The Northern Area Point-to-Point circuit heads to the Downhills course near Corbridge on Easter Monday for the Tynedale fixture which has attracted 91 entries, including plenty of Yorkshire raiders, and starts at 1.30pm.
Former Nicky Henderson-trained 136-rated chaser Emir Sacree is my selection in the opening 3m Fires In Stone Conditions Race (15 entries). He made all to win the recent Middleton equivalent by nine lengths from Global Fame and a follow up is on the cards under a 3lb penalty. Of the others, Foxinthebox stayed on well in the closing stages when three-and-a-half lengths 3rd to Morozov Cocktail in last month's Holderness equivalent, this season's dual winners Great Notions and The Village Way both prefer more cut in the ground, Killer Clown and Sunset On Fire have alternative engagements on the card, while the improving Bearwithmenow was placed at Tranwell and Hornby Castle and should again be in the mix.
The versatile Pete The Brief, a winner on the Flat at Redcar in August 2023 and subsequently placed over hurdles at Sedgefield, made an eye-catching debut between the flags when three lengths 2nd to Largy Shark at Dalton Park four weeks ago. That was a cracking effort after being off the track for seventeen months and the five-year-old can go one better in the 3m Stagshaw Restricted Race (15 entries). The main danger is Sunset On Fire who finished runner-up to Blue Sans and Whats The Solution on his last two starts. Last season's Haydon Maiden winner Shantou's Temple is back in calmer waters after chasing home Paramaribo in the Morpeth Mixed Open last time, while other 2024 Maiden winners to consider are Can We Keep Him, Glencorp and Sponthus.
Ballydonagh Boy, Diable De Sivola and Killer Clown are the pick of the 10 entries for the 3m Womble Bond Dickinson Ladies Open Race. You are guaranteed a good run for your money from Ballydonagh Boy who has recorded 7 of his 10 Pointing wins since December 2021 at Northern Area tracks, including a Corbridge victory in April 2022. Diable De Sivola scored twice in this grade under Jesika Rennie at Friars Haugh earlier in the season, while former Emma Lavelle-trained 148-rated chaser Killer Clown has won over shorter trips at Knightwick and Hornby Castle this season under Newcastle University student Daisy White.
The 3m Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management Ltd Men's Open Race has 8 entries and should chiefly concern Camdonian and Summerville Boy. The ultra-consistent Camdonian has won 8 of 11 Pointing starts since February 2023 and lost nothing in defeat at Charm Park last time when two-and-a-half lengths 3rd to the useful Red Delta. Former 156-rated Cheltenham Festival-winning hurdler Summerville Boy has enjoyed a change of scenery and drop in class for new connections this season with victories at Askham Bryan and Hutton Rudby either side of finishing third to Camdonian at Duncombe Park.
The 21 entries for the 3m RBC Brewin Dolphin Maiden Race are headed by Phantoms Cave and High On The Hill. Phantoms Cave showed plenty of promise when placed twice from four starts in 2m4f contests and should be suited by the step up in trip, while High On The Hill chased home Carlenrig on heavy ground on her reappearance at Hexham on December 1 before doing little wrong on her return from a seventeen-week break when three lengths 2nd to Lets Go Harry at Tranwell. Of the others, Boom Boom Boris and Millena Agent have scope for improvement after finishing 3rd and 4th respectively behind the useful Elusive Knight at Dalton Park, Benefact and Fujita Scale finished 2nd and 4th respectively behind the promising Jardin Carre at Hornby Castle last Saturday, while Look North finished two lengths 2nd to Shalliorsharnti in a slowly run Askham Bryan Maiden three weeks ago.
The concluding 2m4f Jan Mitchell Properties Maiden Race has 22 entries and will be divided on the day if declarations exceed the safety factor of 12. Out On Her Own tops the ratings but is likely to run over a longer trip at Chaddesley Corbett on Saturday, with her jockey John Dawson expected to give a Corbridge debut to Hugo Moss who is a five-year-old half-brother to the talented That'll Do Moss. Jack Teal's well regarded unraced youngsters G N Jefferson and Gunar are likely to be kept under wraps unless the ground eases, Dear Dot has been absent since finishing ten lengths 4th to Batsman Jack over this trip at Alnwick four months ago, while Doyen For A Gin produced her best effort of the season when only beaten three-quarters-of-a-length by Clapton Hill at Overton last month.
As usual, the main action is preceded at 12.30pm by pony racing. Both contests are sponsored by Mowden Hall School and have attracted a total of 18 entries.
Admission is £15 per person, with under 16's free (Cash only).
The course is situated about 3 miles north of Corbridge, with access off the B6318 and a separate exit road to the A68. The post code for SatNav users is NE45 5QA.