08 February 2011 Preview: Midlands Area Club - Thorpe Lodge
by Emma Forman
AZTEC WARRIOR: leading Mens Open contender
photo: Steve Hunt
The Midlands Area Club Point- to- Point takes place on Sunday at Thorpe Lodge near Newark. This is the first of two race meetings scheduled at the course in 2011.
Thorpe Lodge is situated 4 miles south west of Newark, near the A46 and 5 miles from the A1. For satellite navigation systems the postcode is NG23 5PY. The course at Thorpe Lodge is in excellent condition with "good" going expected. The first race is scheduled for 12noon, 120 entries have been taken and the Maiden race has been divided to give a 7 race card. There is an excellent car park at Thorpe Lodge that allows good viewing and is also the ideal place for a picnic. Admission is £10.00 per person. The photographer, John Britter has kindly donated a photograph of each winning horse to the owner.
The first race on the card is the Castle Rock Mark Ashton Memorial Midlands Area Club Members race kindly sponsored by Castle Rock Brewery. It is confined to horses qualified within the Midlands area and has attracted 18 entries. Mr Pointment had a successful career under rules which included finishing second behind Black Apalachi in the Listed Totesport.com Becher chase at Aintree in 2008. Now a twelve year old, Mr Pointment has been purchased by Philip Andrew and is trained by Matthew Mackley. He is certainly an interesting runner and will take some beating either here or later on in the Lincolnshire Meat Company Men's Open Race. Stuart Morris has Mrs Judy Wilson's Walter's Laddie entered. This gelding followed up three second places in 2010 by being narrowly beaten by Menchikov at North Carlton recently and will be looking to get his head in front. Two of the Racing Post Weekender Midlands Area Six To Follow horses hold entries here. Rakalackey won two hurdle races and four steeplechases when trained by Henry Daly. He is now trained by Lara Hellyer and she will be in the saddle on Sunday. The King Of Angels was second on this course on Easter Monday last year and his owner / rider Richard Hunnisett is in good form having won with Denvale at Horseheath last weekend.
The Intermediate race is the second race on the card and has been sponsored by some of the Midland Area trainers. Enter Paradise is a class horse who may make the journey from Sheila Crow's Shropshire stable. This horse can be a tricky ride but was well handled by Richard Burton to win 3 times last season. Others that stand out include Enigma Variations who is trained by Jimmy Tarry and won twice at Garthorpe in 2010; he will be ridden by Tom Ellis. Duke Of Kentford, who is owned by the Joule family won on this course on Easter Monday and has a chance of following up on Sunday.
13 entries have been received for the Lincolnshire Meats Company Mens Open race. Last season's top novice jockey George Henderson has Aztec Warrior entered. This game winner of 5 races last season including the Men's Open at this course on Easter Monday is trained locally by Antonia Bealby and should run well. Banbury Babe and Fresh Fruit are also course winners. My Flora is an interesting entry from Sheila Crow's stable. This Alflora mare won 3 times last season and is one of the twelve stars listed in the Mackenzie & Harris annual. My Flora will be ridden by Richard Burton and it will be interesting to see if she fulfils her potential. Owner/ rider Richard Hunnisett will be having his first race with Van Ness who he purchased at the end of last season. This gelding is a classy individual who won a Hunter Chase at Sandown in March before going on to finish fourth in the John Smith's Foxhunters at Aintree in April. Van Ness has a good chance in this race and is sure to give his owner some fun this season.
The Ladies Race has been kindly sponsored by D & M Barthorpe of Boston who also sponsors the Midlands Area Championships. Former Cheltenham Foxhunters winner Amicelli heads the seventeen entries. This horse will be ridden by Jacqui Coward and would certainly have a good chance if he travels down from Yorkshire. Angela Rucker has the choice of Blue Business and Honest Endeavour. Killard Point was a game horse under rules who never ran a bad race. He should give Lucy Saunders some fun this season. Gemma Hutchinson should have a chance whether she chooses Zilcash or Limerick Leader.
Sharp Nutrition sponsors the Restricted race for which 17 entries have been taken. Antonia Bealby's Harlaxton ran well when finishing second behind Liverpool at the Burton meeting recently. This horse was given a good ride by novice jockey Matt Stanley who will again be in the saddle on Sunday. Battlefield Bob won the Maiden at the Burton meeting and steps up to the next grade on Sunday if he lines up for owner The Countess Cathcart. Holly Campbell's entry Silver Tenor won a Maiden at the Brocklesby last season before going on to be placed in several Restricted races. Current Exchange trained by Sheila Crow won his Maiden last season at the second attempt and could take some beating.
The final race on the card is the C & G Concrete Open Maiden race which has been divided into 2 divisions. At this time of year there is often very little form to go on in Maiden races. In division 2 due off at 3.30p.m. Chac Du Cadran is one of the Racing Post Weekender Six To Follow. This five year old will be making his debut for Antonia Bealby. Chac Du Cadran is by Grand National winning sire Passing Sale, is a half-brother to six winners in France and is bred to stay. He has been schooling well over fences and will be ridden by Olly Murphy.
