Radnor and West Hereford
Cold Harbour
Sunday 2nd May 2010
by Stella Havard
The Radnor and West Hereford Hunt point-to-point races at Cold Harbour this Sunday (2nd) promises to be an excellent day out in every sense.
The feature race of the card is the four-mile Men’s Open for the Crudwell Cup, which is the 14th and final leg in the Racing Post Weekender/Brightwells Insurance Order of Excellence.
Weekender and Brightwells Insurance are putting an additional £720 into the pot and awarding points to the first three horses. The Crudwell Cup is one of six double-points contests in the Order of Excellence series, so the winner will gain 14 points worth £30 each (£420), the runner-up gains 7pts (£210) and the third 3pts (£90).
The winner will therefore collect £700 in prize-money, plus £420 in Order of Excellence money, the runner-up £200 plus £210 and the third £100 plus £90.
The increase in value of prize money has been instrumental in attracting a high-class field of 24. Four horses who have gained points this season are entered; they are Another Rum (the Northern leg winner has 7pts), who is trained in Berwickshire by Stephen Leadbetter, Chilling Place (the West Midlands leg winner of the Lady Dudley Cup has 14pts), Lord Attica (winner of the South Midlands’ Lord Ashton of Hyde Cup and with 14pts) and Sudden Arrival (who was third in the Ashton of Hyde and has 7pts).
Any of the four could become overall Weekender/Brightwells Insurance Order of Excellence champion if placed on Sunday and will be crowned at the Point-to-Point Owners’ & Riders’ Association lunch at Stratford on May 28, when their owner will receive a bronze trophy.
The prevailing fine weather is a double-edged sword, and the course will continue to be well-watered. Ludlow Racecourse have generously loaned their Verti-Drainer, which Alan Rogers now has in situ at the Monkland course, ready for use this week.
There will be a minimum of seven races on offer for what promises to be a glorious afternoon of sport at Cold Harbour, with the flag dropping for the Hunt Race at 2 pm. But this will be preceded by two hugely popular pony races, which are scheduled to be off at 12.45pm and 1.10 pm respectively.
A parade of hounds will follow the second race, the Confined, which will be the last chance for horses to qualify for the Brightwells Championship at Bredwardine on May 15th.
The proceeding will be followed by The Hunt Challenge, one circuit of the course for non-Thoroughbreds, for which it is still possible to enter.
Hard working secretary, Christine Rogers is delighted with the healthy entry of 177 horses, and is hoping for an enthusiastic crowd to appreciate the competitive racing.
Cold Harbour (HR6 0JP) can be found at Monkland, close to the junction of the A44 and A4110, three miles west of Leominster.
Entrance will be £10 per person, with children under 16 and car parking free.
