23 February 2010 Preview: South East Hunts Club - Charing
by Mark Siggers
Following the loss to frost of the Tweseldown meeting last Saturday, Point-to-Point trainers are now increasingly anxious to get races into their horses and have made a total of 144 entries for Charing Races on Sunday (February 28th).
Reigning Area champion rider Peter Bull is expecting Hitzfromtheblitz to go well in the two-and-a-half mile Maiden, where he will meet Godstone disappointment Peadar (Nick Pearce). Like most people who have studied the weather forecasts, Bull is expecting soft ground so Honourable Spider should have conditions to his liking in the Mens Open.
His other rides are Captain's Legacy in the Club race and Durante (his best chance of the day) in the three-mile Maiden. He will almost certainly ride Supa Tramp in preference to Balableu and Laguna Beach in the Restricted.
Although entered for the Mens Open, Marcus Gorman's Merry Vic is more likely to run at Larkhill on Saturday, as is the useful prospect Dr Sparrow, also trained by his wife Carolyn. Marcus, who returns from India during the week, will ride Cotton Bay in the Restricted and The Tailor Carey in the Club race.
Nick Pearce's other rides for owner Simon Tindall are Scholar George, the Detling winner, in the Restricted, and Silver Don in the three-mile Maiden. Multiple winner Letterman will be all the rage for the Ladies Open in the hands of Charlotte Tizzard, where he will meet Heather Kemp's Nathos, amongst others.
The day starts at 11.15am with pony racing, while the main programme of six races (possibly seven) starts at 12.30pm. Charing racecourse offers a wide range of attractions and catering outlets as well as a licensed bar/beer tent. Admission is £25 per car and occupants (£15 for single occupancy) or £5 for pedestrians. The course is five miles north-west of Ashford, Kent, at the junction of the A20 and A252. The code for satnavs is TN27 0JD.
