Winsley Set For Course Double

They are expecting a good crowd for the Staff College & R.M.A Staghounds meeting at Tweseldown on Sunday. They have 107 entries on a 6 race card. The first race starts at 12.00 p.m. and for directions to the course please click on the courses link courses for all your travel details. At this meeting cars will be charged at £10.00 to include the driver with any additional adults costing £5.00 per person. There will also be several stalls a fully licensed bar and various other catering facilities.

The meeting kicks off with a Hunt Members race and with only 5 runners declared this race looks to be at the mercy of Dante's Storm. Dante's Storm won well in appauling conditions at Kingston Blount in May on his only appearance last season and looks sure to improve. The others are a very poor bunch and maybe Toy Boy could follow Dante's Storm home in what looks a very one sided contest.

The Novice Riders race also has a great opportunity for Winsley and Nick Byrne to register a course and distance double following their pillar to post victory at the course in December. Winsley recorded the fastest time of the day on that occassion and will be very hard to beat if the same forcing tactics are employed. The danger in this race looks to be Cross The Highman who finished a creditable 4th at Dunthrop behind Reel Dancer and also finished a good second behind the improving Candarli on the opening day of the season.

The Mens Open race has attracted a fantastic field with Reflected Glory, Something Small, Irilut, Whereareyounow, and Gunther McBride, all in the line up. If Reflected Glory does make the journey south then he would automatically be the choice to take the prize. Gunther McBride probably will need this first run of the season and probably is not quite up to winning such a strong event on his present form. This should leave the race setup between Irilut and Whereareyounow. Whereareyounow beat Irilut by 25 lengths at the first Tweseldown meeting but i think Irilut was not at his best on this day and with fitness now assured can turn the tables on wheareyounow and open his account for the season. Something Small could also make them all go even with this step up in class but i would imagine Irilut will be the horse to represent the Waley-Cohen team. A fantastic race looks in store.

The Ladies race also looks a good event with the 4 main contenders being Fauntleroy, Ask Henry, Fleur De Nikos and Chicuelo. Chicuelo has a good chance after running poorly at Dunthrop in the mixed open race and I hope Maxine Filby will have Chicuelo out in front this time around. I am sure that race would of brought her on loads and it was a decent contest so should be able to get back to winning ways at the main expense of Fauntleroy who ran well for a long way at Cottenham behind Fullards. Fleur De Nikos and Ask Henry may both need this first run of the season but cannot be easily dismissed.

The Restricted race looks to be a competitive race with a few in with a shout. Mr Goofy will be high on many peoples list after looking unlucky when running out at Dunthrop when still travelling nicely. I think he has a great chance but you may need to tread carefully as there are many unexposed horses in this race. Shady Hollow won well at Dunthrop but this was not a great race and could improve for this opening outing. Blackcomb Mountain who finished 4th behind Intaglio in the race Mr Goofy ran out in could also improve and be in the shake up.

The Maiden race looks a open event but Noeud Vert who ran well for a long way behind Worship The Stars at Dunthrop should have a decent chance of breaking his maiden tag. My main concern is the Tweseldown fences after unseating at Dunthrop. The Tweseldown fences take some jumping but if he can put in a clear round is the one they all have to beat. Millview as discussed previously has to be avoided in his present mood. The others with a chance are Golders Green, Parzando and Noquieto who was due to make a seasonal reappearance at Dunthrop but was withdrawn at the start.

As the actual declared runners for each race are not known until the day, I will make a selection of which horse I believe will have a good chance of winning the race. A second selection will also be given in case this horse does not run. The best two bets of the day will be tagged in the form of a Nap being the best bet, and a Next Best being the second best bet of the day.

Selections :

Race 1
Dante's Storm (Toy Boy)

Race 2
Winsley (NAP) (Cross The Highman)

Race 3
Irilut (Whereareyounow)

Race 4
Chicuelo (N.B) (Fauntleroy)

Race 5
Mr Goofy (Shady Hollow)

Race 6
Noeud Vert (Noquieto)

This looks a good little meeting and I feel quite confident of gaining a few winners.

Tweseldown will also be staging the South Midlands Area Club meeting at the track on Sunday 10th February 2008. We hope many of you will attend this fixture and support your local area meetings.

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