Talking Garthorpe! 21/4

By Emma Forman

I can’t wait for the Quorn Point- to- Point on Saturday; I love Saturday racing as it means I don’t have to rush around to be ready to go and don’t have to sit at the computer working when I get home as I have Sunday to write it up! I am hoping for T-shirt weather and some great racing. As usual I have been speaking to a few people ahead of the meeting.

Anna Saunders (Quorn Point- to- Point secretary and Midlands area secretary) “I am very much looking forward to Saturday; we have a good entry and the trade stand area is fully booked so bring your plastic cards! We have a live band playing after racing in “The Garthorpe Watering Hole” and everyone is welcome to stay for the party! Bring your tent if you wish and then you can partake in Brian Crawford’s latest craze; treading in on Sunday morning!”

Gerald Bailey (Owner, trainer) “I am looking forward to running Fearsome Fred in the Maiden. He ran a bit green at Thorpe on Easter Monday when he finished second to No Alterations; this was his first run though and I expect him to go well on Saturday, Jonny will ride. The horses are in good form; we have had 14 winners from 8 horses in the pointing yard so we are having a great season.”

Dicky Collinson (Jockey) “I am not sure exactly what I will be riding at the moment but Black Glen Boy (PPORA Club Members Conditions race) will almost certainly run. He’s a lovely horse who is all heart and hasn’t had a true test yet; hopefully he can keep progressing. Violet Crack (Maiden) may go; she has a special place in my heart; she is very gutsy and has been unlucky. Lord Baltimore (Maiden) has had a wind operation and there is definitely more to come from him. I hope I get to ride Rock Of Braga (Midlands Area Club Members); I don’t need to say much about him, he’s been a great horse for me and he won his Maiden at Garthorpe by thirty plus lengths. My seventeen months old daughter Olivia will be coming; she loves coming to Garthorpe to watch me ride. “

Claire Hart (Jockey) “I do not think that Mike Dawson will run Palypso De Creek (Ladies Open) as the ground will be too dry. His Excellency will probably go and I am looking forward to riding him again. He was too fresh the first time at Garthorpe so fingers crossed he settles better this time.”

James Henderson (Owner, trainer) “We are looking forward to Saturday; we think we will run Dream Garden in the Novice riders’ race and Otto The Great in the Men's Open. Otto won at the last Garthorpe meeting but in the Novice riders’ race and he then won an Open at the Old Berks, but he will need to improve more to beat Gun Money!  He is 7 and Fred may now be learning where the 'go' button is on him. Dream Garden has won at Garthorpe but a long time ago, he is well and was 2nd at the Old Berks beaten a length when Fred had dropped his stick 3 fences out.”

Kelly Morgan (Jockey – currently the leading female jockey at Garthorpe in the Southwell Racecourse Championships).”I ride Lough Inch (in either the Member’s race or the Novice riders’ race) on Saturday; he loves Garthorpe and is the leading horse there at the moment. It would be great to maintain this and make it an unbeaten hat trick for our partnership.”

Richard Russell (Owner) “We have Gun Money entered in the Quorn Gold Cup (Men’s Open) and I think we will run him there rather than in the Hunter Chase at Warwick on Thursday where he also holds an entry. He won the race in 2013 and finished second last year. I am disappointed that the race is now 3miles and not 3 and a half miles, but our horse has won over both distances at Garthorpe. John rode him at the weekend and was happy with him and the Baileys are also pleased with his wellbeing. Unfortunately I have a prior commitment to stewarding at the Berkley on Saturday and I am very sorry not to be able to come to Garthorpe. Hopefully Gun Money will run well; I am very fond of the Gold Cup; I won it myself as a rider with Avastar around 30 years ago and he went on to win the Land Rover Final at Towcester.”

Tom Strawson (Jockey) – currently the leading male jockey at Garthorpe in the Southwell racecourse Championship) “I am very much looking forward to riding Panama Canal for the Robinsons in the Quorn Gold Cup. He loves Garthorpe and has won three times there. He is a spring horse; he seems to take a few runs to tune up but seems really fit and well now so I am hopeful of good run. I ride my own horse Tomstar in the PPORA Club Members Conditions race. He has schooled at Riby since he ran at Dingley and he is in good nick. The problem with him is that he might be too clever for the racing game; he is probably the most intelligent horse I have ever sat on! He has loads of ability so we will see. Finally I ride Lord Golan for Roger Jackson in the Maiden; its looks a very hot race on paper but he has improved a lot since he finished third in the Restricted race at Thorpe on Easter Monday. Hopefully I can get him to settle on Saturday; I am very excited about riding him.”

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