The final Midlands Area Point- to- Point takes place at Garthorpe on Sunday when the Melton Hunts Club hold their meeting. Prior to the Point- to- Point action there will be three Pony Races starting at 1pm. The first Point- to- Point race is due off at 2pm. The D & M Barthorpe Midlands Area Awards will be decided on Sunday; Tom Strawson is 24 points ahead of Dale Peters in the Leading Male rider Championship so that has already reached a conclusion. However, Kelly Morgan is only three points ahead of Lottie Crane for the Lady Rider’s and Novice Rider’s awards and with both ladies expected to be in action there is still all to play for. 93 entries have been taken in total for a 7 race card.
The opening Melton Hunt Club Members Conditions Race kindly sponsored by Melton Mowbray Market has attracted the largest entry of 23. Kelly Morgan won on Minstalad at the Quorn and may ride the horse here to gain a few more points. Thanks For Coming won a novice riders’ race at Whitfield on his latest start and is one of a number of James Henderson entries for the meeting. Proximo ran his best race for a long time when finishing second behind Tomstar at the Quorn and may fill a place. Panama Canal the Quorn Gold Cup winner could run here or in the later Mixed Open and will be bidding for a fifth course win; Tom Strawson will be in the saddle. After the race the Navitron sponsored £600 cash prize will be awarded to the leading hunt in 2015; the Belvoir are in a clear lead.
Jupiter Asset Management sponsor the Restricted race which is a qualifier for the Subaru Restricted Point- to- Point Series Final at Stratford on Friday 29th May and this race looks competitive. Sheila Crow’s horses are running well and she may be represented by Cooladerry King who was second at Tabley recently and will have Paddy Gerety in the saddle. Chris Bealby’s Dream Mistress has been third at Guilsborough since winning her Maiden at the Belvoir meeting but may opt for the later Mare’s race. Tom Morgan is pleased with the way Part And Parcel has progressed since winning at the Atherstone and According To Dan would also have a chance if making the journey from Peter Foster’s Yorkshire stable.
The classy Sheila Crow mare Fruit Fayre may line up for the Thoroughbred Breeders Association Club Members race for Mares and Fillies and indeed she will take all the beating if she does. Lady Vicstar, She’s Real and Dream Mistress are all in the running for the D & M Barthorpe Leading Midlands Area Mare Award; Dream Mistress is in the lead but any of the three of them could still win it.
The leading horse at Garthorpe this season Lough Inch may line up in the Fisher German Midlands Area Club Members race in order to give Kelly Morgan some more points. Lottie Crane will also be looking to score some on Mister Philson who finished third at Dingley on Sunday. She’s Real has the option of going here for John Chatfeild-Roberts and Peter Bennett has Val d’Auberge and The King Of Angels who won at the Quorn to choose from.
Oliver Greenall trains Nortonthorpelegend for Eric Brook and this horse has a very good chance in the Odey Investment Management Open Maiden race having finished second on three occasions this season. We’ve Got Company has also been placed and Kayjaydee was a promising second at this meeting last year. Roger Jackson’s Lord Golan was third at the last meeting and should go close once more.
The Lance & Urky Newton Mixed Open race is sponsored by Sandicliffe Group and looks a potentially competitive and exciting race. Palypso De Creek may run if enough rain falls and Panama Canal has this as an option too. Tom Strawson could ride the leading Midlands Area horse Gonalston Cloud for Roger Jackson instead and Patsy Finnegan has won four open races this season for Nick and Archie Wright. Qoubilai won at the Quorn and Lottie Crane will be hoping that he can give her a few more points again.
The Four, Five and Six-year-olds Open Maiden Race over 2m4f is the final race at 5.30pm and is kindly sponsored by Melton Mowbray Tyres. There are just six entries and Sheila Crow’s Woodstyle was second over Easter at Eyton-On-Severn and should be able to take this.
There will be a good range of trade stands, a children’s play area and food outlets including “The Grumpy Huntsman” licenced bar. Admission is £10 per person with under 16’s and car parking free. Rain is forecast but Clerk of the Course Brian Crawford and his team will water the course as necessary. 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. Keep up to date with the latest news on the “Garthorpe races” Facebook page and on www.garthorpe.com