MORE than 200 entries have been received for Sunday’s Vine & Craven point-to-point at Barbury with Victoria Pendleton set to appear.
The Olympic cycling gold medallist, making her latest appearance in her ‘Switching Saddles’ challenge will have a choice of mounts on the day, which begins at 11.30 with the PPORA Novice Riders Race.
Trainer and mentor Alan Hill said: “If it’s really soft, she’ll ride Supreme Danehill, but if it’s good ground, she’ll ride Working Title for Sam Drinkwater.”
While the focus may be on Pendleton, who competed at Barbury in December, the contest could see a showdown between three of the leading novices in the country.
John Smith-Maxwell has three wins out of three this season on Buck Magic, including a short-head defeat of Gus Levinson on Be Definite.
Levinson also has his three-time winner Premier Portrait entered, while the third novice is Jordan Nailor, who could go for a hat-trick bid on Argentato if Worcestershire’s Chaddesley Corbett does not go ahead.
The Mixed Open, with 45 entries, it is likely to be divided on the day with 2011 Hennessy Gold Cup hero Carruthers bidding to improve on his recent debut between the flags at Larkhill, while local trainers Richard Bandey and Claire Hart are likely to run Little Chip and Hunter Chaser Vincitore respectively.
The Restricted is the latest Subaru qualifier for the Hunter Chase Final at Stratford in May with champion trainer Jack Barber looking to end out Earthpower, while Karen Hobbs’ Rise To It and Cousin Pete, the mount of Nick Phillips, will provide stiff competition.
Jack Barber’s Posh Totty will go in the Mares race, for which 17 entries have been received.
There are 27 entries for the short Maiden (2m4f), while in the long Maiden (three miles) Dan’s Wee Man looks the form pick.
The meeting closes with Members race.
The first race is at 11.30am and entry is £10 per person.
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