Gold Cup takes centre stage

Point-to-point Table tennis

The new point-to-point season gets under way at Charing on Sunday with the Kent Gold Cup the feature race on the card.

It will again be sponsored by Shepherd Neame and run over three and half miles and replaces the Grand National – a familiar fixture on the calendar – first run at Detling in April 1983.

Fears about the future of the National were allayed when it was switched to Charing in 2012.

Explaining the change, meeting secretary Sally Bowman said: “We felt it was hard to expect horses to run four miles when some of them haven’t had a run yet this season.”

The meeting is one of 10 in the South East, including Godstone (March 5 and April 19), Penshurst (March 26 and April 22), Ashford Valley Hunt at Charing (Easter Saturday, April 15), EastKent/ West Kent at Aldington on Easter Monday, April 17.

Eighty eight entries have been declared across the six-race opening day South East Hunts card, with Kent trainers Nick Pearce and David Phelan well represented. Former National winner Glint Of Steel, trained and ridden by Philip Hall, could make his return, having not raced since last April, while Pearce’s Don’t Do Mondays and Murrayana could also be other contenders for the Gold Cup.

Conkies Lad, winner of the Ladies’ Open at the same meeting last season could also feature, partnered by Charlie Marshall

Sussex handler Rose Grissell also has three entries, with Crack Of Thunder, Wor Rom and Time Is Tickin.

Phelan became the first South East trainer to send out a winner this season, with West Lake scoring in the seven-yearold maiden at Horseheath in Cambridgeshire earlier this month.

The partnership will be looking to follow-up in the Restricted on Sunday, when set to be ridden by Shane Roche, the area’s leading novice jockey last year.

Twenty two entries have been made for the Members Condition race, including Mr Raj and Total Compliance who have already won this season.

The meeting starts at noon, with the Gold Cup due off at 1.10pm.

Admission prices are £15 (including free racecard), £40 for a full car, children free.

PW F A Ps Postling A ........... 3 3 22 5 22 Challock A .......... 4 2 18 18 18 Iron Room A ........ 3 2 14 13 14 Little Chart A....... 3 1 14 13 14 Iron Room B........ 3 1 11 16 11 Challock B .......... 2 1 10 8 10 Little Chart B....... 2 2 10 8 10 Ruckinge A ......... 4 0 9 27 9 Ruckinge B ......... 3 Ashford TT A ....... 3 Little Chart C....... 4 Hamstreet A........ 3 Postling B ........... 3 Ruckinge C ......... 3 Ashford TT B ....... 3 Cheriton Motor .... 4 2 20 7 20 3 20 7 20 3 20 16 20 2 14 13 14 1 13 14 13 2 13 14 13 0 9 18 9 0 8 28 8

Picture: Matt Bristow FM4219119 Hunters Lodge, ridden by Gareth Henderson (purple), on the way to victory in last year’s Kent Grand National at Charing. Lord Multifix, with Charlie Marshall (yellow cap) aboard, was second