Horse Racing

Horse Racing: Gold Cup winner heads top-quality card

By Jon Couch
December 08, 2011

THE Point-to-Point season is set to start with a bang at Tweseldown this Sunday with a healthy entry list, including a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, ensuring a top-quality race card.

No fewer than 75 runners and riders have been entered for the eagerly-awaited meet – the first of two at the Church Crookham course over the winter months.

Last season’s runner-up in the National Riders Championship, Philip York, has two rides, both

for Alresford trainer Victoria Collins.

York partners Seymar Lad in the opening Members’ race and following a narrow defeat in a Sandown Park Hunter Chase last spring, the combination will be hard to beat.

In the second division of the TVC Club Members Maiden, York rides the promising Runningupthathill who runs

in the colours of actor Martin Clunes, his wife Philippa and accountant David Cliff.

A high-class Mens’ Open race features Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and John Smiths Grand National runner-up Sam Waley-Cohen on Ashtown Boy.

Waley-Cohen began his career at Tweseldown and rode a double on the course last season.

At Barbury Castle last weekend, 16-year-old Paige Fuller enjoyed her first racing success on her very first ride.

This Sunday, 17-year-old Megan Trainor will hope to emulate Paige when she partners the old stager, 15-year-old Royal Tir, in the Hunt Members.

“We did think of retiring him,” says owner Penny Lownds. “But he is so well in himself that we decided to offer Megan the opportunity of riding the ideal schoolmaster in her first race.”

Megan, head girl at Morestead trainer Chris Gordon’s stable,

has Balustrade to ride later in the season.

Several trade stands, catering outlets and bookmakers will be in attendance. First race is at noon and racegoers are charged £10 a head with under 16s entered in free.