31 March 2009 Preview: Essex Farmers & Union - Marks Tey
ROCJA: pictured here winning at Cottenham
Marks Tey plays host to the East Anglian Point-To-Point community on Sunday April 5th with the first of two Essex Farmers & Union meetings - the other takes place eight days later, on Easter Monday, at the same venue.
Six races are carded, beginning at 2pm with a five-entry Hunt Race and running through until 4.55pm when the Open Maiden, which has 27 engaged, comes under orders. In all, a total of 105 entries have been received.
As usual, the powerful Joe Turner string has only begun to hit form now that spring is here, but the famous dark blue and white Turner silks should again be to the fore following a Horseheath double last Saturday.
Turner's best chance of a winner is in the 22-entry Ladies Open, where he is represented by the reliable Leatherback and Assassino, who is much better than recent form figures of PFU suggest. Their stiffest competition may be provided by Limerick Leader and Rocja, although both are front-runners and may end up cutting each others throats.
Rocja, a shock winner in good compnay at Cottenham last month, is also engaged along with 16 others in the Mens Open. The standout candidates here are Rydal Park, whose connections may be looking for a confidence-booster after he broke trainer-rider David Kemp's cheekbones in a fall at Towcester, and Go North, who would be unbeaten this season but for suffering badly from dehydration when runner-up at Charing in February.
The course has recently had its paddock and changing tent re-sited to great effect and is five miles west of Colchester near the junction of the A12 and the A120. It is to the west of Marks Tey village and needs to be approached from the A12 westbound, taking the left turn signposted Easthorpe. Admission will be charged at £10 per head with under 17s free.
