09 January 2009 Season Preview: North Midlands Area
SIR STORM: connections will be looking for him to build on his impressive win last season at the Brocklesby meeting
The Point-to-Point season in the North part of the Midlands Area gets underway at the end of January.
The highlight of the season could well be the opening of the new course that has been specially laid down on the Lincolnshire Showground at North Carlton, which will host both the Burton and Blankney meetings.
Several local stables are looking forward to the new season. The Grainthorpe stable of Mike and Jill Dawson, as usual, will certainly be worth following. Sir Storm, impressive winner of the Ladies Open race at the Brocklesby meeting last year, is all set for a new campaign.
The stable can also boast an exciting new recruit in the shape of the former Jonjo O'Neill trained Pass It On. This gelding is likely to run in early season Ladies Open races and if he can win two such races before 23rd February, he will qualify for the Christie's Foxhunter Challenge Cup on the Friday of the Cheltenham festival.
Chloe Kirkby made her debut as a Point-to-Point jockey last season riding her dad Laurence's Lodestar in six races. This included a good second in the Ladies Open race at the Bedale meeting in Yorkshire. Chloe will be hoping to build on this success and Lodestar will hopefully run at the Burton meeting at North Carlton on Sunday 1st February.
Another jockey to follow this season is Miles Seston who was having a good run last year before a nasty fall left him with a broken leg and ankle. During his recuperation Seston took part in a sponsored wheelchair push, raising over £2000 for the Injured Jockeys Fund. Seston is now fully fit and riding out for several Point-to-Point stables in the area.
Point-to-Point Meetings in the North Midlands Area
Sunday 25th January - Midlands Area Club at Thorpe Lodge (near Newark), first race 12noon.
Sunday 1st February - The Burton at North Carlton (Lincolnshire Showground), first race 12noon.
Saturday 21st February - The Brocklesby at Brocklesby Park, first race 12noon.
Sunday 1st March - The Blankney at North Carlton (Lincolnshire Showground), first race 11.30am.
Saturday 14th March - The South Wold at Brocklesby Park, first race 12.30pm.
Easter Monday 13th April - The South Notts at Thorpe Lodge (near Newark), first race 2.00pm.
