12 January 2009 Preview: Yorkshire Area Point-to-Point Club at Sheriff Hutton
SONEVAFUSHI: a prolific winner last season is entered in the opening Novice Riders
The Yorkshire Area Point-to-Point season gets under way on Sunday with the Area Club meeting. This will be at Sheriff Hutton, and all proceeds will go to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance services.
143 entries have been received. Owners will travel from as far as Scotland, Cheshire and Warwickshire for the prospect of perfect ground. The maiden has 40 entries and may well divide on the day. All of the country's top riders have been booked, including Thomas and Oliver Greenall, Sam Waley-Cohen and Richard Burton.
Starting at 12 noon, the Club Members race for Novice Riders has several interesting horses amongst the 29 entered. Sonevafushi - who won 5 times last season and was a major contribution in Oliver Greenall's success in the championship - could give 16yo Jake Greenall his first winner. Brother Toby Greenall is his main danger on board Lou Du Moulin Mas, who was a dual hunter chase winner last season and ran a gallant 7th in the Cheltenham Foxhunters. Others who could make an impact are the Laura Mason ridden Glenelly Gale and Rebel Army.
The Restricted race has the fewest entries with 15. Philippa Shirley-Bevan's Quotica De Poyans looked a very useful prospect when, despite running green, swept aside opposition to win a Cottenham maiden. Having won his debut without been extended, he will start at prohibitive odds and could be chased home by Lewesdon Prince and the consistent Whinny Bank.
The Mens Open is a hot contest. Buckby Lane - whose wins last season included defeating Amicelli at Thorpe - will run a big race under Sam Waley-Cohen, along with the Lord Daresbury owned pair of Holy Joe and Unjust Law. John Wade's Always Right, who won his maiden at this meeting last year and went through the rest of the season unbeaten culminating in a Perth Hunter Chase victory, could win and continue his march to the top.
The Club Members Conditions race is for horses which have not won under rules (except for Hunter Chases), and has 17 entered. The pick of the entries is Ask Bobby, who just got the better of Duchess Account to win the corresponding race last year, but he will have to be at his fittest to beat Gunner Royal, course winner Royal Return, Oaklands Luis and Harwood Dale.
The Ladies Open has 22 entered. These include Hunter Chase winner Encore Cadoudal and Caroline Robinson's Reflected Glory. Caraman, trained locally by Gill Walford, will have benefited from a run in a hot Cottenham Ladies where he finished well to take fourth. Narciso, winner of 4 Ladies races last year, would be a popular winner on her grandfathers track, however Gill Dawson's Pass It On - rated 125 under rules - is also a strong contender.
The Maiden Race has 40 entered but divisions will be left till the day to guarantee equal splits. There are several who have been placed in maidens last year - these include Pinnacle Ridge, Nectar De Guye and Father Owen. Of the newcomers, Wantage Road has been placed 3 times over hurdles, Napalm has been placed 6 times under rules, the Mary Reveley trained Its Tees Components was 2nd in a bumper whilst Master Wolfe has been placed over 3 miles during his time with Philip Hobbs.
Admission will be £10 per person including a racecard.
Selections
Novice Riders - Sonevafushi
Restricted - Quotica De Lobo
Mens Open - Always Right
Conditions Race - Ask Bobby
Ladies Open - Pass It On
Maiden - Wantage Road
