17 March 2008 Woodland Pytchley - Dingley
The Hookie Bookie: bang in form for the Mens Open
There has been a decent entry of 111 horses for this coming holiday weekend when the Woodland Pytchley hold their popular Point-to-Point meeting at Dingley, near Market Harborough.
Following some rainfall over the last few days the racecourse is reported to be in excellent condition. Dingley is reputed to be one of the best viewing courses in the country and as usual, a large crowd is expected. Admission prices on the day are £15 per car with one occupant, extra occupants and pedestrians £5 each. Children under 16 years old free. There are six races on the card and the first race is scheduled for a 1.30pm start.
The opening race is the Woodland Pytchley & Fernie Hunts race and has attracted 12 entries and is being sponsored by How's Racesafe of Market Harborough. The Hutchinson team have both Limerick Leader and High Gear entered. The former won his last three races last year and the latter was a good second at Market Rasen recently. Highland Vasco was third in a Hunter Chase at Leicester this year and another to consider is Carbon Footprint, a winner last week at Garthorpe.
Eco Drilling & Green Fuels For You have kindly sponsored race two, the Confined Race, which has an entry of 19. Eleven year old Cosi Celeste won both his races on this course last season. The Bailey stable has Cheyne entered and he ran second at Garthorpe last week. However Teeton Dazzler has already won at Horseheath and Tweseldown and just gets the vote.
Race 3 is the Dodson & Horrell PPORA Novice Riders race and 25 are entered. Tooley Park, from the Jimmy Tarry yard, ran second at Garthorpe last week. Nokimover has been placed in similar events at Marks Tey and Horseheath already this year and Rainbow Tree has been placed twice in Ladies Open races. This race looks quite open.
The Mens Open Race has attracted an entry of eight horses and is sponsored by Sturgess Landrover. The Hookie Bookie has already won three Open races this year and also won on this course last year so is bang in form. Noakarad de Verzee also won at Dingley last season and was a winner of an Open at Godstone recently. However Gerald Bailey has Denvale entered and he was an easy winner at Garthorpe under his owner/rider Richard Hunnisett and just looks the pick.
21 horses are entered for race five, the Restricted Race, kindly sponsored by King West, Land Agents & Property Development. Mister Moonax and Dream Garden have both won a maiden race this year and may have the services of rider Miles Seston. Walters Laddie, a winner at Brocklesby Park, and Rathmoley are from the stable of Bill Warner and are both highly thought of, either could be ridden by Stuart Morris. Another of note is Cold Play, recently second at Market Rasen.
The final race of the day is the Maiden Race for 5, 6 and 7 year olds, has an entry of 26, and is sponsored by Strutt & Parker. This looks a particularly wide open race. Fenny Lane was second at Cottenham early in the season, Pennytino ran fourth at Welbeck, and Checked Shirt was a fair third at Kingston Blount. However Bonnie Zoe, an unlucky faller when leading at Barbury recently, may be best here.
The racecourse at Dingley is situated 3 miles east of Market Harborough on the Harborough to Corby road.
