Honest Endeavour And Rucker Set To Take Ladies Prize.

The Oxford University Hunt Club stages the first of four meetings to be held at the Kingston Blount Racecourse this season on Saturday 8th March 2008. This meeting has 106 runners entered on a 7 race card commencing at 12.00 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.

We should see plenty of runners at this meeting as Alan Hill puts in a very big effort to keep the course conditions ideal with plenty of tractors watering the course. The course at present looks in great condition with a good covering of grass throughout.

Confined Race

Only 7 runners entered for this opening race and this looks a match between To the Top and Harem Scarem, with the Hill runners always to be feared at their home track, To the Top should go very well but he may find one to good on this occasion with Harem Scarem who looked a very nice prospect at the end of last season, recording some decent victories. Harem Scarem pulled up on his first start this season at Barbury racecourse but was really travelling nicely on the first circuit before running out of gas under wet and muddy conditions. The better going on Saturday should be right up his street and with a good break after that first run he should be spot on to take this race and return to the winners enclosure.

Selection : Harem Scarem

Alternative : To the Top


The Ladies Open Race

This looks a very competitive race with Honest Endeavour and Angela Rucker looking to hold outstanding claims after finishing a very decent second behind Sir Storm at Brocklesby Park. Honest Endeavour's main rivals look to be Home By Midnight and Bering Gifts although I would be surprised if Emily Jarvis will be able to get Bering Gifts to co-operate like he did to win at Cottenham recently, even if she did I don't think the form of the Bering Gifts would be good enough to beat either Home by Midnight or Honest Endeavour. Home By Midnight has not been running to badly in Hunter Chases and as long as we do not get to much rain over the weekend he should be right there at the finish. A great Ladies race looks in prospect.

Selection : Honest Endeavour (N.B)

Alternative : Home By Midnight


Mens Open

The Mens open race looks another match between Mr Splodge and The Hookie Bookie, Mr Splodge reverts back to pointing following a season on the Handicap chase route and will appreciate this drop back in class. The Hookie Bookie who looked very impressive taking two good races earlier in the season ran and jumped very poorly in a Leicester Hunter Chase last week and will also be grateful for a return to the smaller obstacles. I think The Hookie Bookie has slightly the better form of the two but with the Alan Hill factor at the course and The Hookie Bookie still probably has that Hunter Chase run niggling in the back of his mind, I am going to suggest Mr Splodge as the winner of this race.

Selection : Mr Splodge

Alternative : The Hookie Bookie


Intermediate Race

This race looks to hold a fantastic chance for Dante's Storm to add to his already impressive profile for the season, still only young and learning the racing game with every race he looks a really classy individual to follow for the future. Dante's storm should have no trouble taking this race after two emphatic victories and should be the best bet on a competitive card. Dante's Storm's main danger is Jilted Lover who recorded a decent victory at Horseheath on his last run and seems to be on an upward curve. The rest are a pretty poor bunch which don't look on paper to have the necessary improvement to challenge the above mentioned. A good chance to watch the talents of Dante's storm on show who is a horse to keep on your side for the future.

Selection : Dante's Storm (Nap)

Alternative : Jilted Lover


Restricted Race

A really good competitive entry for this race with many of the runners producing decent runs last time out, I think you could nail this race down to 5 of the 28 entries, with Marble Leader, Raleagh Choice, Rear Gunner, Silver Dollars and Walter's Laddie holding the best form chances. Marble Leader ran a good race to finish second behind Jilted Lover at Horseheath and should have a very good chance of going one better here, especially if Jilted Lover appears and runs well in the previous race. Marble Leader's main opponent looks to be Raleagh choice who finished a very good second behind Emmet Hotel and is the horse with the best overall form. Walter's Laddie won a maiden but will have to improve a great deal to take this race and Rear Gunner was also very impressive winning a short maiden at Cottenham. A very open contest but my money would just be on Raleagh Choice from Marble Leader.

Selection : Raleagh Choice

Alternative : Rear Gunner


Open Maiden Race

The open Maiden race looks very difficult to solve with 36 entries, this race could be split into 2 divisions. I like the look of a couple who should give you a good run for your money, although this race is difficult to workout with so many unexposed horses. Rose I Suppose ran a very encouraging first race at Barbury Racecourse and should go close after that first outing, she is my idea of the winner but Morton May could push her all the way after a good debut behind King Shaadi at Whitwick Manor. A very open race with so many horses that could come out of the woodwork.

Selection : Rose I Suppose

Alternative: Morton May


OUHC Members Race

Only 9 runners declared for this race and the winner should come from Aurazure, Gillie's Nephew, or Theatre Call. I don't think Honest Endeavour will run in this race, as I am sure the Ladies Open race would be her preferred target. Gillie's Nephew ran a decent race at Barbury racecourse before tiring badly on the run to the last fence, this run may have taken plenty out of the horse as Gillie's Nephew ran badly and pulled up in her next race. Aurazure and Theatre Call both fell on their last starts but both have some talent and this could turn out to be quite a competitive race. Gillie's Nephew has probably been laid out for this race and holds a very strong chance if back to his best, Aurazure and Phillip York look his main danger in what looks a fascinating finale.

Selection : Gillie's Nephew

Alternative : Aurazure

Hoping to report a few winners in our review of this meeting on Tuesday.

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