Preview: Quorn Point- to- Point races – Sunday 27th April 2014 at Garthorpe – first race 1.00pm The Quorn Point- to- Point races take place at Garthorpe on Sunday; 91 entries have been taken in total for the seven races starting at 1pm and Claire Lomas will be the guest of honour; she will be doing a book signing and talking about her achievements following a life changing riding accident. Prestwold Hall is sponsoring the Garthorpe Hunts Club Member’s Conditions race for which 12 entries have been taken. This is the third of five in a series of races open to horses qualified with one of the Garthorpe Hunts and so far the Belvoir team have opened up a clear lead. Valance won the Member’ race at the Belvoir meeting for the Cottesmore team and Kelly Morgan while the Belvoir have Confined and Open winner L’Eldorado for the Chatfeild- Roberts team in opposition. The Quorn team have Colonial Boy entered; he is their best chance of a winner at their own meeting but the race looks a competitive and interesting affair. The feature race is the prestigious Quorn Gold Cup sponsored by Shouler and Son which has attracted 8 entries including the 2013 winner Gun Money. Richard Russell’s Leicester Hunter Chase winner is likely to start favourite if he lines up. Others to consider include current Midlands Area leading horse Say No, a three time winner in 2014 and the Stuart Morris trained Duke Of Kentford. The 11 entry Ladies Open race sponsored by Robert Whowell & Partners may include the National Leading Horse Palypso De Creek who would certainly take all the beating if he lines up; however his participation may depend on significant rainfall during the week. Others to consider include Gerald Bailey’s Quinsman a North Carlton Ladies Open winner who should be suited by the Garthorpe course and the mare Ukrainian Star a good second in a Ladies race at Godstone in March. The winning horse will qualify for the £10000 AGA iTotal Control Ladies Open Point- to- Point Championship Final Hunter Chase at Stratford on Friday 30th May. Following the Ladies Open race Claire Lomas will be talking over the P.A. about her life following her riding accident and how she completed the London Marathon despite being paralysed. Colonial Boy and Valance may side step the earlier Member’s race in favour of the Coppice Homes Club Member’s race for which 17 entries have been taken. Nick Wright’s Bally Wall may be able to improve on two good second places in the East Anglian area recently. Elizabeth Brown’s Forget Bob won a similar race recently and Milson Robinson’s Panama Canal is a consistent course winner and should run well. Kite Construction are kindly sponsoring the Restricted race which has attracted 16 entries. Amithereyet could well move up a grade following an easy win in the Atherstone Member’s race for the Docker family. Temair Feis is a Garthorpe Maiden winner with Restricted form and Stuart Morris’s Mouse Back Brown was an encouraging third in a Member’s race recently. 16 entries have also been taken for the William Hercock Builder’s Merchants Open Maiden race. Ardea will probably be well fancied given his last run at the course; he was in second place when unseating the rider at the last fence. Longitude has been knocking on the door for the Kendall family and Tom Ellis’s My Alfie could go better than his second places recorded so far. The final Open Maiden race for 4, 5, 6 and 7 year olds run over the shorter two and a half miles is sponsored by Motorpoint and has attracted 11 entries. Shinrock Pearl may make the journey from Marti Mulhall’s yard in Yorkshire; she was beaten a neck in the Maiden at the Belvoir and her owner Midlands Press Officer Emma Forman will be delighted if she can make the frame again. Others to consider include Nigel Padfield’s Hardy Morning and Heather Kemp’s May The First. The last race is due off at 4.35 pm and following this the Richard Clowes Property Search & Consultancy charity flat race will take place. S Milner & Son are sponsoring the “best turned out” prizes throughout the afternoon and Mrs Jane Bell is donating a bottle of champagne to each winning rider. Clerk of the Course Brian Crawford and his team will water the course as necessary in order to maintain a safe racing surface. Admission is £10 per person with under 16’s free. There will be bookmakers, a tote, a large selection of trade stands in the shopping area and racegoers will have the opportunity to enjoy a glass of Pimms at “The Grumpy Huntsman” Licenced bar. There is a children’s play area at the course and other attractions for the younger racegoers. Garthorpe is situated on the B676, 6 miles east of Melton Mowbray and 7 miles west of the A1. For those with satellite navigation systems the postcode is LE14 2RS.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Apr 2014 21:21:06 +0000