23 March 2011 Preview: Badsworth & Bramham Moor - Whitcliffe Grange
by Charlotte Brader
After two abandoned meetings last year, the first Point-to-Point is due to take place at Yorkshire's newest course, Whitcliffe Grange near Ripon, on Sunday 27th March.
118 Entries have been received for the seven-race card and the Maiden has been divided at Entry stage.
17 are entered for the first race, the Confined; while Lewesdon Tom has been progressing nicely through the ranks this season the spoils are likely to go to Quinta de Lobo. This race is due off at 1.00pm.
The same number are entered for the Restricted and it will be interesting to see Skarmanche, who won twice last year, in the Restricted grade. Chip N Pin won nicely at the Sinnington meeting but this race could go the way of Plenty Of Chat, who was second at the Holderness in a very competitive race.
The PPORA Club Members race for Novice Riders has received 18 Entries and it could be a very hot race. Stagecoach Diamond was second in a good Catterick Hunter Chase and should be close. Nile Moon ran very well at Sheriff Hutton at the start of the season but the winner is likely to be Oedipe, who has won twice this season and goes well in this sort of race.
Whitcliffe Grange is a right-handed track 1.25 miles in length, largely flat but with a gradual climb up most of the back straight. There will be seven fences on the course - six plain and one open ditch. It is a good viewing course against a backdrop of Ripon Cathedral and the Cleveland Hills in the far distance.
It was for many years the grass gallop of the late Peter Calver and after he passed away was used for a few years as a satellite yard by Mark Johnston before he expanded in Middleham.
Whitcliffe Grange is situated close to Ripon city centre off the Harrogate Road. There will be signposts from the A61 Ripon by-pass indicating the route to the course and the postcode for satellite navigation is HG4 3AS. Admission is £10 per person.
To hear all updates supplied throughout the week and on the morning of the meeting, call the Talking Point news line on 09068 44 60 61*.
*Service provided by Bluetogreen Ltd LS7 1PZ, company wholly independent of Weatherbys Ltd. Calls charged at 60p/min. Charges from non BT lines & mobiles may be higher. Terms & conditions at bluetogreen.co.uk. Customer Support Line 0844 993 0298.
