21 April 2008 Quorn - Garthorpe
Jubilee George: recent Brafield Maiden winner should go close in the Restricted
A good sized entry of 119 horses has been received for this coming Sunday's Point-to-Point meeting at Garthorpe, near Melton Mowbray. Ground conditions look ideal at present and some exciting racing looks to be on the cards at this popular venue. Admission prices are as at previous Garthorpe meetings: £20 per car of 4, £10 single occupants, and children under 16 free.
Two Pony races will take place at 12.30pm, prior to the Point-to-Point races, and two charity flat races, run over 1½ miles, will also take place after the final race.
The first race, scheduled for a 1.30pm start, is the Quorn Members race, sponsored by Harold & Valerie Morton, supporters of the Quorn Hunt. The race has an entry of six and, on recent form, Scattered Scarlet, a neck second here at the last meeting, is just preferred to Return Fire, who ran third in a similar event last month.
Eleven have been entered for the second race on the card, the Men's Open race to be run over 3 ½ miles, which is sponsored by Mr & Mrs Philip Hewitt and Mr & Mrs Jim Bealby. Longville Lad won at Kimble and Teeton Bollinger has won at both Market Rasen and Tweseldown this season, however the Bailey stable has Denvale entered and he has won on this course this season and is the selection.
Robert Whowell, Chartered Accountants, have kindly sponsored race three, the Ladies' Open race, which has attracted an entry of 25 and looks wide open. Jill Dawson has Vingis Park, who ran second on his first run, and Virgin Soldier, a winner already at Market Rasen, entered. Bedtime Boys, from the Holly Campbell stable, won recently at High Easter, however Minouchka won a Hunter Chase at Leicester and was placed in a similar event and may take the prize.
A total of 28 are entered for the Maiden race over 2½ miles. Six Hills Golf Course & Fairways Restaurant are the sponsors. Bentoto, from the Mike Dawson yard, is yet to race but is highly thought of. Inchadoney Boy, an Irish bred pointer, has been placed at both Brafield and Marks Tey this season, and Fenny Lane is another with a chance on his recent second at this course.
The fifth race is the Restricted Race and has attracted an entry of 24. Savills of Nottingham have kindly sponsored. Selecting a winner here looks tricky. Ski Dazzle won a Maiden at Thorpe Lodge. Jubilee George and Burn Brook won Maiden's at Brafield and Brocklesby Park respectively. However, Sheila Crow has Gunner Be Quick entered and he may have top rider Richard Burton onboard.
William Hercock, Builders Merchants of Melton Mowbray, are the sponsor of the Open Maiden race. Twenty-five horses are entered and the race may rest between three form horses. Call Me A Lady needed his first outing this year, but ran two close seconds last season and has Sarah Phizacklea onboard; Iphar ran well at Godstone and has the useful David Maxwell riding; but Hugo Hackenbush has a chance to go one better after his promising run at Garthorpe last month.
Garthorpe Racecourse is situated 6 miles east of Melton Mowbray on the B676, 7 miles west of the A1.
