East Cornwall
Great Trethew
Sunday 24th February 2008
by Granville Taylor

THERE are 159 entries for the East Cornwall meeting which takes place at Great Trethew this Sunday. (24TH Feb)

The Hunt race opens proceedings at 11.30 am where course winner Kingsmill Lake would have an outstanding chance.

The two and a half miles Open Maiden for four to seven year olds has been split into four divisions. Lord Shark is the likely favourite in the first section on the strength of his pleasing debut at Black Forest Lodge.

A number of previously unraced horses figure in the second division where Arthur Parker could represent the successful Marie McGuinness yard.

No Signal and Duetto both ran respectably at Buckfastleigh last Sunday and would come into the reckoning in the third section, but the in form Alan Walter yard has a nice prospect in She’s Alright who can improve on her Tweseldown outing early last month.

The five-year-old mare Cool Friend made a favourable impression on her recent debut at Wadebridge and can open her account in division four.

There are 20 entries for the three miles Confined Maiden which is limited to eight-year-olds and over. Hannah Bay has several placings to her name and deserves to get her head in front. She may have most to fear from the previously unraced Black Castle.

It would be nice to see Sea Snipe return to her best form in the Mixed Open, but she has disappointed on her two outings this season. Jalons Star has the benefit of a good recent run at Ideford Arch and is very consistent nowadays. Richard Barber can choose between course winner Spuddler’s Dream and Brown Cockle, but the form horse is the classy ex-chaser Lord of Illusion who beat the useful Reflected Glory in a fast time at Weston Park last month.

The Restricted looks wide open with a host of Maiden winners bidding to step up. Polly Gundry is in great form at present and can ride Tot of the Knar who won impressively at Black Forest Lodge. Yufo beat two subsequent winners at Wadebridge and ran well in an Intermediate last time. Tandori, Tom Cannon and Wee Fly will have their supporters, and Ideford Arch winners Sir Grenville and My Big Sister also enter calculations.

The 21 entries for the Confined include Karinga Coin, Unusual Suspect and King Georges, but the improving Ballybrown has plenty of scope and may be good enough here.

The course is located 1 mile south of the A38, 3 miles south east of Liskeard.