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BADGER FOOT: Mens Open winner over course last time out
photo: Grace Beresford

The Ratcheugh Farm course near Alnwick has been the busiest Point-to-Point venue in the country so far this year and the College Valley & North Northumberland's seven race card on Sunday 6th March will be the third meeting to be staged there in the last six weeks. It has attracted a total of 109 Entries and starts at 12.30pm.

All the bends have been moved to fresh ground and the forecast is favourable.

Sacred Mountain looked as if he was back to his best when easily accounting for Rathowen and Badger Foot over course and distance in January and a follow up is on the cards in the NPPA Club Members Race.

The other 17 entries include the progressive Hold On Julio, Ishkado and Victor Thompson's mare, Anns Benefit. The latter had luck on her side in securing a fifth career victory at the track a fortnight ago, as Olmetta was well clear when unseating at the last.

The former Jonjo O'Neill-trained chaser Badger Foot can supplement his recent Percy Mens Open success in the Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members Race for Novice Riders. He jumped and travelled well that day for Danny Ockenden and is well suited by the race conditions here as doesn't have to carry a penalty. Of the others, Rathowen should go well for Jamie Hamilton, while Tiger Billy also merits respect following last month's promising reappearance at Crossford.

The 14 Restricted race Entries include recent Maiden winners Classical Music, Drumgray, Farriers Flight, Marksmore and Skipping Chapel. Classical Music was given a peach of a ride by Catherine Walton when getting off the mark at Crossford and George Moscrop's ex-Irish pointer can again call the tune here as he steps up in trip. The main danger is Nick Orpwood's mount Commonburn, who found only Hold On Julio too good on his seasonal debut in the Percy Restricted race.

Robbers Glen easily secured a 13th career victory when accounting for Delfinia and Lord Who at Alnwick a fortnight ago and Val Jackson's stable star can strike again in the Ladies Open Race.

Victor Thompson's record-breaking gelding Indian Print has won nine of his last 10 starts between the flags, including four in a row at Alnwick; it is hard to see his colours being lowered in the Mens Open Race. The main threat comes from Another Rum, while the evergreen 14-year-old ex-chaser Catch The Perk is an interesting recruit to the Hunt racing ranks.

The first division of the three mile Open Maiden Race can go to the Scottish raider Through The Mist; she would have been a close second to Pear Charles had she not unseated at the last over a shorter trip at the Percy meeting and a repeat of that effort with a clear round gets her my vote over Coole Murphy and Watch The Wind.

Opportunity knocks for Dust Packer in the second of the three mile Open Maiden Races, which looks the weaker division on paper. He caught the eye when beaten only three lengths by the aforementioned Classical Music on his reappearance at Crossford and can go one better here from Exciting Car and the lightly raced Perellie.

The course is located two miles off the A1 at Denwick, NE of Alnwick and the post code for satellite navigation users is NE66 3AE.

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*.

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