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Preview 2024
Ratcheugh Racing Club preview By Peter Burgon
The Northern Area Point-to-Point season continues on Sunday 15th December
with the Ratcheugh Racing Club fixture at the Ratcheugh Farm course near Alnwick.
It has attracted a total of 83 entries, comprising 77 individual horses which is the most at this meeting since December 2019,
on a six race card starting at 12.00pm.
Warwickshire raider George Darling could be the one to beat in the opening 2m4f Four and Five Years Old Maiden Race. He showed promise on debut when 5th to Tormund Giantsbane at Kimble last season and that form was franked when the winner landed a Worcester Bumper in October on his first start under Rules for Dan Skelton, while Vol Royale (4th at Kimble) scored next time out at Dunsmore in November. Of the other 14 entries, Cinque Terre and Great Notions finished second (beaten 15 lengths and 29 lengths respectively) on their last Pointing starts in Ireland, with the strength of Cinque Terre's form subsequently boosted by the winner Millforce's performances under Rules. Others open to improvement include Batsman Jack, Liveyourbestlife and Where's Willy.
The 11 entries for the 3m Six Years Old And Over Maiden Race are headed by John Dawson's mount The Village Way, bought privately out of Nick Pearce's yard since finishing eight lengths 2nd to subsequent Larkhill Restricted winner Kilfilum Woods at Knightwick on November 9. High On The Hill (left) and Hollywood Harmon also have the benefit of a recent outing in their lockers after chasing home Carlenrig and Jack The Lad in their respective Maiden contests at Hexham, the form of Slaney Opera's run when 4th behind Ira Hayes at Corbridge has worked out well, while debutant Park Royal Boy is unlikely to be making the long journey from Fran Poste's in-form Warwickshire yard just for a change of scenery.
Warwickshire raider Benefaktor should be ideally suited by the shorter trip in the 2m4f Conditions Race and is taken to land a sixth career success between the flags. The pick of the 12 entries is proven stayer West Lawn who just failed to peg back Wild Polly over a longer trip on heavy going at Hexham, while Kingrullah, Not The Chablis (right, blue cap) and former 148-rated chaser Killer Clown also merit consideration.
Proven stayer Red Delta is still on an upward curve and can make a winning reappearance in the 3m Restricted Race (12 entries). He was an easy winner at Duncombe Park (Maiden) and Charm Park (Restricted) last season, with the form of subsequent placed efforts behind Jeux D'Eau (Thorpe Lodge) and Buy Some Time (Witton Castle) working out well. The trio likely to give John Dawson's mount most to do are Bride Rovers Abu, Capparattin and Lou Marvelous (right, orange cap). Kelly Morgan has a good strike rate at Alnwick in recent seasons and is represented by new recruit Bride Rovers Abu who landed a Borris House Maiden in March, Warwickshire raider Capparattin didn't see another rival when scoring at Mollington and Edgcote in May, while impressive 2024 Haydon Restricted winner Lou Marvelous is held in high regard by Thomas Easterby.
The concluding 2m Flat Race has 11 entries, including unraced youngsters by sires Blue Bresil, Court Cave, Cracksman, Libertarian, Malinas, Scorpion and Youmzain. Carlenrig scored on debut for Lesley Coltherd's yard at Hexham and stable companion Return To Florida is sure to be fully tuned up. His dam Here Comes Sally was a four-time winner under Rules in Ireland. Another one to note is the Jack Teal-trained newcomer Appy Chappy who was bought at the Goffs Land Rover Sale in June 2022.
The Ratcheugh Farm course is about 3m NE of Alnwick and is signposted from the A1. The post code is NE66 3AD.
Admission is £15 per person, with under 16's free.
The 3m Mixed Open Race has 21 entries and promises to be a competitive affair. Dusart is a potentially exciting recruit to the Pointing ranks. Now with Kelly Morgan, this 150-rated chaser won 4 of his first 6 starts for Nicky Henderson before undergoing wind surgery in May 2022 and then failed to complete on all three outings in 2023 in the Cotswold Chase, Scottish Grand National and Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase. The ultra-consistent Dundrum Wood (left, green) has won on all four previous visits to Alnwick including first time out in January 2022 and January 2024, dual course winner Diable De Sivola has been off the track for twenty one months, Wild Romance beat Bintheredonethat by a short head over course and distance last December and looked as good as ever when making a winning reappearance at the recent Border fixture, Ballydonagh Boy and 122-rated chaser Jerrysback should be in the mix, while former 142-rated hurdler Bardenstown Lad, who was placed at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, won a Kilbeggan Chase and Hurdle earlier this year.
