18 March 2008 North Cotswold - Paxford
Emmet Hotel: the main danger in the Intermediate
The North Cotswold Point-to-Point on Easter Monday has always been a magnet for both the committed or casual racegoer over the holiday weekend and that tradition has continued since the meeting moved from Springhill to Paxford in 1997.
With so many meetings scheduled for the weekend, running plans are more difficult to predict than normal but the Members race will be more difficult to win than normal with three local stables vying for victory.
Joanne Paddock from nearby Chipping Campden could run The Hoo or Binge Drinker and a win for the latter would no doubt result in celebrations at the Lygon Arms in the town. Both horses will have their work cut out against representatives from the Naunton yards of Emma Baker and Fergal O'Brien.
Ballydonagh and View Hollo look the likely participants from Baker's yard, while O'Brien has nominated Jaunty Journey or Marblehead to carry the colours of Taddington based Sue Collett. A clash between Ballydonagh and Marblehead would set the standard for the rest of the meeting.
O'Brien has the same pair entered for the Intermediate and the stable selection has little to fear from most of the entries, but may have to play second fiddle if Emmet Hotel lines up.
O'Brien has entered Fergals Find and Hambaphambili for both the Mens and Ladies Open. Fergals Find has won his last two races but will not find it an easy task in the Ladies against Father Tom, Gemster, Pirate Flagship and Moonoki who is now trained by Ben Tulloch at Aylworth.
Hambaphambili won at Badbury Rings recently but he takes a step up in the class in the Mens Open and may struggle in this grade. Meggies Lad and Noakarad de Verzee have already established themselves in this type of company, while Seebald won numerous races under Rules for Martin Pipe.
Dick Baimbridge has a good record at Paxford which could be extended if Parsifal meets his engagement in the Restricted and Equivocate runs in the 5, 6 & 7 year old Maiden.
Noakarad de Verzee's stablemate Iphar is likely to run in the latter event. He has finished in the runner up on several occasions already this season and this race provides Kim Smyly's runner with his best chance of success to date.
Brooking would be a popular winner of the older Maiden. He carries the colours of meeting Secretary Robert Symonds and finished third at Larkhill last weekend. His form is progressing in the right direction.
