05 January 2010 Preview: North Midlands Area 2010 Season
by Emma Forman
The Point to Point season in the North Midlands Area gets under way at the end of January. Racing in the North Midlands takes place at three venues; Brocklesby Park, North Carlton and Thorpe Lodge.
At Brocklesby Park the course has been amended slightly since last season. A fence has been taken out of the home straight and placed near the clump of trees before runners turn into the straight. This change has been put in place to make more room at the start and break up the long run without any fences between the back straight and the home straight. All three courses are in excellent condition.
Several local stables are looking forward to the new season. The Grainthorpe stable of Mike and Jill Dawson will certainly be worth following. The consistent Vingis Park is all set for a new campaign and so is the former Jonjo O'Neill trained Pass It On. Last year was something of an "annus horribilis" for the Dawson family with the horses suffering from a virus. They are now fully recovered, fit and ready to go.
Nick Kent, whose stables are at Cadney, has around twelve horses for the coming season. Farmer Frank won two Point to Points and a Hunter Chase last year and is one of the stable stars. Gun Smith, who won an Intermediate at Thorpe last January, returns for another season, while newcomer Pangbourne was a winner of three Bumpers, a Hurdle race and a Steeplechase when trained by Alan King. This nine year old gelding, now owned by a syndicate, is a bit of a character but this stable is easily capable of getting the best out of him. Farmer Frank, Gun Smith and Pangbourne will all be aimed at Hunter Chases.
Victoria Branson should have some fun in Point to Points with Lord Adonis and Distant Memory; both trained by Kent. Distant Memory won at North Carlton last season as well as running well to finish third in a Mens Open race at Charm Park. Lord Adonis won the Brocklesby Members race last year and will be aimed at Restricted races this time.
Nick Kent should be able to take the Brocklesby Members race once again with Woodmaster. This seven year old Oscar gelding ran a good race to finish second at Thorpe Lodge last January and should be able to win at Brocklesby before moving on to better things. Simon Walker and Steve McGee will ride the majority of the Kent runners.
Chloe Kirkby, who lives near Barton on Humber, had a good season with Essenbee in 2009. This combination were consistent last year being placed on no fewer than six occasions and were perhaps unlucky not to win. Chloe has spent some time working for a trainer in New Zealand for some extra experience this winter. She also has a new horse; Paradise Bay, who was campaigned in Hunter Chases last season when trained by Nick Kent. Second at Sedgefield in 2009, he should hopefully be able to go close in Ladies races this season with Chloe on board.
The Robinson family from Linwood had a very successful season in 2009. Their stable star Menchikov won the D & M Barthorpe sponsored Midlands Area Leading Horse Award following four wins in Open races. This year they have a new recruit in the shape of the grey seven-year-old Roby De Cimbre who was bought out of Champion NH trainer Paul Nicholls' stable at the Doncaster October Sales. The gelding had a rating of 131 under National Hunt Rules and will run in Mens Open races and Hunter Chases. Leading Midlands Area jockey Richard Armson will be riding the Robinson horses again this year.
North Midlands Point-to-Point Meetings
Sunday 31st January - Burton at North Carlton, first race 12noon.
Sunday 14th February - Midlands Area Club at Thorpe Lodge, first race 12noon.
Saturday 20th February - Brocklesby at Brocklesby Park, first race 12noon.
Sunday 28th February - Blankney at North Carlton, first race 12noon.
Saturday 13th March - South Wold at Brocklesby Park, first race 12.30pm.
Easter Monday 5th April - South Notts at Thorpe Lodge, first race 2.00pm.
