LEADING amateur jockeys will descend on Barbury Racecourse to take part in a six-race card at Sunday's Tedworth point to point meeting.
The feature race of the afternoon is the Tedworth Gold Cup (the JM Finn & Co Mixed Open Race over three and three-quarter miles) which has attracted eight entries.
Dante’s Storm, a prolific winning pointer, having won a 3m 2f Hunters Chase at Doncaster in the past, is now aimed at this stayers test for trainer Alan Hill, having cantered around on his only start this season to win the Men’s Open at Hackwood Park on 15th March (albeit a three-runner race).
He will face competition from the Jack Barber-trained Bellsinni Ron - an out and out stayer having won or been placed in all three of his starts in 4m plus races.
Making his pointing debut is the versatile Pentiffic who has been Hunter Chasing for the last two seasons having won over 2m 4f and placed over 3m and 4m 1f.
Hincheslea Moor will be lining up over this distance for the first time as will Turtle Boys, who placed second in an Intermediate at Badbury Rings on Saturday.
Of the 12 entries received for the Pheasant Inn at Lambourne Restricted Race, Boa Island, the youngest in the field at only five, won his debut point in a Maiden at Charlton Horethorne on March 8 by 20 lengths for trainer Barber.
A new recruit from Ireland this season for James Ridley is Amron Kris, the highest rated horse in the race – who placed second on his first run for the new yard in a Restricted at Cottenham in November.
Three of the entries all ran at Milborne St Andrew on March 21, albeit in different races, including David Turner’s Coeur Brule who won the Open Maiden - having been running under Rules; Hellesbelles won the 2m 4f Maiden and could be in the frame if he stays and Daves Venture placed third in the Restricted.
Although pulled up last time out at Brampton Bryan on 28th March, Definitely Rosie has placed in Restricted races three times this season, as has Gleannacreim twice from his two outings.
Marlpit Oak showed a return to form at Hackwood Park recently, placing third for owner/trainer, James Young and local trainer, Karen Hobbs, will be hoping to improve on Rise To It’s place at Black Forest Lodge in November for the KP & Nuts Racing Club.
Dante’s Storm, and Hincheslea Moor hold two of the eleven entries in the William Bartholomew Party Organisers Members Race for Veteran & Novice Riders, together with the very consistent Present & Correct, trained by Tim Sage.
Usually partnered by James King, the pair have not been out of the frame in any of their four runs this season, including a third at Lockinge on Easter Monday.
Trouble Digger fell at the 15th last time out in a Men’s Open but placed earlier in the season in a Club Members for Novice Riders on February 1.
Trainer Zoe Hammond will be looking to go one better with Joe The Trucker who was second at Garnons on March 1 although he has since pulled up whilst Laura Thomas will be hoping for a repeat performance from Qianshan Leader, who won the Hunt Race on good to firm ground at Larkhill a week ago last Saturday.
Shropshire Lass also acts on ground good to firm having won a Club Members at the end of last season and don’t rule out Captain Crackers who likes the same if conditions prevail.
Laura Thomas’s Full Trottle is currently in contention for the PPORA Young Horse Awards and is one of seven entered in Prestat Chocolates Confined Race - having never been out of the first two in any of his six races this season bar one when he fell first time out.
“He needs cut in the ground though”, explained Thomas, who saddled two winners and two places over the Easter weekend.
“So his entry is entirely weather dependent.” He looks a progressive type but will face competition from the likes of Garstin who placed fourth out of 14 runners in a Mixed Open last time out at Buckfastleigh on February 15.
One month previously, he was third in a Club Members, one place behind Hincheslea Moor who also holds an entry in this race.
Likewise, Forget Bob came third, one place and eight lengths behind Full Trottle in a Hunt Members at Siddington on March 21 - having since placed second on Easter Monday in a Confined at Lockinge.
Falling early on at Charing on Easter Saturday Tim Underwood’s entry, Kellystown Lad could make amends here and the mare Cecile de Volanges is in good form having won and placed 2nd in her last two starts in Restricted races and should make the frame.
Nine are entered for the Simpsons Subaru and Jockey Club Maiden Race for Mares and Fillies over 3m. The Charles Whittaker-trained Southfield Fairy placed third on her debut at Ston Easton on March 22 over 2m 4f and should run a good race if she stays.
Overburn runs for local trainer Charlotte Fuller, having pulled up on her debut at this course in February.
Also pulling up on her debut was Get a Move on at Maisemore Park on March 29, whilst all of the remaining runners are evenly matched in as much as they all pulled up last time out with the exception of Flembrandt, who is making her racecourse debut for trainer Victoria Collins.
Attracting sixteen entries, the final race on the card is the Barbury Horse Trials Open Maiden over 2m 4f.
Both Southfield Fairy and Overburn hold entries in this race together with Deal of the Day who must be getting his head in front soon - having been placed in his last four runs, three of which were over 2m 4f.
Shininstar will be looking to challenge him if trainer, Belinda Clarke decides to run him again following his third place on Easter Saturday at Bitterley.
Sent off favourite on both of his previous outings, Sam Drinkwater will be looking to keep Breath of Blighty to task after he ran out four from home the last time he ran.
Bach to Before also ran out on his last outing, having previously finished 5th on his debut. High Priority will be looking to improve on his sixth place at this course in February to the progressive Lotus Pond having unseated his rider last time out.
Making his pointing debut, Justin Hoskins will be trying to get a tune out of the ex-Alan King-trained Kotkiri whilst another making his pointing debut is Captain Joe who was last seen running on the flat in 2013. Both Round Robin and San Satiro are making their racecourse debuts.
Entry on the gate is £10 per person (U16’s go free) First race is at 12.15pm and the last at 5pm. Dogs on leads welcome.
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