17 February 2010 Preview: Brocklesby - Brocklesby Park
by Emma Forman
The Brocklesby Point to Point takes place this coming Saturday at Brocklesby Park, Habrough just off the A18 near Humberside Airport. The course is set in beautiful parkland and is an ideal day out for all the family.
The first of 7 races begins at 12noon. There will be bookmakers, a licensed bar, refreshments and a good selection of trade stands.
All the races are three mile steeplechases and include eighteen fences; one fence being an open ditch which is jumped twice. The course has been amended slightly since last season. A fence has been taken out of the home straight and placed near the clump of trees before runners turn into the straight. This change has been put in place to make more room at the start and break up the long run without any fences between the back straight and the home straight. Also some new padded covers have been added to bars on the fences for safety.
Entrance is £8 per person or £10 with a race card. Children under 16 will be admitted free. 131 entries have been received.
The first race on the card is the Hunt Members race which has been sponsored by Robinson's Interiors and eight entries have been received.
Naturally Inspired has some hurdles form and was in contention when she fell two fences from home at Cottenham recently. Samantha Klug owns, trains and rides Naturally Inspired who should run well if she puts in a clear round. Essenbee is likely to make the running and was second in this race twelve months ago before going on to be placed three times in Maiden company. Nineteen year old Chloe Kirkby will ride Essenbee on Saturday and is hoping for a first winner. During the autumn, Chloe went to New Zealand where she gained valuable experience riding out for Ann and Harvey Wilson.
The likely favourite for this race is Woodmaster who is trained and will be ridden by Nick Kent. Woodmaster was placed second in a Maiden race at Thorpe last January. The three horses that finished behind him that day all won subsequently and having recovered from a setback last season Woodmaster should be capable of landing this event.
Twenty three entries have been received for the Clark Weightman Confined Hunts race. Top Midlands area rider Richard Armson has the choice of two mounts in this race; Thenford Ryde or Hi Up Brenkley. Thenford Ryde, who is owned by Penny Zygmant and trained by Holly Campbell, won a Maiden and a Restricted race last season and was second behind Denvale at Horseheath on his seasonal reappearance. This horse is normally a good jumper but unfortunately fell at the first last Sunday at Thorpe and if he can get his act together again should run well.
Hi Up Brenkley was placed three times for Tim Tarratt in 2008 but will be returning after a year's absence. Keen Whip showed his liking for Brocklesby Park when winning the Restricted race here last year and with conditions in his favour again he should run well for the Brader family. Margaret Moody's Pass The Parsel steps up a grade following his Restricted win at North Carlton and will be ridden by the in form Dickie Barrett. However, the winner could well be the eleven year old Van Ness who scored three times in 2009 for owner rider Tim Edwards, he is consistent and acts on any going.
DDM have kindly sponsored the Ladies Open race which has attracted 20 entries. Paradise Bay was campaigned in Hunter Chases last season when trained by Nick Kent and on one occasion finished second at Sedgefield. He is now owned and trained by the Kirkby family and should hopefully be able to go close with Chloe on board. Samantha Klug's Caramia was fourth in a quickly run Ladies race at Cottenham recently and may run well here.
