04 February 2008 Brocklesby - Brocklesby Park
Sir Storm: represents the Dawson family in the Ladies' Open
The Brocklesby Point-to-Point takes place on Saturday at Brocklesby Park, just off the A18, close to Humberside Airport.
This year the Point-to-Point marks 50 years of racing on the course at Brocklesby Park. Prior to this the Point-to-Point had been held at Swallow and racing at that time was very different from the sport we enjoy today.
In those days there were fewer horses and riders taking part and there would usually only be 5 races during the afternoon. At that time Point-to-Points took place later in the spring when the hunting season was over. Nowadays there are at least 6 races, people travel far and wide to race, and the season begins in December in some parts of the country.
Several of those who took part in the early meetings at Brocklesby will be represented by their children and grandchildren on Saturday notably Kit Cottingham who passed away last summer. In his riding days Kit won the Brocklesby Hunt Member's race on many occasions and his son and daughter both have entries in the Symes, Bains Broomer Solicitors sponsored event on Saturday. The pick looks to be Distant Memory who is owned by Kit's daughter Victoria Branston and trained at Cadney by Nick Kent. This son of Overbury looked a character at Cottenham where he made his debut in December but shaped well in the race to finish 4th and comes from a stable who could well have him prepared to win at the second time of asking. Another to note is Valhuec who will be ridden by local rider Kevin Green. Also in this race Tom Strawson will be having his first ride in a Point-to-Point aboard Yogi.
Chloe Kirkby, daughter of Laurence who was a successful rider around Brocklesby, has Lodestar to ride. This duo made their debut at Sheriff Hutton a few weeks ago and could take part in either the Clark Weightman Confined Hunts race or the Ladies Open. Lodestar is trained by Nick Kent and if they choose to go in the Confined race they will be up against another Kent horse in Artic Sky who was third at Thorpe in January and will be ridden by leading rider Claire Allen. Another successful rider, Miles Seston who has already ridden two winners this season has 3 to choose from here - Be Upstanding, Eskimo Pie and Young Claude.
Sir Storm is entered in the DDM sponsored Ladies Open race and represents the Dawson family from Grainthorpe who have long been associated with success at Brocklesby over the years. The dangers to them on Saturday will be the Yorkshire raiders Mooramana and Mister Bromley.
The Singleton Birch sponsored Mens Open prize could well go back to Yorkshire too with Oliver Greenall having Amicelli and Well Presented to choose from. Another Yorkshire raider to note is Plutocrat who is a successful Hunter Chaser and will take the beating as will Buckby Lane who won the Mens Open at Thorpe in January. He will be ridden by Sam Waley-Cohen.
In the Restricted race Cold Play, who is trained and ridden by Miles Seston, has already been placed twice this season so is clearly in form and the more rain that falls between now and Saturday the better for him. He won his maiden at Brocklesby so clearly likes it here.
The 6th race is the TBA/ MFHA sponsored Mares Maiden race. The local hope here is the last horse Kit Cottingham bought called Kit's Last Penny. However, she will need to improve on her performance when she made her debut at Thorpe and anyone looking to have a bet here may be best siding with Lilly De Rome who will be ridden by leading Richard Burton.
The afternoon concludes with two maiden races sponsored by Paul Wiseman and St Hughes Hospital. In division 1 Nick Kent has Farmer Frank who he named as one to follow at the beginning of the season. He will have the Yorkshire raiders Bow School and the The Tinkerater to beat. In division 2 Kent has Glenoe who ran promisingly enough at Thorpe in January and may have improved for the run. Farranfore and Sydneytwothousand are others to note.
