Sun shines on new season

After all the poor weather of late, the Midlands Area Club Point-to Point took place at Thorpe Lodge on Sunday in glorious spring-like weather, and the sun was certainly shining for the favourite-backers, with all seven races going to the market leaders.

The highlight of the day was the Men’s Open Race, where top amateur jockey Sam Waley- Cohen arrived by helicopter to take the mount on Buckby Lane.

The 12-year-old gelding from Warwickshire led early on, was headed but hit the front once more with three fences to jump. Buckby Lane and Waley-Cohen looked like the winners at that point but had to go all out to beat Amicelli and Oliver Greenall who had made the journey down from Yorkshire.

The Midland Area Point-to-point Championships for the leading horses and riders during the season saw Stuart Morris forge an early lead with wins in the first two races on Tallow Bridge and Northall Lad.

Northall Lad beat Tom’s Party and Guy Brewer by three-quarters of a length in the Intermediate Race, but unfortunately Brewer later suffered a fall, damaging his collar bone and having to give up his remaining rides.

Val Jackson’s journey from the North was made worthwhile when Robber’s Glen beat Why Connie by five lengths in the Ladies’ Open Race.

Robber’s Glen is an eight- year-old who won three point-to-points last season and looks like he could win more this year.

Bravery Scotch followed up his Ampton win the previous week when beating Cottage River and Alpha Lima in the Restricted Race. Still only a six-year-old, Bravery Scotch could well improve further and provide more winners for Claire Allen.

The afternoon concluded with two divisions of the Open Maiden Race. In Division One Greenall made amends for his earlier second place by winning impressively on George The Grey by 71/2 lengths, and the horse looks like one to watch as he could well follow up in a Restricted Race in the coming weeks.

Another to note here was The Lumberjack, a six-year-old making his debut and finishing a good third.

Division Two went to the five- year-old Dream Garden who is trained at Barrowby by Antonia Bealby and was well ridden by Miles Seston.

The fact that the winning time for the race was one of the fastest of the day made it an impressive performance and Dream Garden looks sure to go on to better things.