THE Worcestershire Point-to-Point is always held on the third Saturday in April but this year that coincides with Easter, so the fixture has to contend with competition from six meetings, plus another nine on Monday.
Every owner and trainer is looking for winning opportunities and with 74 entries – finding them will not be easy.
The Lady Dudley Cup is the final Classic Race of the season with the successful horse joining a roll of honour which evokes memories of so many great horses of the past.
Many have tried to win this prestigious trophy and failed, and this year’s event is no different with nine entries all hoping to claim this major prize.
Ennistown and Igor finished second and third in last year’s race with the former proving three-lengths superior to his rival, but that deficit was reduced when they ran at Didmarton with Igor narrowing the gap to half a length, so they are evenly matched.
With Sam Waley-Cohen retiring after his magnificent win in the Grand National connections return to these humbler surroundings trying to win the race, they took with Irilut back in 2007. Sam will be difficult to replace but James King looks a worthy replacement.
The locals will be cheering for Blackwater Bramble who carries the Smith-Maxwell colours. This is a real family affair with the horse owned by various members of the family, trained by Philip and Katherine’s daughter Alex and will be ridden by their son John.
The horse had two promising runs at Larkhill but was pulled up at Brafield on the Green and that has to be a cause for concern.
Phil Rowley has won this race three times in the last nine years, but will struggle to improve on that record because Optimised does not look in the same league at Rowley’s previous winners.
Chameron is a high-class performer, but consistency is not his strong point and there have been disappointments along the way so the pace of this race will be crucial and others are preferred.
Clive Bennett’s hope rest with Miss Seagreen who passed her biggest task to date by beating Mr Love in a Shelfield Park Open and these two are scheduled to renew their rivalry.
Runners have to carry 12 stone 5 lb and that is another factor to take into account but Miss Seagreen benefits from the 7 lbs mares’ allowance and should confirm the form on that basis.
The most interesting entry is Stacks Mountain who beat Ellipsism at Cocklebarrow before unseating in a clear lead at Didmarton and suffering the same fate at Maisemore.
He obviously has ability but having been unseated Georgina Knowles on two occasions she has been replaced by Tom Broughton and it would be a significant feather in his cap if this talented young rider could land the big prize.
The Lorna Brooke Memorial Qualifying Ladies Open Races have been well supported throughout the season, but Saturday’s event looks a formality for Southfield Theatre who has run up a sequence of six wins this season.
We all know it is not as simple as that but Lilly Bradstock’s mount is a prolific front runner who blows away the opposition and this is likely to be the case again on Saturday, although he does have an easier engagement much closer to home on Monday.
Agamemmon, Chase Me, Chu Chu Percy, Tb Broke Her and The Dellercheckout who fell at the first in the Aintree Foxhunters will be chasing Southfield Theatre’s shadow, whereas Virak took Southfield Theatre’s scalp when they met in 2020.
The 2-1/2 mile Maiden for 4 and 5 year olds is bound to throw up a potential star of the future, with several big stables represented.
West Country trainer Chris Barber has Campsie Linn and Straightupsnicket, while Will Biddick could team up with Rock D’Ete. Clive Bennett’s newcomer Ifindoubtgoflatout has been entered at several meetings over the last two weeks but has sidestepped those engagements.
Fran Poste’s hopes rest with Nimming Ned and Rock House, while Hindlip trainer Tom Weston tests the water with Kalabana or Westbell and we have already seen two useful horses emerge from this stable.
Moon Hunter finished a promising second for Phil Rowley at Shelfield by it was Galassian who caught the eye at the same meeting. He had coasted into the lead before overjumping and falling at the third from home and that looks race winning form.
The 2-1/2 mile Conditions follows the Maiden in which Gabrial the Great is the most experienced runner and has winning form over this shorter distance.
Golden Tobouggan was an early casualty at Liverpool while Kaproyale has been well placed to win three out of four races this year.
Spanish Jump has not been seen out since an impressive win at Cothelstone, but with media commitments at Cheltenham and Liverpool behind him Luke Harvey can start to make some plans as the gelding takes the next step up the ladder.
The entries for the Restricted includes some progressive horses who have caught the eye in recent weeks. These include Flying Colum who beat Hung Jury at Maisemore and that horse went onto to score at Andoversford last weekend.
Hill of Hope scored a workmanlike victory at Bitterley, while Twasn’t the Plan opened his account at Andoversford after some consistent performances under Rules.
Miss May Hill is another from the Bennett production line at Dymock, and there was much to like about her performance at Cothelstone, while Let Me Entertain U battled on well at the finish at the Croome and is one for the short list.
Entries for the Maiden Conditions include Airdrigh who ran well until three out at the Ledbury, and Bellamys Boy who ran a similar sort of race at Didmarton.
It is disappointing that Forest Chimes has not managed to open his account while Gentle Frank looked sure to take a hand in the finish until departing at the last at Maisemore.
Ed Bailey is doing well in the Bloodstock World and Young William shaped well at the Cotley is expected to improve on that performance.
