 Moscow Court (Passerella)

Race 2 Full Minty (Reel Dancer)

Race 3 The King's Fling (Blue Business)

Race 4 Irilut (Honourable Spider)

Race 5 Kingston Banker (NAP) (Cross THe Highman)

Race 6 Fenny Lane(Johnny Be)

Race 7 Port Talbot (N.B) (Marblehead)

Hopefully with far less entries than last weeks Barbury 2 day meeting we will see more of the selected runners taking part on the day. I will be looking forward to reporting plenty of winners from this meeting in my review on Tuesday.

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