25 March 2008 Belvoir - Garthorpe
The Camerengo: from the Gerald Bailey stable
The Belvoir Hunt hold their annual Point-to-Point meeting at Garthorpe Racecourse on Saturday (29th March), and have attracted a competitive entry of 83 horses for the six races. The first race is at 1.30pm.
The racecourse is a superb viewing course and a large crowd is again expected. Spectators can enjoy an increased number of trade stands and there is kiddie's entertainment throughout the afternoon.
Admission prices are, for this and all other Garthorpe meetings during the season, £20 per car of four, £10 single car occupants, and children under 16 free.
The opening Members race has attracted an entry of eleven, and is kindly sponsored by W. Spence & Son. Dream Garden and Ski Dazzle both won over the Easter period but, following the fall of rider Miles Seston at Thorpe, substitute riders may take these rides again. Hi Up Brenkley, the mount of Richard Armson, was second here last year and is in with a chance.
Connolly's Red Mills are sponsors of the Intermediate race that has an entry of twelve and looks quite open. The Camerengo, from the Gerald Bailey stable, won well at Weston Park recently, and Flax Hill, the likely mount of Peter Mann, ran second last month at Dunthrop. However It Plays Itself, a winner at Garthorpe and Mollington last year and the probable mount of Dickie Barrett, is just preferred.
14 horses are entered for the Ladies' Open race sponsored by Saltby Estates. Madge Carroll, trained by Diana Williams, is consistent and has two seconds this season at Bangor and Horseheath. Fullards has won at both Cottenham and Garthorpe and is bang in form. However Jill Dawson has Virgin Soldier entered and he was a comfortable winner at Market Rasen recently.
The Men's Open race looks very competitive and has an entry of thirteen. Bentons Land & Estate Agents of Melton Mowbray are sponsors here. Trainer Jimmy Tarry, whose stable is in form, after wins in the last three races at Dingley last weekend, has Tooley Park entered. However True Friday, a winner at Garthorpe, Killarney Prince, a winner at Weston Park, and Noakarad de Verzee, a winner at Godstone, make for an exciting contest. The winner of this race could go forward and compete in the £10,000 3m½f Volkswagen Touareg Men's Point-to-Point Hunter Chase Final at Towcester in May.
The fifth race is the Restricted race, has attracted an entry of 15, and is kindly sponsored by The Martin Arms of Colston Bassett. King Shaadi was an impressive winner at Whitwick Manor; Mad Victor won a 2½ miler at Weston Park; however Yeabut, a decent winner of a Maiden at Siddington, may just be the selection.
The Maiden race, kindly sponsored by Clayton Mott, Solicitors of Nottingham, is a 2½ mile race for 4, 5, 6 & 7 year olds and has attracted a good entry of 18 horses. This again looks interesting, but the winner could come from Reflector, favourite when prominent at Bishops Court and a good second previously at Dunthrop, and Fenny Lane, who fell when close up at Larkhill.
Garthorpe Racecourse is situated 6 miles east of Melton Mowbray on the B676, 7 miles west of the A1.
