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The Northern Area Point-to-Point season continues on Sunday 30th January with the Percy fixture at the Ratcheugh Farm course near Alnwick, where a six race card with 65 entries starts at 1.00pm.All fences and bends have been moved to fresh ground on the inside line which has not been raced on for almost two years.
There is plenty of quality throughout the card including the opening 'Form Properties' Conditions Race in which more than half of the 16 entries are rated above 100. It may feature a re-match between Kalabaloo and Minella Fair, who finished 1st and 2nd in the recent West Percy equivalent.
On her return from injury, Kalabaloo stayed on well to beat Minella Fair by two lengths that day and Shona Westrope's mare is unbeaten in four visits to Alnwick.
Minella Fair renews rivalry on 3lb better terms and must go close again.
Dual course winner, Vinnie Lewis (also entered in the Men's Open) has shown his best form on soft or heavy ground, while the ultra-consistent Getting Closer scored first time out in this grade at Charing on December 5 before finishing three lengths 2nd to the useful Kaproyale at Horseheath on December 31.
Ryans Fancy (Right) won a shade cosily in a 2m4f Conditions Race at Hexham on November 28 but was well behind when pulled up three out at Horseheath a month later. Ferocious ran well here earlier in the month when nine lengths 3rd to Kalabaloo on his first outing for Kate Leckenby's yard and is open to further improvement.
The talented Latenightpass (Gina Andrews) heads the 11 entries for 'The Perfect Shot' Ladies Open Race. He was competing at the highest level last season,
finishing 13 lengths 4th to Porlock Bay in the Cheltenham Foxhunters' Chase and two and a half lengths 2nd to Cousin Pascal in the Aintree equivalent.
Gina's mount made a winning reappearance at Alnwick in December and is the one they all have to beat again.
On paper, his main rival is course winner, Red Indian from the in-form Kelly Morgan yard. He finished six lengths 3rd to Dubai Quest
at Chaddesley Corbett on his sole start this term and worth noting that all five career victories have come on soft or heavy ground.
Back Bar and Hawkhurst represent Alan Hill's Aston Rowant yard. The former beat Cousin Pascal by ten lengths at Charing on December 5 but was well behind
when pulled up three out at Ampton next time and is on a recovery mission, while the veteran Hawkhurst (Left) has been a prolific winner between the flags since joining
Hill's yard in October 2017 and boasts a near 50% strike rate.
There are 10 entries for the 'Sintons Law' Men's Open Race. Monbeg Chit Chat was in great form from mid-April 2021 with Pointing wins at Sheriff Hutton and Hexham as well as landing a Cheltenham Hunters' Chase before finishing seven lengths 3rd to the useful Law Of Gold at Stratford. He beat Game As A Pheasant by a short head on his seasonal debut at Sheriff Hutton and can follow-up here.
Matts Commission (Right) has won 8 of his 13 Pointing starts since joining Jack Teal's yard ahead of the 2017/18 season and shaped well when ten lengths 2nd to Overworkdunderpaid on his first outing for 246 days at Alnwick on January 9.
The veteran Calivigny, who will be making his 50th career start on Sunday, has recorded 6 of his 8 wins under Rules on soft or heavy ground, while former 137-rated hurdler, Cuneo finished a close 4th in the 2019 Pertemps Final at Cheltenham.
The former Gordon Elliott-trained gelding, Coolagh Park heads the 7 entries for the 'Ryecroft Glenton' Restricted Race. On his first start for Alan Hill's yard he made all the running when beating Arctic Oscar by a distance in a good time at Horseheath on December 31 but this will be a stiffer test.
The improving Latenightfumble (Gina Andrews) will not be far away. She was not beaten far when placed in Point-to-Point Bumpers at Aintree and Stratford in May 2021 and finished nine lengths 2nd to the useful Fier Jaguen in a 2m4f Chaddesley Corbett Restricted contest on her reappearance. The form of that race was franked when the winner made all in a Higham Intermediate next time out and Gina's mount will also be suited by the step up in trip.After a string of near misses,
Sine Nomine (Left) deservedly opened her account here earlier in the month and is still on the upgrade, while stable companion, Teescomponents Boy might need the run.
The locally trained No Filter ( Left,Nick Orpwood) caught the eye when staying on well to finish six lengths 3rd to Sine Nomine
last time and must go close in the MKM Building Supplies (Alnwick) Maiden Race which has 12 entries.
Arctic Oscar didn't make the frame in 7 Irish starts between November 2020 and July 2021 before changing hands.
Now with Tom Ellis, he chased home the aforementioned Coolagh Park at Horseheath on his yard debut and is sure to come on a lot for the run.
Ballydonagh Boy ran well for a long way at the first two Alnwick meetings, ex-hurdler Courting Flow should appreciate the drop in class,
while Gentleman Sam was still in touch when hampered and unseating five out at Sheriff Hutton.
The meeting concludes with a Flat Race over two miles sponsored by 'The Joiners Arms' in which 8 of the 9 entries are making their debut.
Bray Dale represents a yard that knows how to get one primed to win first time out. River Delta is a half sister to jumps winners, River Icon and Keep The River.
Her dam, River Alder won 4 hurdles and a Friars Haugh Mares Maiden.
Star Of Fruition receives a minimum of 11lb from the others. Her dam, Fruit Farm won 6 of her 20 Pointing starts for Sheila Crow.
Tokyo Calling is a full brother to 135-rated chaser, Mossy Fen and the Susan Grant-trained Cloudings gelding, Top Cloud should also go well. The latter's dam,
Too Generous was only beaten once in her first five career starts for David Pipe.
Admission is £10 per person, with under 16's free.
The post code for SatNav users is NE66 3AE
