Wyre Forest Sport
Cloudy Lane and My Flora go head-to-head
8:00am Friday 17th February 2012
CHADDESLEY Corbett is braced for a strong turnout in the Albrighton point-to-point on Sunday, with 279 entries set to be in action (11am start).
There is a bumper crop of riders, with 33 entries in the Men’s Open, 41 in the Restricted and 43 for the Novice Riders.
The Men’s Open could provide major clues to the destiny of the Cheltenham Foxhunters Trophy with leading fancies Cloudy Lane and My Flora both holding entries.
Lady Myfanwy heads the entries for the Ladies Open, while Network Oscar is also expected to be a strong contender.
Qozak, Sagalyrique and Petit Lord are potential mounts for Himbleton-based Angela Rucker, while it will be interesting to see how Skyhawk performs now that he has changed stables.
Rocklandslad’s chances have to be respected after his win at Higham recently while Overlut’s front running tactics will expose any flaws in his rivals’ make-up.
The Connollys Red Mills Intermediate is the last race on the card but it will be worth the long wait if Ghemini Ahhs, Glidewell, Jacks the Lad, Kalulushi, Pickersleigh, Rumbavu and Walcot Lathyrus head the declarations.
Meanwhile, Jelly O’Brien is trying to emulate her husband Fergal by winning the Trainers’ Championship and she currently figures prominently in the rankings although the season is still in its infancy.
Don’t Tell Nina has been running unsuccessfully under Rules so connections are trying the point-to-point route in the hope of seeing some improvements.
The mare holds an entry in Division Two of the Maiden and would not have to be anything out of the ordinary to get her head in front.
Restricted races are always difficult to assess as judgements are required based on a horses performance in Maiden races but several entries look as though they are ready to make the grade.
Coddington Lass is one that catches the eye in for, while For Sahkey Moony should have benefited from his run at Dunthrop and is another one for the short list.
Mike Hammond and Don Constable like nothing better than to have a winner at Chaddesley but whether Owenacurra is up to providing them with that success is open to debate after a disappointing season.
Phillip Rowley’s Crazy Eyes will be a strong contender in the Novice Riders Race, while Jonathan Rogers belied the novice status when he steered this horse to victory in a similar race at Thorpe despite having no stirrups over the final three fences.