25 January 2012 Preview: West Street Tickham - Charing
by Mark Siggers
The South East kicks off its Point-to-Point season with the Kent Grand National at Charing on Sunday.
This biggest race in the South-East calendar transferred to Charing because Detling has no fixture this season, has 13 declared runners set to contest the 3m6f. Last year's winner, Freddies Return, unbeaten in eight races, stays at home with an injured leg so leading contenders include Jack's Present (Nick Pearce), the Folkestone winner Swordsman (trained by former Area champion Chris Gordon) and Cold Mountain, who has winning form over extreme distances.
Rick Gurney and his syndicate introduce the promising Behind The Scenes for the Restricted race, trained by Philip York. The form of this 10-year-old under Rules suggests a future in Hunter Chases. She Is A Cracker, already a winner at Cottenham this season, will be a warm order for the opening Novice Riders race with George Gorman on board.
Another Gurney horse, Benmore Boy, is scheduled to make his debut in the Club Members. This unknown quantity, sired by Old Vic and once trained by Henrietta Knight, could pay to follow.
Clerk of the Course Rob Harrison reports the course in first class order with perfect jumping ground. The first of six races is at 12.00, and admission is £10 per person with car parking and children under 16 free of charge. Charing racecourse is on the A20, five miles north-west of Ashford, Kent. The code for satnavs is TN27 0JD.
For going updates and meeting information, call Talking Point on 09068 44 60 61. For a list of entries via fax, call 09068 44 99 88. All calls cost 61p/min plus network extras.
