Amicelli To Show Some Class

The Grafton Hunt stages their first meeting at the Guilsborough point-to-point course following the closure of Mollington in 2007. A very good entry has been received for this meeting, that includes Cheltenham Foxhunter winner Amicelli. We have 144 runners entered on a 7 race card with the first race commencing at 2.00 p.m. 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 Race

Not the greatest of races to get the meeting underway but a very good chance for Tender Tangle to record another victory for the season. Tender Tangle was very impressive winning at the Oakley meeting a fortnight ago and looks vastly superior to his rivals here. Half Inch looks to be the biggest danger but I would be very surprised if he is good enough to lower the colours of Tender Tangle on this ocassion.

Selection : Tender Tangle (NAP)

Alternative : Half Inch


Intermediate Race

This race looks very competitive with over half of the 25 entered runners looking to hold good chances. The horse with probably the strongest form is Willie the Kid who won well at Dingley beating Tooley Park and looks a horse on the upgrade. He is one of many in this race with good form chances, Carbon Footprint, Lord Brunello, Sweet Citizen and Yeahbut have all performed well in their previous races and I don't believe we have seen the best of them yet. Lord Brunello is returning from a short break and he looks the main danger to Willie the Kid but he does seem to bash a few fences which he can ill afford to do in this company. I am going to stick with Willie The Kid to build on his last victory and take what looks on paper to be a very competitive and interesting Intermediate race. This will probably throw up plenty of future winners before the end of the season so keep those eyes glued to the runners throughout the race.

Selection : Willie The Kid

Alternative : Lord Brunello


Ladies Open Race

On paper this looks an extremely good race with plenty of the field showing some decent Ladies form. Honest Endeavour has been really consistent all season and holds the best form of all the runners, but if he is slightly off his game there will be plenty ready to seize their chance. Narciso has put in some decent performances so far this season and Step and Run who always goes well for Jane Williams has been in excellent form and will be looking to push Honest Endeavour all the way to the wire. I would not fancy Pirate Flagship if he was to turn out as he made several jumping mistakes and was pulled up very quickly at Atherstone on Sunday. The others with a chance look to be Free and Five Seven Live who will more than likely be without the assistance of Tash Mckim following her nasty fall when being taken through the wing by Maddies Dream At Kingston Blount on Saturday. A fantastic race looks on the card and I think the up and coming youngster Narciso will spring a surprise and bring Honest Endeavour's winning sequence to an end.

Selection : Narciso

Alternative : Honest Endeavour


Volkswagen Touareg Qualifier

Probably the best declarations seen so far this season in the South Midlands area for this Volkswagen Touareg qualifier. The top rated horse in this race is the Cheltenham Foxhunter winner Amicelli, who will take the world of beating in this race but does face some stern opposition with the likes of Coolefind and The Hookie Bookie already recording good victories so far this season, they also both love this course and distance and will be no pushovers although Amicelli's class will probably be the telling factor in the end and should on what we have witnessed so far this season add another victory to his tally.

Selection : Amicelli (N.B)

Alternative : Coolefind


Restricted Race

The majority of these horses have all shown very similar signs of form apart from The Fairhill Boy whose victory at Alnwick stands out in this company. The Fairhill Boy looks a very decent animal with only 2 runs under his belt so far this season and will have plenty more improvement in the locker. He will also be assisted by leading Mens Championship rider Ollie Greenhall and they look to have far too much firepower for the other runners in this event and are a very good bet to record another success. The other runners with good form lines are Sideline Critic, Oscar Buck and Southern Classic who have all been running well recently but will have to step up greatly on what they have achieved so far to ruffle up the selection.

Selection : The Fairhill Boy

Alternative : Oscar Buck


Open Maiden Race Division 1

The first divison of the maiden looks an outstanding chance for Velvet Red to go one better than his last appearance at the Oakley meeting a fortnight ago where he went down by the narrowest of margins behind Pennytino and should gain compensation for that defeat here. I also like the look of a couple of unexposed types in this race which should be kept a close eye on, Lake Baikal for Lord Daresbury and trained by Sheila Crow has only run once being pulled up and is sure to be much better than we have seen so far. Also, Souk Al Jabba was quite well supported at Atherstone last week only to fall at the very first fence. He is probably capable of going well if over that mishap. Not much other form to go on, maybe Glenoe who looks a likely improver could be in the shake up and Iphar who took a heavy fall at Hackwood Park will also appreciate this shorter track but does not look to stay the trip whichever tactics connections use.

Selection : Velvet Red

Alternative : Glenoe


Open Maiden Race

Many unexposed youngsters are declared in this race but Alan Hill looks to of found a very good opportunity for Delayed in Dublin to build on his decent opening performance at Barbury Racecourse in January. Delayed in Dublin jumped really well on that ocassion and would of finished in 3rd place if James Tudor had not pulled up on the run to the second last. With that nice introduction under his belt he could take the world of beating here. Initiate, Fair Promise and Vodkova King look to be the most likeliest dangers. Although I would not write off Karazy Daisy who ran poorly last week at Atherstone but was very well backed, so this horse was obviously showing the right signs at home and should not be completely written off just yet.

Selection : Delayed in Dublin

Alternative : Fair Promise


Looks a great afternoon's racing and a meeting not to be missed. Let's hope we get some decent weather for a change and the crowds arrive in their droves. Hoping to report a few winners in our review of this meeting on Tuesday.

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