Irilut looks up for the Cup

The first Point-to-Point meeting in the south midland area takes place at Dunthrop near Chipping Norton on Sunday 31st January 2010. They are expecting a big crowd for the Heythrop meeting and have received 177 entries on an exciting looking 9 race card. The first race starts at 11.45 a.m.

The highlight of the card is the 4 Mile Open race for the Lord Ashton of Hyde's Cup which gets underway at 3.15. Numerous horses entered for this race have shown a decent level of National Hunt and pointing form in recent seasons. This looks a great race on paper so lets hope many of the fancied runners turn up on the day.

The first two races on the card are maidens for Five year olds and upwards over three miles. The majority of the horses in this race have never seen a racecourse or hold any worthwhile form. This makes it very difficult to suggest a winner in these types of races. However, in Division 1, Doctor Kingsley has run respectably well and should go close to breaking his duck. Slyne Head also looked like a future winner after running two ok races last season. His form could be good enough to win this season if not on this occasion. Orient Legend and Ardling also have bits and pieces of form and are also each way options. Division 2 looks a good chance for Exuberance to build on his decent second at Chaddesley Corbett last year and with two other reasonable runs that experience should bowed well to see off his rivals here. Exuberance should be followed home by Touchdown Kid who put in a good display on his last outing and also looks a certain future winner.

The 3rd race sees Division 1 of the 2m 4f maidens and this looks just as tricky as the above two races. This race could see a good run from Jolly Rock under Dave Mansell, he should go really well and is probably the best bet of all the above races. Division 2 looks a punters nightmare as most of the horses have no form but a chance could be taken on Knightsbridgelives who ran a decent second at Cottenham and should hold a good chance of going one better.

Only six go for the Hunt race and Moscow Court and Taxi Fare go head to head again like they did in the same race a year ago. No chance of Taxi Fare going off at 25\1 in this race and the result could also be turned around as Moscow Court looked like he had that race in the bag until stopping to a walk on the run to the winning line. Moscow Court should gain his revenge and win this race and Taxi Fare is the most likely rival to follow him home.

The Ladies Open Race is over the extended 3m 5F trip and has received a fantastic entry. Petit Lord has run already this season and race fitness at this stage of the campaign counts for plenty with this longer trip also in his favour he should run well at a nice price. Sweden also looks on the upgrade as does Virginia Preuil who ran in some decent races last season. Derawar won this race last season and could also have a good chance and should be a nice price. This race however does revolve around the well being of Crystal D'ainay who was formerly very decent under rules and if able to retain that ability would be the one they all have to beat. My selection is going to be Virginia Preuil as she contested some hot races last season and this longer trip should suit and should hold a very decent chance in an open looking race.

The highlight of the meeting is the gruelling 4m journey for the Lord Ashton of Hyde's Cup which again has a really good entry for this race. With last years winner Bowden Lane's in the field this is going to prove a real stamina test and he should run really well but this does look a stronger race than he won last year. The three other horses which look very eyecatching are Irilut, Worship The Stars and Teeton Bollinger. Teeton Bollinger is more use to this sort of trip and has won over the distance and should run really well. Worship The Stars will love the soft ground conditions but I am not sure a 4m trip is really going to play to his advantage. Irilut came back to his best last season and if he can continue in the same vain then he should be hard to beat. A fascinating contest looks in store and it should be a race to savour.

The PPORA Members race looks a match on recent form between Selassie and William Somers both have already run this season both finishing placed but the race in which Selassie ran behind Cedrus Libani looks the stronger and I think he should come out best of the two. Absolutely Barking ran well at the beginning of last season and if fully tuned up for his reappearance should also run well.

A very hard getting out stakes race for punters with plenty of maiden winners in the field which have yet to taste restricted company. The horse that does stand out though is Getyouracttogether as his decent second at Wadebridge could be good enough to take a race like this and will have fitness on his side. The main danger looks to be Fresh Fruit as Sheila Crow probably has much more to come from him but with so many unexposed runners in the race this does look extremely difficult.

Selections :

Race 1 - Doctor Kingsley (Slyne Head)
Race 2 - Exuberance (Touchdown Kid)
Race 3 - Just Rock (N.B)
Race 4 - Knightsbridgelives
Race 5 - Moscow Court (Taxi Fare)
Race 6 - Virginia Preuil (Petit Lord)
Race 7 - Irilut (NAP) (Teeton Bollinger)
Race 8 - Selassie (William Somers)
Race 9 - Getyouracttogether (Fresh Fruit)

Dunthrop will also be staging the Farmers Bloodhounds meeting at the track on Sunday 21st February 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