Saturday 25th May 2024 – Raceday PREVIEW
Just like that the British point-to-point season is almost over and we are preparing for the Midlands Area’s final fixture for this year, the Fitzwilliam meeting at Dingley on Saturday 25th of May, where we have a six race card for which 86 horses have entered. Racing starts at 2pm.
At the time of writing the course has been described by the Clerk of the Course as good to soft with good places and soft patches in certain areas of the course. Please keep an eye on our social media and our website for up-to-date going information in the run-up to the weekend.
Dingley is easily found on the A427 Harborough Road a few miles East of Market Harborough. The postcode is LE16 8PJ and What3Words is overheat.heap.taking.
E-tickets are still available online and will be available up until the morning of the fixture for speedy entry, otherwise tickets on the gate will be £15 cash or card.
We are very lucky to have the support of a number of larger training yards for this fixture in particular local trainer Dale Peters who has entered three horses for the meeting, Alan Hill who may bring as many as eight horses, Tim Vaughan with six, Kelly Morgan with five horses, Francesca Poste with five, Jack Teal with four, Jonathan Barlow (three) and Gina Ellis (three horses).
The Dingley Leading Rider championship is very tight at the moment with Ellie Callwood leading the way on ten points, Dale Peters hot on her heels on nine and Jack Teal and Alex Chadwick tied in third on eight points. All to play for.
There are two open races at this fixture, one for ladies and one for men. The Ladies Open, run over two and a half miles, is supported by The Sharp Family and goes off at 3.45pm with nine entries including the highly rated Famous Clermont, last seen at Wincanton in February where he finished second to Espoir de Guye in a hunter chase. They also have an entry for Bank Holiday Monday so it is possible they won’t make the long journey North. Izzie Marshall has a choice of rides: Golden Tobouggan for Julie Wadland or I K Brunel for Alan Hill, perhaps the more in-form of the two. Likewise Kate Gowing could ride No Hassle Hoff for the Turner family, or perhaps Not That Fuisse for Gina Ellis. Ellie Callwood will ride Precious Bounty for Kelly Morgan, looking for a return to the form which saw them win at Higham in March. Sixteen Letters is a very useful pointer who is sure to feature if they don’t race at Cherrybrook midweek.
The Stacks Property Search Mens Open which precedes this has ten entries, headed by Grace A Vous Enki an eight-year-old first season pointer who has won six out of seven races this season but also has an entry for Monday at Chaddesley Corbett. James King has the ride but also has Captain Mc if necessary. Dingley favourite Daniel Cherriman has Reikers Island, a winner last month, while another popular local Dale Peters rides The Unmentionable. The Turners bring Take To Heart which will be ridden by Rupert Stearn, while Welsh raider Siberian Star will be ridden by Edward Vaughan for Tim Vaughan.
The afternoon’s sport begins with a conditions race which is sponsored by Boilerjuice. The best horse in this field may be Muckamore, the mount of Harry Arkwright, but recent form has been frustrating. Izzie Marshall and Alan Hill have three horses entered. Soldier Unknown has had three runs in points and won them all; Coolagh Park is more experienced and very capable, and seven-year-old Urban Grit, another multiple winner of point-to-points. Tim Vaughan brings Tight Call, a winner last time out in a similar race at The Welsh International at Trecoed. Dale Peters trains and rides Thunderstruck, yet to win this season but a winner at this meeting last year. Gina Ellis brings Killinkere for Cliff Myers, looking to continue good form this season. Kelly Morgan’s yard is represented by Bonamargy (Ben Durrell) and Francesco du Clos (Dan Cherriman).
Following this we have a Restricted race for five-year-olds and above, sponsored by the Close family. This is an interesting potential field of 15 headed by the experience on ten-year-old Mountain Assault, with eight of the rest returning to the flags having won on their last run. There are runners in this from all over the country and you can bet those with the long journeys aren’t coming for fun.
After the two open races we then have a pair of maiden races for horses which are yet to win a race between the flags of a point-to-point course. The first of these has no weight for age allowances and has attracted 16 entries. Several of these horses are either racing on a track for the first time or are joining us from racing under rulse or pointing in Ireland. Top rated is Freestyle Fighter but there are a lot of unknowns here and one of the debutantes from a good trainer might be a good bet.
The final Maiden race is sponsored by Meridian Audio and does include allowances for age and gender. It will be run over the shorter distance of two and a half miles. This race has 16 entries on the card, and again some of these are making their racing debut while others have had previous careers. There isn’t much form to go on here and you’d be wise to wait and see what runs on the day and how they look in the paddock before parting with your hard-earned cash.
Dingley offers great viewing of the whole course from the hill so be sure to try to get there in good time to secure a higher position. Behind the parade ring and the bookies there will be trade stands, caterers, a bar, children’s entertainments and more, so come and enjoy the last day of our season in style!