The Northern Area Point-to-Point circuit heads back to the Ratcheugh Farm course near Alnwick for the third time this season on Sunday 23rd February where the College Valley & North Northumberland fixture has 77 entries on a six race card which starts at 1.00pm.
The opening 2m4f Bedmax Maiden Race has 11 entries and may chiefly concern the Jack Teal-trained newcomer Matterofexpression, Cinque Terre and Phantoms Cave. Related to several jumps winners, Matterofexpression is guaranteed to be primed from a yard noted for getting one ready to do the business on debut. Locally trained Cinque Terre was only beaten a length by The Village Way in a slowly run 3m Berwickshire Restricted, while well related Phantoms Cave caught the eye on his first start over fences when eleven lengths 3rd to the useful Trust Me Nate in last month's 2m4f Jedforest Maiden. Newton-by-the-Sea owner/trainer Victor Thompson is planning to saddle a total of eight runners including All Ways And Ever and 97-rated hurdler Park Hind in the opener. All Ways And Ever finished eight lengths 6th to Great Notions in the 3m Percy Maiden and has scope for improvement over a shorter trip, while Park Hind shaped well on her first start for 22 months when fifteen lengths 4th to Built By Rossies at Friars Haugh a fortnight ago.
A quartet of this season's Northern Area Maiden winners - Eastern Storm, Great Notions, Slaney Opera and Whatudoing - are set to meet in the 3m Lycetts Restricted Race (16 entries). Slight preference is given to Slaney Opera who had plenty in hand when beating subsequent dual Friars Haugh scorer The Village Way by eight lengths over course and distance in December and wasn't suited by the drop in trip when third to Wottinger on a return visit six weeks later. Great Notions stayed on well to land last month's 3m Percy Maiden and makes a quick reappearance after finishing a never dangerous 3rd on the non-stayers track at Duncombe Park last Sunday, Eastern Storm sprinted clear of solitary rival Liveyourbestlife in the closing stages of a slowly run 2m4f Percy Maiden and should have more to offer, while Whatudoing relished the soft ground when beating Major Champion by five lengths in the 3m Berwickshire Maiden. Of the others, 2024 Berwickshire Maiden winner Something Golden hasn't reproduced that level of form so far this term, last season's Zetland Maiden winner Can We Keep Him returns from a 9-month break, while proven stayer Shantou's Temple who was lying a close 3rd when falling two out in the Jedforest Restricted is also entered in the 3m NPPA Area Conditions Race.
Representing the in-form Warwickshire yard of Gina Andrews, Alnwick specialist Dundrum Wood bids for a sixth course win in the 3m Saffery Mixed Open Race (14 entries). Martha Reeve's mount looked as good as ever when beating ex-chaser Rath An Iuir by four-and-a-half lengths here last month and is preferred to the likes of Wild Romance, Ballydonagh Boy, Diable De Sivola and Western Run. Dual Friars Haugh Ladies Open winner Diable De Sivola didn't have things all his own way when beating Ashjan by two-and-a-half lengths last time and has 9lb more to carry here, dual course winner Wild Romance is back in calmer waters after falling two out in a Wetherby Hunters' Chase three weeks ago, Western Run gave first first season rider Sean Cameron a great spin when chasing home Chameron at Friars Haugh, while the ultra-consistent Ballydonagh Boy was beaten five lengths by subsequent Fakenham Hunters' Chase winner Bardenstown Lad at Askham Bryan. Already qualified for the Cheltenham Foxhunters', it's anyone's guess where the latter will turn up this weekend as he is entered at Alnwick, Badbury Rings, Charing, Garthorpe, Howick and Kingston Blount.
There are 12 entries for the 3m Alncom NPPA Area Conditions Race. Laura Fenwick's mount Loughermore ran a blinder on his first start for 20 months when three lengths 2nd to Not The Chablis in the corresponding contest at the Jedforest meeting and is taken to reverse the placings here. Humps And Bumps finished six lengths 3rd in that race on her first start for 8 months and should go well again for Ruby Wyld. Of the others, Nick Lost is at his best when allowed to dictate, Miss Wachit is significantly down in grade after finishing seventeen lengths 3rd in the Berwickshire Ladies Open, while the front-running Rufio recorded both wins in 2022 on a sound surface.
Last month's 2m4f Percy Restricted winner Wottinger can follow up in the 2m4f Womble Bond Dickinson Conditions Race. John Dawson's mount had a bit in hand when beating Call Me Early by one-and-a-half lengths that day on his reappearance and is still on an upward curve. After disappointing under Rules, Fugitives Drift got his season back on track when one length 2nd to an eased down Trust Me Nate over this trip at Friars Haugh a fortnight ago, Blouebrav has won twice over this trip at Overton in recent seasons, while the shorter trip is ideal for Bellaney Lord who shaped well when thirteen lengths 4th to Wottinger last time.
The concluding 2m Land Rover Flat Race has 11 entries, of which only 2 have the benefit of a previous run. The debutants include 4-year-old Warwickshire raider Colibri Bleu who receives weight from the majority of his rivals. His dam Ludo Sol was placed eight times over jumps in France, including three listed races. Dr Doodlebug's dam Combustible Lady won twice over hurdles and was placed seven times including once between the flags, Easter Getaway is a home-bred half-sister to the ill-fated Pointing winner Firth Of Vic, while Nick Orpwood's mount Wontbehomefortea is a half-sister to Pointing and jumps winner Dream Over. Long Hop boats the best form on offer having finished four lengths 3rd to Appy Chappy in the Sinnington equivalent at Duncombe Park last Sunday.
Admission is £15 per person with one free racecard per car, and U16's are free (Cash only).