Melton Hunt Club Point-to-Point races
Sunday 18th May 2014
[by Emma Forman]

The Midlands Area season reached a dramatic conclusion on Sunday at the Melton Hunts Club meeting at Garthorpe. At the start of the day Tom Strawson was leading Dale Peters in the D & M Barthorpe leading Gentleman Rider Championship by one point. Dale Peters took the mount on the fancied Miller’s Glen in the Restricted race run in memory of Migs Greenall and sponsored by the Greenall family. However, the favourite could only finish fourth while Tom Strawson rode the 6-1 shot, Quorn two and a half mile Maiden winner, Shinrock Pearl. Strawson had the mare settled off the strong pace before making up ground in the back straight; he then produced her with a winning run close home and she beat Gift Of Dreams and Claire Hart by a length. “We had her ready to run at Easingwold last Sunday but the ground was too soft. It’s been a matter of keeping her well without her going over the top.” Explained the winning trainer Marti Mulhall.

Tom Strawson then experienced the ups and downs of racing at close quarters when a fall in the following Jupiter Asset Management Lance & Urky Newton Men’s Open race led to him being air lifted to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham. This race was won by Dale Peters and Realt Ag Leimt who deserved to win having had two game second places this season and whose front running tactics paid off. The winning trainer Michael Peters was not present as he had stayed at home making hay. Bedrock Fred was second with Roi De Garde in third. Say No unfortunately pulled up but the Henderson family already have the Leading Midlands Area Horse and Family Concern Awards in the bag. Tom Strawson who is sponsored by AGHAUL Ltd Haulage Contractors finished the day as he started; one point ahead of Dale Peters and he is now the Midlands Area Leading Gentleman Rider and Novice Rider. “I celebrated with a bang and was flying high! (Literally)” he joked later having been discharge from hospital with thankfully just bruising.

The Lady rider’s Championship title race did change during the afternoon; Kelly Morgan was one point ahead of Lutie Akinci when racing started but was unable to maintain this lead as Valance was unplaced. Akinci however, gained two more points when she steered leading mare Tinker’s Burrow into second place in a match for the Sandicliffe Group Ladies Open race. This race, won by Bitter Blue and Jacqui Coward for whom this was a 21st success of the campaign, was delayed because of the air ambulance getting to the wrong racecourse and taking some time to arrive.

Lutie Akinci who has enjoyed by far her best season, works for the Bailey yard who sent out the first winner of the afternoon Empire Builder who gave rider George Greenock his third winner of the season. Bought by Countess Cathcart at Doncaster sales as a three year old store, the now eight year old did not seem tired as he kicked his unfortunate trainer Gerald Bailey in the winner’s enclosure. New tactics were employed as Greenock had Empire Builder in a prominent position and he beat King’s Legacy by five lengths with James Wyatt a distance away in third.

The third Yorkshire trained winner of the afternoon following Bitter Blue and Shinrock Pearl came in the Odey Investment Management Open Maiden race when Barton Jubilee scored by half a length. Chris Pimlott said that the “good” ground was key to the six year old’s success. Bought by John O’ Kane and Sally Cammidge on the recommendation of Dougie Costello, Barton Jubilee was purchased at Ascot in February for £3500 after Sally sadly lost a horse on the gallops. The second horse Kayjaydee gave 16 year old Tom Broughton his best ride yet; it seems likely that a win cannot be too far away for them. The same comments apply to Pommier d’Estruval who looked like winning before unseating rider Danni Martt two fences from home. There was a great family success in the Melton Mowbray Tyres Midlands Area Club Member’s race for She’s Real and second year Veterinary Student Tom Chatfeild- Roberts. The six year old mare was always prominent beating Oh Toodles and Immy Robinson by six lengths. Owner John Chatfeild- Roberts was overjoyed by the success and She’s Real is trained by his sister –in- law Helen Connors. A Restricted winner this season the mare is certainly progressing the right way.

The North Lodge Racing Four, Five, and Six Year olds Open Maiden race went the way of Master Tim, the only ride of the day for Tom David and a short priced favourite. Trained by Zara Philips for owners Don Constable, Tim Thomas and Paul Davies the six year old was a decisive winner beating Empyrean by a distance with Tara Dove in third.

The Garthorpe races 2014 season concludes with the Meynell and South Staffordshire Point-to-Point on Sunday 1st June. The Midlands Area Awards will be presented at the Midlands Area Dinner Dance on Saturday 27th September at the Shearsby Bath Hotel, Shearsby. Tickets are £50 and available from Mrs Tik Saunders Tel: 07970 667852 or tik.saunders@hotmail.co.uk