Pendle Forest & Craven
Heslaker
Sunday 4th May 2008
by John Milburn

The Pendle Forest & Craven point-to-point at Heslaker on Sunday is the first of two meetings over the bank holiday weekend and with the forcast of rain during the preceding week stamina will be neded in abundance at the testing Heslaker track. Many horses are doubly entered with the Pendle getting an entry of 111 for the 7 races.

Starting at 2.00pm with the members race the two top rated are last years fortunate winner Anaczar who has been running consistantly this year and General Grey who is owned by clerk of the course Tom Bannister and ran such a big race in the Grimthorpe and can win at prohibitive odds.

The PPORA club members race is for novice riders and has the largest entry of 23. Toby Greenall and Dark Thunder will love the testing track and can win from Cellioso with Iron Express being a big danger if returning to form.

Last years winner Duchess Account is one of 15 entered in the ladies open but may be off to stud and is not a certain runner; Narciso will be more at home at Witton Castle, so the race looks to be between the 2 northern challengers Mytimie and Kirsty Fitzgerald's Tynedale.

The intermediate has only 12 entered and the 3 which stand out are Buy Onling, Lord Gee and the Mary Sowersby trained The Artful Fox who is an out and out stayer and can record his 3rd win of the season for Guy Brewer.

Oliver Greenall has the choice of 4 in the mens open and may opt for Von Origny; Ask Bobby disappointed in a hunter chase last time and will need good ground, so the 2 which catch the eye are Young Claude and Flashy Boy.

The restricted looks competitive in which George The Grey who won in style at Thorpe in January and has not been seen since breaking a blood vessel at Charm Park can win to give Tom Bannister a double, whilst the open maiden can go to the Oliver Greenall ridden Crow Spinney who looked a certain future winner when chasing home Chummys Double on his debut at Mordon.

Selections
Members - General Grey
PPORA - Dark Thunder
Ladies Open - Tynedale
Mens Open - Flashy Boy
Restricted - George The Grey
Maiden - Crow Spinney