21 December 2009 Preview: 2010 North West Area
by Arthur Shone
MAD VICTOR: one of the NW Area's Ten to Follow
The North-West Area Chairman George Barlow as usual had his finger on the pulse in his pre season press release for the media. "There were no losses to fixtures in the area last season" he said, "although both the Cheshire and North West Point-to-Point Club meetings suffered extremely inclement weather, resulting in much reduced profit".
The forthcoming season in the North Western area has 14 meetings scheduled, beginning with the Tanatside at Eyton-on-Severn on Sunday February 21st and concluding with the Flint & Denbigh at Bangor on Dee on Saturday May 29th.The Meynell and South Staffs will again be held at Garthorpe, and despite great efforts to find suitable venues in the area, it has not been possible and the Albrighton will temporarily move to Chaddesley Corbett for the meeting on Sunday 28th February 2010.
The North West Point-to-Point Club fixture will once again stage the Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members race for the Novice Riders Championship Final on Sunday May 16th for total prize money of a £1000.00.
"I am pleased to report that every effort is being made to increase the interest in pony racing, and to that end there will be six Point-to-Point meetings in this area staging pony races this season", said the Chairman. "Finally I would like to wish everyone involved in the sport the best of luck for the forthcoming season."
The North Western area is the penultimate area to start the 2009/10 season between the flags. We get going on Sunday February 21st with the Tanatside meeting at Eyton-on-Severn, this meeting always seems to attract a bumper entry, with more than one race usually divided. Eyton is a premier course, which surprisingly is only used for three meetings.
Despite a lot of efforts from a lot of people, including our Area Secretary Nick Bostock, a new course has failed to be unearthed in the North Western area. Since Weston Park was made unraceable after the V Festival two years ago the Albrighton have become nomadic; they raced last season at Bangor on Dee, but that is not viable for this season, so they have been accommodated by Chaddesley Corbett this time around and they race on Sunday February 28th. Sadly this is yet another fixture that will be racing outside the North Western area.
Sunday March 14th sees the Wynnstay at Bangor on Dee. This benefits from the Order Of Excellence series, which sees the Weekender and Brightwells Insurance sponsor 14 races in all 14 regions to the tune of just over £7,000, with the Wynnstay being the chosen venue in our area. Also at this meeting the Mens Open for the Anne, Duchess of Westminster Cup is a much sought after prize.
Next in the North Western Area is the busy Easter period, which hosts four meetings. Two take place on Easter Saturday April 3rd, the North Staffs at Sandon and the Vale of Lune at Whittington. Both meetings attract bumper crowds and also feature a Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate qualifier, with the first four horses past the judge qualifying for the £7,000 Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate Championship Final at Cheltenham on Wednesday May 5th.
The North Shropshire race at Eyton on Severn on Easter Monday April 5th, while Easter Tuesday sees the High Peak at Flagg Moor, a unique location which sees the Members race take place over the famous lime stone walls.
Three meetings then follow in quick succession, the Cheshire Forest at Tabley on April 11th, the Cheshire at Alpraham on April 18th (featuring the premier race in the area, the Scally Muire, worth £500 in prize money), and the Holcombe at Whittington on Sunday April 25th.
Moving into to May and the South Shropshire meeting takes place on May Bank Holiday on Monday May 3rd. This meeting attracts a huge crowd, especially if the sun shines. The Area Hunter Chase Final at Bangor-on-Dee takes place on Saturday May 15th, which will see the Gary Hanmer-trained Border Fusion attempting to win the race for the fourth year running - if he does the racecourse will probably name the race after him! The day afterwards, Sunday May 16th, the North West Point-to-Point Club race at Tabley. This features the Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members race for the novice riders championship final, worth £1000 in prize money.
The following Sunday the Meynell and South Staffordshire race at Garthorpe for the second year running. Finally, the Flint and Denbigh bring the season to a close on Saturday May 29th at Bangor on Dee. Given decent weather a bumper crowd looks assured.
Ten To Follow in the North West for 2009/10
CONICAVAL (FR) 2005 b.f. Antarctique (IRE) - Miss Montrose (Tina's Pet). Trainer: Kelda Wood
"She won over hurdles as a three year old in France, where she was rated 112.With the 7lbs that she gets as a 5yr old and with the mares allowance she will run with a stone off her back for the start of the new season, which is a big plus. She has raced on soft ground mainly in France, but my gut feeling is that she is a better horse on good ground."
ECHO INDIA (IRE) 2004 ch.g. Anshan - Try Le Reste (IRE) (Le Moss). Trainer: Will Kinsey
"I have no hesitation in nominating him as the dark horse to follow from the yard, he was recommended to us by Peter Monteith. He is everyone's favourite in the yard and was impressive when winning his Maiden in Ireland. An exciting prospect for the season who wants good ground."
FAIRYMOUNT (IRE) 2005 b.g. Ashkalani (IRE) - Last Century (IRE) (Glacial Storm (USA)). Trainer: Gary Hanmer
"He has only had two runs in Ireland and was sixth of twelve in his last race is very testing ground, and considering the conditions he ran a good race there. He will be a much better horse on good ground and he has really strengthened up and is going really well at home."
GLIDEWELL 2002 b.g. Gildoran - Throw In Your Hand (Niniski (USA)). Trainer: Neale Dalton
"He won his Restricted well at Eyton last season, so hopefully he will progress through his Points. I will probably run him next in an Intermediate to start off with, and he is fairly straight and working well at home. He will be out early and needs good ground."
ICE TEA (IRE) 2000 ch.g. Glacial Storm (USA) - Kakemona (Kambalda). Trainer: Sian McCain
"He has good form under rules and has been bought by Derek Malam, who is a good supporter of the yard. The owner likes to have a runner in the Bangor Final, which will be his objective this season. He seems to have no ground preference as he has won on both soft and firm going"
MAD VICTOR (IRE) 2001 ch.g. Old Vic - Madden's Run VII. Trainer: Sue Taylor
"He seems back to his best and is working brilliantly at home. He had a problem with shoeing his front hooves, but I have got around that. I am looking forward to the season with him, best ground for him is good to good to soft."
RASH CALL (IRE) 2004 b.g. Rashar (USA) - Twilight Katie (Stubbs Gazette). Trainer: Sheila Crow
"Like Cappa Bleu he is owned by William and Angela Rucker. He won his Maiden very easily in Ireland by 10 lengths. He is definitely my dark horse selection from the yard and will win his fair share of races this season. He will go on any ground bar extremes."
SHALES ARMY 2004 b.g. Alflora (IRE) - Home Talk (IRE) (Euphemism). Trainer: Caroline Robinson
"He is has won both his Maiden and his Restricted races, and is progressing well. He has strengthened up from last season and is working very well at home on the gallops. Hopefully he will progress through his Points and will run in a Novice Hunter Chase this season. He seems to act on any going"
STRIKE FAST (IRE) 2005 gr.g. Portrait Gallery (IRE) - Street Rose (IRE) (Roselier (FR)). Trainer: Will Kinsey
"He is a nice stamp of a horse, and ran well when placed in his Maiden at Dromohane in Ireland. He is working really well at home and will be one of our first runners of the season. He wants a bit of cut in the ground."
UNOWATIMEEN (IRE) 2000 b.g. Supreme Leader - Collinstown Queen (IRE) (King's Ride). Trainer: Sheila Crow
"He has decent form under Rules, when he won at Market Rasen he beat the Queen's horse Barber Shop. I will run him in Point-to-Points to start off with and then campaign him in Hunter Chases, with the Bangor Final a possibility. I don't have any ground preference for him as I feel he would go on any."
