01 April 2010 Preview: North-Western Area
by Arthur Shone
The North-West Area features no less than four meetings over the Easter weekend.
Easter Saturday features the North Staffordshire at Sandon (107 entries) and the Vale of Lune at Whittington (98), the North Shropshire at Eyton-on-Severn (190 entries) takes place on Easter Monday, while the High Peak (103 entries) hold their traditional Easter Tuesday fixture at Flagg Moor.
At the North Staffs (first race 1.00pm), the first two horses and riders past the judge in the PPORA Club Members Conditions race for Novice Riders will qualify for the £1,000 Dodson & Horrell Club Members Race for Novice Riders Series Final at Tabley on Sunday May 16th 2010. Heading the entries is the Helen Needham-trained Murphy's Fusilier, who was impressive when beating Sheila's Legacy at Garnons three weeks ago by 12 lengths. Others to note include Big John Macarty, who provided veteran rider David O'Brien with his first ever winner between the flags at Bangor-on-Dee two weeks ago. Flashy Boy from the Cheshire based yard of Will Kinsey is a model of consistency; the son of Roselier was the champion horse in the North Western area last season. My Best Buddy and I Am Said are other horses to consider.
The first four horses past the judge in the Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate race at the Vale of Lune (first race 2pm) will qualify for the £7,000 Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate Point to Point Championship Final at Cheltenham on Wednesday May 5th 2010. Amongst the entries is the Dorothy Bell trained My Wee Woman, who was impressive when beating one of the entries for this race Northern Revoque easing down by 15 lengths at Aspatria. Also entered is Willie Wong from the Will Kinsey yard, a recent winner at Eyton-on-Severn. Special Portrait from the David Easterby yard signed off last season by winning at Bratton Down. Father Murtagh will be looking to go one better this year, as the gelding was runner up in this race twelve months ago to Scrappie.
The North Shropshire Mens Open for the prestigious Mrs Bibby Silver Fox trophy has attracted a top class entry of 23. Amongst the entries are the Gary Hamner-trained Border Fusion, the winner of the last three Bangor Finals. Lord Louis, trained at Welshpool by Phil Jones, is a model of consistency, out of 11 races the son of Sir Harry Lewis has never been out of the first three - winning four times, twice at Eyton-on-Severn. Another horse with a similar record is Von Origny, trained by Corrine Wynne, who has won 5 times, the most recent being the Members race at Bangor-on-Dee two weeks ago. The Belinda Clarke-trained Belligerent accounted for the notable scalp of Vicario at the Tanatside meeting three weeks ago at this course. The runner-up is trained by Sian McCain who will be represented by Ice Tea in this race; her charge had very good form under Rules when trained by her husband Donald. Julie Houldey has the progressive Just Talking declared for the race, who is unbeaten in all 5 starts, and looked impressive when beating Saint Reverien at Whitwick Manor this season by 8 lengths. Others to note with form include Cnocan Aoibhinn, Heavy Weather, Posh Dude, Go For Bust and Willie Wong.
Many historians regard Flagg Moor as the jewel in the crown in the North Western area, it is the oldest Point-to-Point course and dates back to 1892. Hunting in the High Peak started in 1848 with the establishment of the Stanton Harriers. Some twelve years later the kennels were moved to Bakewell, where they remain to this day, although on a different site and the Hunt was renamed the High Peak Harriers.
The High Peak Members race is unique as it takes place over the famous limestone walls, in fact it is the only Members race in the country that takes place over natural hunting country. The only major changes that have taken place to this great spectacle came about in 1936 when the distance was reduced from four-and-a-half miles to three-and-half, which prompted old timers to express that the sport had gone soft. About eight years ago the start was moved to the village of Flagg, otherwise the contest has remained virtually unchanged for over a hundred years.
Admission prices for the four fixtures are as follows:
North Staffordshire and Vale of Lune - £25 per car, regardless of the number of passengers, single occupancy £15.
North Shropshire - £25 per car regardless of the number of passengers, single occupancy £10.
High Peak - £10 per person, with children under 16 admitted for free.
