Albrighton Woodland
Chaddesley Corbett
Monday 31st May 2010
by Peter Mansell
FIRST RACE: 2:00pm
SAT NAV: DY10 4QT
Monday’s Albrighton Woodland meeting at Chaddesley Corbett ends another very successful season for the Worcestershire course.
Five fixtures in a season requires excellent course management and the lack of rain in recent weeks is another problem that has had to be overcome, but it has met every challenge it has faced so far this season.
This meeting seems the culmination of both the West Midland Area Awards and a new innovation for the 2010 season, the Callow Chaddesley Championship.
The latter is sponsored by Stourport on Severn based Callow Oils, with the winners decided on points accrued at all 5 meetings held at Chaddesley Corbett this year.
Jim Callow and his daughter Helen Needham have been the driving force behind this new initiative and they could be rewarded for their endeavours if Murphys Fusilier comes up trumps in the Members.
He fell in last years race but has struck up a good understanding with young Nick Slatter and the Kidderminster trained gelding should be able to get the better of Ben Ryan from Stephen Rea’s Stourbridge yard and Pillbox from Diana Williams stable at Enville.
The Callow/Needham combination stand a good chance of taking the Ladies Open with Snowtre. He scorched round the track last year in a course record time so obviously appreciates firmer conditions and holds Hi Tech Man and The General Lee on that running.
The competition is likely to be much stronger this time around with the field likely to include Fruitfull Citizen, Honest Endeavour, Mr Cee (who has taken on a new lease of life in Ladies Races), Petit Lord, Rocklanslad, Scotmail Too, Skyhawk and Winning Counsel.
Jake Greenall is making a bold bid for the Riders Championship and a win for him would provide a unique treble for the family as his brothers Oliver and Tom have won this award in the past.
He has the choice of mounts in the Mens Open, including My Old Piano, Nippy des Mottes, Ofarel D’Airey, Pristine Condition, but they could struggle if Reach for the Top lines up.
Local hopes rest with Up There from Nicky Sheppard’s yard near Malvern, while Itsalf is an interesting candidate. He loves these conditions but it would be asking a lot for him to score on his seasonal debut and in such strong company.
Raleagh Choice won over course and distance in early May and the Upton on Severn trained gelding looks the one to be on in the West Midland Area Conditions race although he will be without the assistance of Mark Wilesmith who is still sidelined with a broken collarbone.
Abberley trainer Zoe Hammond is having a great season. On paper it looks as though Witness This might struggle in the Restricted, but the Chaddesley course should be in his favour and with the race lacking strength in depth this could provide a winning opportunity for this yard.
27 horses have been entered for the Maiden the final event of the West Midland season.
Most of the horses in this contest are perennial maidens who will continue to struggle in future, so this seems to provide a perfect opportunity for Gemini Ahhs to open his account.
The 6-year-old has run 5 times in bumpers and over hurdles. He has been placed second three times and third twice although it is rather unusual that his season is starting just as the 2010 campaigns ends.
He has the added assistance of Fergal O’Briens training regime and just needs to show some of the ability he has shown previously to prevail in this contest.
