Burton
Market Rasen
Sunday 24th February 2008
by Emma Forman

The Burton Point to Point takes place on Sunday 24 th February 2008 at Market Rasen racecourse (entrance off Legsby Road). The first race is scheduled for 12 noon and entrance is £20 per car including all occupants with concessions for single car occupants. 162 entries have been received. This meeting is to be the last point to point held at the racecourse. The Burton point to point moved there is 1992 following 25 years of racing on the Carholme at Lincoln.

In the first race the LUHC members race Chloe Kirkby is expected to have her second point to point ride aboard Lodestar. Chloe’s Dad Laurence rode at the very first point to point held at Market Rasen. Lodestar is one of 6 Brocklesby qualified horses who will be racing for the LUHC Perpetual trophy for the winning horse and also for the Charles Pickering Memorial Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the first Brocklesby horse past the post. Charles Pickering was a hunting farmer and point to point enthusiast who was timekeeper for a long time at the local meetings. Cold Play looks to be the danger to Lodestar here and is ridden and trained by Miles Seston for Mr P. Walker from the South Wold Hunt. Being the only entry from the South Wold, Cold Play will take home the Rawnsley Perpetual Challenge Trophy if he completes the course. Silver Streak and Ardmayle will be competing for the Burton trophy; the J.G. Henson Challenge Cup.

Charles Pickering’s best friend Ron Birkhead is remembered in the Restricted race where the winner will receive the R. S. Birkhead Challenge Trophy. Ron was another hunting farmer who enjoyed the point to points and was starter at the Burton meeting for many years. His son John is now starter at the Burton. Cold Play could choose to run in this race and another local horse to note is Ruckholme for Nick Kent of Newstead Priory Cadney. The Camerengo who is trained by Gerald Bailey and ridden by Andrew Corbett has been knocking on the door in restricted races but the winner could well be one of Oliver Greenall’s entries Chorizo or recent Brocklesby winner North Island.

Jill Dawson has a very good chance of following her win at the Brocklesby on Sir Storm with victory in the Mrs Robert’s of F.P. Watson Ladies race on Virgin Soldier, a former useful performer under rules. Angela Rucker who was beaten into second place by Jill at the Brocklesby has Unmistakably and Honest Endeavour to chose from if she makes the journey form Worcestershire. Yorkshire hopefuls include Freya Hartley’s mount Madison De Vonnas and Lynne Ward’s Wilfie Wild.

In the One World Foods of South Carlton, Lincoln Men’s Open race goers may be treated to another look at impressive Brocklesby winner Amicelli who has since followed up at the Sinnington and is now bound for the Cheltenham Foxhunters. However, Oliver Greenall may choose to ride Glenelly Gale who would also take the beating. Gerald Bailey has Kjetil to run and Cheltenham Hunter Chase winner Mister Friday could well make his seasonal debut. Sea Ferry was a winner of a Market Rasen Hunter Chase in 2006 for Jo and Judy Lundgren. He is the local hope and is now trained at Cadney by Nick Kent and will be ridden by Matt Briggs. The winning horse will be eligible for the £10 000 3 miles ½ furlong Volkswagen Touareg Men’s Point to Point Championship Hunter Chase Final at Towcester on Monday 12 th May 2008.

Glenelly Gale also holds an entry in the John Taylor’s Chartered Surveyors, Auctioneers, Valuers & Estate Agents Confined race along with Duggleby and Beau De Turgeon from the Greenall string. Charles Brader’s Skew Whip looked useful in 2006 when winning a Hunter Chase and may return to action here. Richard Armson has Hi Up Brenkley and the progressive Sovereign’s Quest to choose from. Eskimo Pie could give the in form Miles Seston another winner; he is trained near Grantham by Antonia Bealby.

The afternoon concludes with 3 divisions of the maiden race and Seston should score in division 1 on Ski Dazzle who was a close second at Brocklesby. Another horse that ran well at Brocklesby is the Tinkerater and Guy Brewer who is returning from injury should go well on Saddler’s Harmony. Division 2 could be between Bow School, the mount of Oliver Greenall and Richard Burton on Gold Trigger. Local jockey Kevin Green has Valhuec entered and he may improve from his 4 th place in the Brocklesby member’s race. Division 3 could go back to Yorkshire as Jackie Coward has Buy Onling to ride and Tina Jackson has Castle Gunner trained by her sister Lynne Ward. Gerald Bailey has Poacher’s Blend entered who will be making his debut in point to points. Five, six and seven year olds finishing first, second, third or fourth here are eligible for the £8000 2 miles 4 1/2 furlongs DBS Young Horse Point to Point Championship Novices Hunter Chase at Perth on Thursday 15 th May 2008.

Admission on the course is £20 per car including all occupants. There is also an off course car park where the cost is £15 per car including all occupants. There are concessions for single car occupants.