Quorn
Garthorpe
Sunday 27th April 2008
by Graham Taylor

A good sized entry of 119 horses have been received for this coming weekends local Point to Point race meeting taking place at Garthorpe, near Melton Mowbray on Sunday. Ground conditions look ideal at present and some exciting racing looks to be on the cards at this popular venue. Admission prices are as previous Garthorpe meetings. £20 per car of 4. £10 single car occupant. Children under 16 free.

Two Pony Races will take place at 12.30pm prior to Point To Point. Two charity races run over 1 ½ miles also take place after the final race.

First race, scheduled for a 1.30pm start is the Quorn Members Race and this is kindly sponsored by Harold & Valerie Morton, supporters of the Quorn Hunt. The race has an entry of six. On recent form Scattered Scarlet, a neck second here at Garthorpe, is just preferred to Return Fire, who ran third in a similar event last month.

Eleven have been entered for race two, The Mens Open Race to be run over 3 ½ miles and the sponsors here are Mr & Mrs Philip Hewitt and Mr & Mrs Jim Bealby. Longville Lad won at Kimble and Teeton Bollinger has won at both Market Rasen and Tweseldown this season, however the Bailey stable has Denvale entered and he has won on this course this season and is the selection. The winning horse here will be eligible to run in the £10,000 3m½f Volkswagen Touareg Championship H/C Final at Towcester in May.

Robert Whowell, Chartered Accountants of Quorn, have kindly sponsored race three, The Ladies Open Race, and this has attracted an entry of 25. This looks wide open. Jill Dawson has Vingis Park, who ran second on his first run, and Virgin Soldier, a winner already at Market Rasen entered. Bedtime Boys from the Holly Campbell stable won recently at High Easter. However Minouchka won a Hunter Chase at Leicester and was placed in a similar event and may take the prize.

A total of 28 are entered for The Maiden Race and this is run over 2 ½ miles. Six Hills Golf Course & Fairways Restaurant are the sponsors here. Bentoto, from the Mike Dawson yard is yet to race but is highly thought of. Inchadoney Boy, an Irish bred pointer has been placed at both Brafield and Marks Tey this season and Fenny Lane is another with a chance on his recent second at Garthorpe.

Fifth race is the Restricted Race and this has attracted an entry of 24. Savills of Nottingham have kindly sponsored. Selecting a winner here looks tricky. Ski Dazzle won a Maiden at Thorpe Lodge. Jubilee George and Burn Brook won Maidens at Brafield and Brocklesby Park respectively. However Sheila Crowe has Gunner Be Quick entered and he may have top rider Richard Burton on board.

William Hercock, Builders Merchants of Melton Mowbray sponsor the Open Maiden Race and 25 horses are entered. This race may rest between three form horses. Call Me A Lady needed his first outing this year but ran two close seconds last season and has Sarah Phizacklea on board. Iphar ran well at Godstone and has the useful David Maxwell riding. Nevertheless Hugo Hackenbush has a chance to go one better after his promising run at Garthorpe last month.

The Garthorpe Racecourse is situated 6 miles east of Melton Mowbray on the B676, 7 miles west of the A1.