HILL AND TUDOR READY TO DISH OUT MORE TROUBLE TO THEIR RIVALS

After Monday evenings terrific point-to-point meeting at Ashorne, the South Midland season swiftly moves on to Kingston Blount on Saturday. The meeting has attracted 110 runners on a 7 race card with the first race commencing at 2.00 pm. The course looks in immaculate condition being well watered and some decent jumping ground should be complemented by plenty of runners.

The first race on the card is a highly competitive Restricted race with many of the 15 runners having similar lines of form. Sheknowsyouknow probably deserves a change of luck following a couple of decent second placed efforts in her last few outings. She is sure to be there at the business end of the race. The likely dangers to her look to be, Pocket Tiger and Captain Valiant, but, at a good price it could be worth taking a chance with Elia Beach from the Jimmy Tarry yard. Elia Beach was well backed at the Atherstone meeting, but in truth did not run that well and might be better suited by this longer track and probably has got plenty of improvement left to come. This could be a nice price winner to get the meeting off in grand style.

An Open Maiden race,, ran over the slightly shorter 3 mile trip, is next on the card and this does look an extremely open race. Sir Ronan, who looked like the winner at Ashorne on Monday night, should hold an outstanding chance if over those exertions. I believe James Tudor must of felt the horse was ok after crashing out 3 fences from the finish as he remounted the horse to continue and finish in second place. This would be my idea of the winner if he was turned out quickly again here. The other runners do not have such good form but Shrewd Dude has been contesting maiden races in Somerset and I would fancy his chances if he made the long trip up on the day. Foreland Sands, Mirage Prince and L'Aubere are others that have small pieces of form, but this can go to the unlucky Sir Ronan to record an overdue success.

A terrific entry has been received for the Ladies Open race with the likes of Chicuelo, Duchamp, Free and Honest Endeavour all showing decent ladies form in recent seasons. The Baillie who amazingly won the Hunter Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday night would have a fantastic chance here but looks a very doubtful runner. The other 2 horses in with a shout are Shammy Buskins who also ran in the 4 mile Hunter Chase at the same Cheltenham meeting on wednesday but finished unplaced. Shammy Buskins is locally trained by Sue Harbour near Sydenham and he could easily be turned out quickly here and should hold every chance. My idea of the winner of this race is Duchamp who was a very easy winner at Kimble in April and looks a horse on the upgrade. Duchamp held on from Free at the final Kingston meeting last year but I think Duchamp has improved through the winter and may have things slightly easier this time around and looks the one they all have to beat. Free will again probably follow Duchamp home with his usual late sustained rattle and you can never discount Angela Rucker with her Honest Endeavour also likely to be there at the finish. A fascinating race with plenty of the entries having good chances and this is probably the best and most competitive race on the card.

Only 11 entries for the Mens Open Race but with David Mansell still trying to find winners to sustain his challenge of winning his first Point-to-Point championship, he will be hoping to find a winner here through Its Alf. It's Alf was a easy winner at Atherstone a couple of weeks ago and looks to hold a good chance here. This is a very hot race though and he may have to play second fiddle behind either Burntoakboy or Virginia Preuil. This would be a cracker of a race if they were all to turn out but, the winner should come from one of these 3. I think Burntoakboy has the best form overall with Virginia Preuil and It's Alf closely rated up there behind him. This looks a really tricky race to call the winner but could well be a great race to savour.

The Intermediate race has attracted some reasonable horses with the best of them looking to be More Trouble whose bloodless victory at the track in April looked very impressive. Admittedly, he did not have the strongest field to beat on that ocassion and he has to take a step up in grade on Saturday afternoon, but you could only be impressed by the way in which this horse jumped and travelled throughout the race. I feel this horse has turned a corner since slipping up at Kimble and it would be no surprise to see him Hunter Chasing next year. I think he has a fantastic chance of recording another victory here. The biggest danger to him will probably be Jewel Song. Jewel Song was brilliantly ridden by Adam Wedge at the previous Kingston meeting bursting with confidence throughout the race and easily accounting for My Best Buddy who was subsequently disqualified from 2nd place for weighing in 39 pounds light. If Jewel Song has the same partner in the saddle on Saturday then More Trouble will need to be right on top of his game. More Trouble did record a 4 second faster time in his Restricted race than Jewel Song did on that ocassion and More Trouble also looks the more progressive. A good race looks on the cards which I believe will go to the vastly improved More Trouble and we could witness a future star in the making for the Alan Hill team.

A really difficult Open Maiden follows with not that much form to go on, Leadbrook Lad, Luteur Des Pictons, Owston Ferry, Tartar Rose and Free From Magee are the only horses with any real worth while form. Free From Magee probably holds the best of it, but I am going to take a chance in the hope to pick a good priced winner with Owston Ferry. Owston Ferry contested what on paper looked a weak race at Lockinge, but My Beautiful Betty jumped and stayed on well which was no disgrace for Owston Ferry to finish second, Also, the 3rd horse Doug has also won a Maiden race since and was well supported on Monday night to win the Restricted race at Ashorne. So maybe this form is stronger than at first glance. Free From Magee who has finished 3rd and second already this season looks a very big danger and would be no surprise if he tasted his first victory here. The same comment applies to Tartar Rose who finished second in probably a stronger Hunt Members race last time out, but on this ocassion Owston Ferry could come out on top in what looks a pretty weak Maiden race.

The final race on the card is hard to call as More Trouble and Shammy Buskins are both entered in other races. If they were either to take this option then I can see them taking this race. In their likely absence, this race could be left to Long Courier who ran second last time at Kingston and should have a good chance of going one better here. I would only put him up as a token choice as this horse sometimes gets a long way behind. If he was partnered by Jamie Sole in the saddle then he would look a very good bet. So watch the numbers board closely for the jockey. Bell Rock would probably be his biggest danger and looks the most likely winner if Long Courier fails to oblige.

A really fascinating meeting where we hope to find plenty of winners for a change.

Please see the selections below.

Selections :

Race 1 - Elia Beach (Sheknowsyouknow)
Race 2 - Sir Ronan (Shrewd Dude)
Race 3 - Duchamp (NAP) (Free)
Race 4 - Burntoakboy (Virginia Preuil)
Race 5 _ More Trouble (Jewel Song)
Race 6 _ Owston Ferry (Free From Magee)
Race 7 - Long Courrier(Bell Rock)

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