POINT TO POINT
THE Yorkshire Area circuit heads to Hutton Rudby for today’s Hurworth fixture, which has 59 entries on a six-race card starting at 1pm.
Former 144-rated chaser Mount Mews might be in the twilight of his career but is still a force to be reckoned with at this level.
Successful in six of seven Pointing starts since joining Lucinda Hughes ahead of the 2022/23 season, the evergreen 13-year-old looked as good as ever when dead-heating with Ballydonagh Boy on his reappearance at Sheriff Hutton on January 14, before following up at Duncombe Park three weeks later.
A 10lb penalty is unlikely to prevent John Dawson’s mount from completing a hat-trick against a handful of inferior rivals in the Members Race.
Fire In Her Eyes failed to shine in Ireland but has thrived since switching to Jack Teal’s Malton yard and is fancied to record a third win of the season in the Restricted Race.
After dead-heating with Wottinger in a 2m 6f Sheriff Hutton Maiden contest first time out, the progressive six-year-old stayed on well to beat that rival by five lengths at Duncombe Park and might well have scored again at Charm Park last time had Teal not eased her down prematurely close home after mistaking the winning post.
The Ladies Conditions Race provides a gilt-edged opportunity for Northumbrian raider Supremely Lucky to follow up last month’s comfortable Duncombe Park success in the hands of Natasha Cookson.
Former 130-rated chaser and hurdler Buster Valentine had plenty in hand when beating Senor Lombardy by four lengths at Charm Park a fortnight ago and cannot be opposed off level weights in the Men’s Open Race. This talented individual, who changed hands for a six-figure sum in his younger days after scoring on Pointing debut in Ireland, had been retired to go eventing before making a winning comeback and connections are confident there is more to come.
Courtney Tinkler has a good strike rate with her ex-Irish recruits winning first time out and Soldier Of Rock is fancied to come up trumps in the concluding Maiden Race.
This well related six-year-old was only beaten a head by Willitgoahead at Ballinaboola six weeks ago, and a repeat of that effort should see Joe Wright’s mount go one better.
The wet weather continues to decimate this season’s fixture list and the scheduled Morpeth card at Tranwell on Good Friday (March 29) has already been abandoned.