Website & all contents copyright Alnwick Races 2012 ©
Preview 2024
West Percy preview By Peter Burgon
The Northern Area Point-to-Point season resumes after a three week break with the West Percy fixture at the Ratcheugh Farm course near Alnwick on Sunday 5th January.
It has attracted 75 entries, the most for this meeting since 2020, on a six race card which starts at 12.30pm.
The opening 2m4f Maiden contest (16 entries) may chiefly concern unraced five-year-olds Edith Pelham (Jack Andrews) and Matterofexpression (Jack Teal) who were both bought at the Goffs UK Doncaster Store Sale in May 2023. Related to several high profile jumps winners including The Tsarevich, Gungadu and Sam Spinner, Edith Pelham represents the in-form Warwickshire yard of Gina Andrews which has sent out 7 winners from 11 runners in the past week. Malton-based Teal has a good strike rate in recent seasons with first time out Maiden runners and his Soldier Of Fortune gelding is related to jumps winners Emily Gray, Rose Ravine and Ringaroses.
Of the others, Dear Dot, First Time Caller and Theoldboggroad are also entered in the 3m Maiden. First Time Caller kept on well in the closing stages when three lengths 3rd to Batsman Jack in a 2m4f Alnwick Maiden last month, with Dear Dot a further seven lengths away in 4th. Theoldboggroad (right) led until four out in the 3m Ratcheugh Racing Club Restricted and may be suited by the drop in trip, with the same sentiment applying to The Village Way who has found only one too good on both outings this season. Kaviar Wood showed plenty of promise at Thorpe Lodge and Garthorpe last term, while Cali Dreamer has changed hands since finishing six-and-a-half lengths 3rd in a soft ground 3m Stowlin Mares' Maiden last May.
The 16 entries for the 3m Maiden Race are headed by Robin Tate's ex-Irish recruit Great Notions (left, maroon) who ran a blinder on his first start for the yard when two lengths 2nd to the aforementioned Batsman Jack three weeks ago and the step up in trip should be right up his street. Jimmy Walton's home-bred mare High On The Hill shaped well on her reappearance when runner-up to the useful Carlenrig on heavy ground at Hexham and should have more to offer, Notnowbob stayed on from two out when fifteen lengths 5th to Slaney Opera over course and distance last month and has each-way claims, Walk Easy was placed in 7 of 10 Pointing starts in Ireland last season (beaten under 5 lengths on four occasions) in the space of eighteen weeks before joining Rhiannon Lodge's Shropshire yard, while Where's Willy should come on a lot for his first run over fences in the Ratcheugh Racing Club Restricted.
Former Nicky Henderson-trained 150-rated chaser Dusart is the class act in the Men's Open Race (8 entries). He was up with the pace and still travelling well when a mistake at the final open ditch (11th) unseated Tom Chatfeild-Roberts. His main rival is Jetaway Joey (Jack Andrews) who goes well fresh and was narrowly beaten by Diable De Sivola in the 2023 renewal with Sine Nomine eight lengths back in third. Bardenstown Lad (left, also entered in the Ladies Open) had a hard race when three-quarters-of-a-length 2nd to Master Templar at Chaddesley Corbett last Sunday and this race might come too soon. Proven stayer West Lawn has been placed on both starts this season in Conditions Races, while the versatile Galileo Silver also has the option of waiting half-an-hour for the Conditions Race.
A competitive-looking 3m Conditions Race has 14 entries. Now with Rhiannon Lodge, 130-rated hurdler Galileo Silver's six wins under Rules comprise 2 hurdles, 1 bumper, 2 chases and 1 all-weather success at Kempton. The ultra-consistent Courting Flow boasts form figures of 211 at Alnwick, with one of those wins coming in last season's Percy Restricted. The drop in grade should boost the chances of Bintheredonethat, Not The Chablis (right) should come on a lot for his pipe-opener at Alnwick three weeks ago, while Humps And Bumps should prove to be an ideal schoolmaster for Ruby Wyld.
Fresh from riding her 500th career winner under all codes at Horseheath on Tuesday (404 Pointing + 96 Rules), Gina Andrews can add to that record-breaking tally on Loughan in the 2m4f Ladies Open Race. This Yeats gelding has been a model of consistency between the flags with 9 wins and 6 placings from 18 starts since November 2021. Having led from the off, Jesika Rennie was enjoying a great first ride on dual Alnwick scorer Diable De Sivola in the Ratcheugh Racing Club Mixed Open until her mount was carried out by a loose horse four out when still four lengths up. Granted a trouble-free round, the partnership should be in the mix over this shorter trip.
Others to note include Kingrullah (left), Killer Clown and Music Drive. Kingrullah ended a lean spell when beating Killer Clown by two lengths in the 2m4f Ratcheugh Racing Club Conditions, while the dark horse is former Gordon Elliott-trained 127-rated hurdler Music Drive who has been off the course since December 2022. Now with Kelly Morgan, he posted a career-best effort when nine lengths 2nd to Hermes Allen in the 2m5f Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) at Cheltenham in November 2022.
Slaney Opera (left) got off the mark on his first start for Joe Wright in the 3m Ratcheugh Racing Club Maiden and bids to strike again in the concluding 3m Restricted Race. Sent clear approaching two out that day, he scored with plenty in hand by eight lengths and is still on an upward curve. Of the other 7 entries, proven stayer Shantou's Temple shaped well on his seasonal debut when 4th to Wild Polly in the Border Conditions, Foxylee made all when beating two subsequent winners in a 2m4f Alnwick Maiden in December 2023, while Sponthus beat Slaney Opera by seven lengths in a Bedale Maiden last season which proved to be a true stamina test.
Admission is £15 per person, with under 16's free. (Cash only on the gate)
The Ratcheugh Farm course is about 3 miles NE of Alnwick and is signposted from the A1. The post code is NE66 3AD.