Point to Point Steeplechases
Welcome to Corbridge Races website
With last month's inaugural Ratcheugh Racing Club fixture abandoned due to the snow, the 2011 Northern Area point-to-point season will now kick off with the West Percy card at Alnwick on Sunday January 23. The venue deserves a change of fortune with the weather as all three scheduled January meetings since 2007 have been called off due to a waterlogged course.
The Netherby Park course near Longtown has also been blighted by waterlogging since it opened in 2005. Not surprisingly, the Dumfriesshire & Stewartry executive have given up the struggle and decided to move their fixture on a permanent basis to the Overton Farm course at Crossford.
The Braes of Derwent meeting at Corbridge on Sunday April 17 will again offer the best prize money of the season with a total of £2500 up for grabs, including a first prize of £300 in the featured Men's and Ladies' Open Races.
Although British racing's Sunday service undergoes a major revamp in 2011 with a 20% drop in the number of meetings, the same cannot be said for point-to-pointing with a record number of Sunday cards in prospect. 80% of the 33 fixtures across the Northern and Yorkshire Areas are scheduled to take place on the Sabbath, with racegoers not seeing any Saturday action until Dalston on March 12.
Preview of the 2011 Northern Area Season
By Peter Burgon (Point-to-Point Correspondent for The Journal)
Kelly Bryson is favourite to land the Northern Area Ladies Championship for the 4th season in a row, with plenty of quality rides for Bonchester Bridge-based handler, Philippa Shirley-Beavan. Rapidolyte de Ladalka got off the mark on his second career start at Whittington in April and looks to have plenty of scope for further improvement, while the brilliant Quotica de Poyans has won all four completed starts to date. In addition, prolific winning pointer and chaser, Minouchka is primed for her seasonal comeback. Philippa's team also includes a trio of unraced French-bred four year olds and the useful Cuigny, who landed a Sedgefield bumper on his racecourse debut in April 2008. The latter caught the eye on his hunt racing bow at Cottenham near Cambridge on December 12 when staying on well from the last to finish 3rd in a Club Members Conditions Race.
However, Philippa's team had a mixed day at Chaddesley Corbett on January 3 with Minouchka (3rd in Ladies Open) the only one to complete. Cuigny and Quotica de Poyans both fell while Rapidolyte de Ladalka was pulled up.
Quotica de Poyans and Kelly Bryson
Reigning Northern Area Men's Champion jockey, Tristan Davidson has a couple of new inmates from Ireland at his Irthington yard. The five year old gelding, Pear Charles, runner-up in an Irish Maiden in April, cost £7500 at Doncaster Sales in May, and is joined by the former Willie Mullins-trained six year old Seanscoil, who finished six lengths third in a Ballinrobe bumper in May.
Davidson is again looking forward to partnering Newton-by-the-Sea based owner/trainer, Victor Thompson's hunt racing string which includes last season's seven times scorer, Indian Print, the ultra consistent Salveo who won three times in 2009 but missed last term and the promising maiden pointer, Tremerfirth.
Victor Thompson made a 500 mile round trip from his North Northumberland base to Cottenham near Cambridge on Sunday January 2 to get a much needed run into four of his charges. Anns Benefit (4th) and Killeaney Princess (4th) fared best with Indian Print and
Link House Appeal both pulled up. They should all strip fitter if reappearing at Alnwick.
Indian Print and Tristan Davidson
The experienced Val Jackson has been riding winners across the North since 1977 and will be looking to add to her career tally of 87 under all codes. Stratford's Champion Hunter Chase at the end of May is a more realistic goal for stable star, Robbers Glen rather than the Cheltenham Foxhuters Chase in March. Her pointing team is completed by ex-novice hurdler, Doodlebop and the former Howard Johnson-trained six year old gelding, Wave Power who won a Leopardstown bumper in December 2008.
Robbers Glen and Val Jackson
Hawick-based owner/trainer, Gavin Hamilton will again be campaigning his 14 year old gelding, Lord Who. Successful 14 times since 2002, including 3 last year, I would not be surprised to see this evergreen veteran add to his impressive career tally in 2011.
Hamilton has also bought Aggie's Lad as a replacement for the retired My Final Bid. Formerly trained by Tony Martin, the gelding landed an Irish Point on his debut in April 2006 before scoring twice over hurdles in 2007. His latest successes came over fences at Fairyhouse and Killarney in April and May 2009.
Lord Who under Luke Morgan
Former jumps jockey, Tim Reed has an interesting recruit to hunt racing with the former Nicky Henderson and Nicky Richards-trained gelding, Viking Rebel. A winner over hurdles at Ayr and Newcastle, this lightly raced sort shaped well when 6th (beaten around 12 lengths) in the Men's Open at Chaddesley Corbett on January 3 when ridden by Luke Morgan. He could run next in the opening hunter chase of the season in the North at Wetherby on February 5.
