Stratford set for a bumper weekend of racing
THERE'S a double-header of evening racing at Stratford this weekend and point-to-point followers will be out in force on Friday, when the seven-race card kicks off at 5.45pm, writes David Hucker.
Professional jockeys will be taking a back seat for most of the meeting, as all five chases on Friday are restricted to amateurs.
First up is the £10,000 Subaru "Restricted Point-To-Point" Series Final (A Novices' Hunters' Chase) over an extended two and three-quarter miles, open to horses that have not won under the rules of any recognised Racing Authority other than a Maiden or Hunt Members race, or a National Hunt Flat or Flat race.
The Series has been run across 50 national qualifiers, with the first heat won by Tulsa, ridden by Sam Davies-Thomas, at Cottenham near Cambridge back in November. Fourteen have been declared for the Final, including the six-year-old The Gunner Brady, a winner of two Members races this season, trained by Tracy Bailey and ridden by Zac Baker.
The unusually-named Itchymei’Mscratch was completing a four-timer when winning at Llwyn Ddu at the beginning of the month and will again be partnered by the experienced Tom David. At The Races presenter Luke Harvey runs Porlock Bay, who will have another top jockey in the saddle in Gina Andrews.
The trip is just short of three and a half miles for the £20,000 pointtopoint.co.uk Champion Novices' Hunters' Chase (for the John Corbet Cup) and Lilbitluso runs here in preference to the opener. He followed up his four point-to-point wins with success at Cheltenham last month and has John Mathias in the saddle.
Trainer Alan Hill has opted to run Broken Eagle rather than in a later race over a much shorter distance, so there should no stamina doubts. Winner of eight point-to-points, Broken Eagle ran well when runner-up to Sam Cavallaro at Cheltenham when ridden by the trainer’s son Joe and the combination could go one better here.
The AGA Ladies Open Point-To-Point Championship Final (A Hunters' Chase For Lady Riders) was won last year by What A Laugh, ridden by Jane Williams, who will be retiring from the saddle at the end of this season. Back in third was Bound For Glory, ridden by Hannah Lewis, and he should run well again this year.
However, the vote goes to Penmore Mill, a winner of 16 races in all, including last time out in a hunter chase at Uttoxeter. He will be ridden by Claire Hart, who took last year’s Subaru Final on DabinettMoon.
There is a high-class entry for the £25,000 Pertemps Network Stratford Foxhunters Champion Hunters' Chase (The 58th Running) headed by Irish-trained Marito, who has finished runner-up to On The Fringe, acknowledged as the best around at this level, at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals.
He had Pacha Du Polder behind him at Cheltenham and, on form, has nothing to fear from Paul Nicholls’ horse. Ridden by Olympic cycling gold medallist Victoria Pendleton that day, Pacha Du Polder was reunited with top amateur jockey Will Biddick for his last race at Aintree, but ran disappointingly to be beaten 60 lengths.
Also entered is Paint The Clouds, who had Pacha Du Polder behind him when runner-up in this race last year and, whilst he should come out ahead again, both have it all to do against Marito.
There is a big field of 17 for the Apple Tree Exhibitions Motorhome Show Open Hunters’ Chase, including course and distance winner Catch Tammy, who is trained by racecourse manager Ilona Barnett. He was a close third in a point-to-point on Sunday, having finished fourth behind the useful Warne at Mollington in his previous race.
The running of Broken Eagle earlier on should give a clue as to the chances of Sam Cavallaro following up his Cheltenham win. Delta Borget unseated Jo Buck early in that race and disappointed when sent off favourite at Newton Abbot recently, only finishing fourth. He should put up a better showing over this shorter trip.
Saturday’s seven-race card gets underway at 5.30pm with the Allan Atkinson Memorial Handicap Chase.