Point to Point
Meeting is a Christmas cracker

Buy photos » Alex Dunn on Picaroon leads eventual winners Billyvoddan and Jane Williams at the halfway stage of the Ladies Open. (s)

ALTHOUGH the new Point to Point season is just a few weeks old it is unlikely there will be a better meeting over the next six months than Tuesday’s Harkaway Club fixture at Chaddesley Corbett.

The Mens and Ladies Open were top class contests and resulted in victories for two horses that will prove difficult to beat for the remainder of the season.

After her success on Billyvoddan in the inaugural running of the AGA Ladies Point-to-Point Final, Enville jockey Jane Williams has become the face for this year’s AGA Lady Riders Championship.

This combination booked their place in this years final after seeing off a host of fancied horses when recording a facile win in AGA sponsored Ladies Open.

Picaroon was sent off a short priced favourite but fought his way to the front after a couple of fences and was soon joined by Mayor of Kilcock.

They were overtaken by Unowatimeen and Nevada Royal who led down the back straight and still held an eight-length advantage on the climb to the third from home.

The complexion of the race changed as the runners started to freewheel into the home straight where Billyvoddan shot past his rivals to establish a winning advantage.

The Mens Open was a race to savour with last year’s John Corbett winner My Flora installed as an odds-on favourite. After her demolition of this top class field, few would disagree that she looked a future Cheltenham Foxhunters winner.

My Flora jumped her way into the lead at the 14th and the race was over as a contest from this point. The mare held a clear advantage approaching the penultimate obstacle, with Rosies Peacock running on well to deprive Over the Phone of the runners-up spot.

Having had to settle for third spot with Over the Phone in the Mens Open, Clive and Joan Hitchings and trainer Andy Hobbs went two better in the Intermediate.

Anynearexit led for most of the contest and was still in front when departing at the 15th but as they turned for home the race had become a battle between Commander Kev, Dusshera and Ice Cool Benny.

There was nothing between these three at the second from home but Tom Weston timed his run to perfection as Ice Cool Benny stormed into the lead approaching the final obstacle and was two and a half lengths clear of his rivals as they passed the judge.

Upton trainer Claudia Wilesmith had several runners at Chaddesley Corbett and her weekend pleas for information regarding conditions at Ideford Arch obviously meet with a positive response as she sent Never So Blue on the long journey down to Devon.

That proved a wise decision as Ryan Hatch guided Never So Blue to a six-length victory while another West Midland qualified horse Kilbeggan Blade took third place.