25 May 2010 Preview: Albrighton Woodland - Chaddesley Corbett
by Pete Mansell
SNOWTRE: aiming for a repeat win in the Ladies
photo: Steve Hunt
Monday's Albrighton Woodland meeting at Chaddesley Corbett ends another very successful year for the Worcestershire course.
Five fixtures in a season requires excellent course management and the lack of rain in recent weeks is another problem that has had to be overcome, but every challenge has been met and the course is still in great condition.
This meeting is the culmination of both the West Midland Area Awards and a new innovation for the 2010 season, the Callow Chaddesley Championship.
The latter is sponsored by Stourport on Severn-based Callow Oils, with the winners decided on points accrued at all five meetings held at Chaddesley Corbett this year.
Jim Callow and his daughter Helen Needham have been the driving force behind this new initiative and they could be rewarded for their endeavours if Murphys Fusilier comes up trumps in the Members.
He fell in last years race but has struck up a good understanding with young Nick Slatter and the Kidderminster-trained gelding should be able to get the better of Ben Ryan from Stephen Rea's Stourbridge yard and Pillbox from Diana Williams stable at Enville.
The Callow/Needham combination stand a good chance of taking the Ladies Open with Snowtre. He scorched round the track last year in a course record time so obviously appreciates firmer conditions and holds Hi Tech Man and The General Lee on that running.
The competition is likely to be much stronger this time around with potential rivals such as Fruitfull Citizen, Honest Endeavour, Mr Cee (who has taken on a new lease of life in Ladies Races), Petit Lord, Rocklandslad, Scotmail Too, Skyhawk and Winning Counsel.
Jake Greenall is making a bold bid for the Riders Championship and a win for him would provide a unique treble for the family because his brothers Oliver and Tom have won the National Title in the past.
He has the choice of mounts in the Mens Open, including My Old Piano, Nippy des Mottes, Ofarel D'Airey and Pristine Condition, but they could struggle if Reach for the Top lines up.
Local hopes rest with Up There from Nicky Sheppard's yard near Malvern, while Itsalf is an interesting candidate. He loves these conditions but it would be asking a lot for him to score on his seasonal debut and in such strong company.
Raleagh Choice won over course and distance in early May and the gelding, trained at Upton-on-Severn, looks the one to be on in the West Midland Area Conditions race, although he will be without the assistance of Mark Wilesmith who is still sidelined with a broken collarbone.
Abberley Trainer Zoe Hammond is having a great season. On paper it looks as though Witness This may struggle in the Restricted, but the Chaddesley course should be in his favour and with the race lacking strength in depth this provides another winning opportunity for this yard.
27 horses have been entered for the Maiden, the final event of the West Midland season. Most of the horses in this contest are perennial maidens who will continue to struggle in future, but Gemini Ahhs looks a horse with a future.
The six-year-old has run five times in bumpers and over hurdles. He has been placed second three times and third twice although it is rather unusual that his season is starting just as the 2010 campaigns ends.
He has the added assistance of Fergal O'Brien's training regime and just needs to display some of the ability he has shown in the past to prevail in this contest.
