Pretty Lady Rose to show us her style

Following last week-ends double header at Barbury racecourse it is quickly back to the actio in the South Midlands Area with The Heythrop meeting at Dunthrop on Sunday. They have received 134 entries on a decent looking 7 race card. The first race commences at 12.00 pm and has the biggest entry of the day with 39. This race could well be divided on the day with the safety factor only 18.

As discussed above the opening race of the day could well be divided and looks a very open contest with many of the runners showing only moderate form. Port Talbot has an excellent chance to break his duck but i fear with all the heavy rain he might not quite last home agains and something will come and grab him towards the end of the race. Up in the Sky ran a pretty good race at the start of the season and should be spot on here. The Hutsby family usually have a few winners at this meeting and I can see no reason why Up in the Sky should not go very well. Others to mention are Peter Sent who is unraced but comes from the strong Tom George Stable he is definitely worth a look in the paddock and betting ring to see his well being on his debut. Fenny Lane will try all day but may still not be quite good enough to take a race like this. Shammy Buskins ran in some much better races than this last season and if fit to do herself justice should go close. A very open race which will not take much winning.

The next race on the card is a short Maiden over 2m 4f. This looks a good opportunity for Not In Thyne who ran consistently well last season to open his account, with so many of the runners not seeing a racecourse before or not showing any worthwhile form a close eye on the betting market is advised for this race. Mister Tibbs unseated the rider at Barbury last week-end but if he was to appear hear he would be the one Not in Thyne should fear most. The race Mister Tibbs contested at Barbury was a good race with the winner Cannington Brook looking to become a future star in points. Sail on Silver finished 3rd in that race but was over a fence behind and I would of liked to think Mister Tibbs would of finished in front of that rival if he had stayed on his feet. The other horse which deserves a mention is Saxon Leader but he may need this first run of the season and it could be best to wait for another day for him.

Only 7 runners entered for the Hunt Members race which on paper looks a match between Nez Rouge and Moscow Court. Nez Rouge fell early at Barbury on Sunday when travelling nicely out in front in the Novice riders race as this departure was early in the race connections could turn him out quickly again here as this looks a great chance to boost the horses confidence in what looks a very poor contest. The biggest factor in this race is will Moscow Court run here or in the 4m race later on the card. I personally think he will take the 4m race in preference to this which should leave the door open for Nez Rouge to put in a clear round and open his account for the season. The other runners do not have any form between them but if both Nez Rouge and Moscow Court bypass this race then it would be a very hard choice to pick the winner.

The Ladies Open is the next race on the card over the extended 3m 5f journey and should be a good chance for Jane Williams and Step and Run to continue their winning sequence. Over the past few seasons Step and Run has been a very consistent Ladies Open Race horse and I am sure he will be fit enough on his seasonal debut to add another success to his already impressive tally. The dangers in this race look to come from Touch Closer and Swifts Hill although if Derawar can keep his mind on the job and race with more enthusiasm than he has shown on his last 2 starts (refusing on both occasions) he could also be in the shake up. An interesting race awaits but the consistent and magical combination of both Jane Williams and Step and Run should find the winners enclosure again.

The innaugural running of the Lord Ashton of Hyde 4m race follows and this looks a cracking heat with nearly all of the runners showing some good form over the 3m trip. This 4 mile stamina sapping test will be made all the more testing with every drop of rain that falls between now and sunday afternoon. Following Lord Attica's fantastic victory at Barbury last week-end I would be very surprised to see him turned out here so soon. Therefore, this race is extremely open. The horses I like are Mister Bertolli, Moscow Court, Spiers Peace and Candlelight Valley. I must admit i cannot see a great deal between all 4 of these runners and it could come down to who adapts best to this extreme distance and going on the day. Moscow Court should have the slight edge over his rivals as he is race fit but i am not totally convinced this 4m journey will suit him. I think the Hutsby's will have Mister Bertolli well prepared for this race and he should go very well as should Spiers Peace. A really intriguing race and it could be one to savour.

Only 13 runners are entered for an interesting novice riders race and with the likely prospect that Grenfell and Top Benefit will likely non-runners following their prospective runs at Barbury last week-end. This could leave the path clear for either Little Apple Bay or East Lawyer. Little Apple Bay pulled up on his reappearance run but should be spot on for this race, I think he has a good chance here as does East Lawyer who gave his jockey Lucy Cowen a horrible fall at Kingston Blount when seemingly still travelling well at the time. East Lawyer looked progressive last season and If fit enough on his seasonal debut looks Little Apple Bay's main opponent. The remaining runners do not seem to have such good form as the two principals and I would be surprised if they could beat either of them on the day.

The final race on what looks a tricky but interesting card is the Restricted race. This looks to hold a fantastic chance for Pretty Lady Rose to go one better than her first outing of the season, finishing runner up behind Shady Hollow, the form from the previous Dunthrop meeting is standing up really well with the likes of Turthen, Top Benefit, Drom, and We're Confused all winning since their respective races. This is a big pointer to the chances of Pretty Lady Rose, admittedly she was beaten by a better horse on the day in Shady Hollow but was only 10 Lengths behind and the time was only 2 seconds slower than we're Confused who went on to take the Mens Open Race at Barbury last week-end in emphatic style. The other big pointer is that she may of gone off a little bit to fast in the early stages of that race if she is able to settle a bit better she should have a fantastic chance of victory. The main danger to her would be Glen Tulloch but after pulling up at Barbury last week-end i would be surprised to see him turned out again here. Supreme Royal looks a more likely danger following his maiden success at the end of last season and could push the selection all the way. The other runners do not quite seem to have quite such good form but Seaplace could be running on at the finish to steal a place.

Selections :

Race 1 Up In the Sky (Port Talbot)
Race 2 Not In Thyne (Mister Tibbs)
Race 3 Nez Rouge (Taxi Fare)
Race 4 Step and Run (Nap) (Touch Closer)
Race 5 Mister Bertolli (Moscow Court)
Race 6 Little Apple Bay (East Lawyer)
Race 7 Pretty Lady Rose (NAP) (Supreme Royal)

Dunthrop will also be staging a further meeting on Sunday 22nd February 2009.

Let’s hope the sun will be shining and everybody can have a really enjoyable days racing .

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