Knutsford Races at Tabley

The Knutsford Races Club meeting takes place this Sunday at Tabley, with a magnificent entry of 129 for the seven races starting at 2.05pm.

Clerk of the Course Richard Garton described the going as good to soft with soft in places last Sunday, and with the current forecast of warmer weather and showers through the week, the course should be in great shape for the meeting.

The races have an interesting variety with the Lord Daresbury Area Final, a two-and-a-half mile Mixed Open, four varied Conditions Races and two Maidens, one for young horses and the other for six-year-olds and upwards.

The opening races is a two-and-a-half mile Maiden restricted to four and five-year olds, with seventeen entered over two-and-a-half miles.  Many of the field have never jumped in public and the best form to date has been recorded by the Josh Guerrerio trained Go On Chez. The Malinas gelding caught the eye in his first race over fences when only failing by half a length to catch Crazy Jack in a Conditions Race at Sandon, and once again was a close second to Pilot Show in a Garthorpe Maiden.  He should be competitive here, but it’s hard to know how good some of the untried horse are.

The Mixed Open will be run over two and a half miles and has attracted seventeen entries.  Some of them are multiply entered in other races on the card, so it’s hard to know which will line up here.  Risk and Roll who unseated in the Aintree Foxhunters, finished fourth to Fumet d’Oudairies in the two-mile Hunter Chase at Cheltenham a fortnight ago.  The veteran Ballybroker Breeze put in an excellent performance to win his members at Maisemore Park and again ran well when runner-up to Early Retirement in a conditions race over this trip at Chaddesley Corbett.  The Heidi Brookshaw trained Bletchley Castle has run well in his recent two hunter chases at Ludlow finishing runner-up on both occasions.  He usually runs well from the front and the shorter trip should be ideal.  More Buck’s has really taken well to points having won all three including an Open at Holnicote last Saturday, and the Mickey Bowen charge would be a formidable opponent if taking his chance here.

Ballybroker Breeze, Bletchley Castle and More Buck’s are also entered for the Veteran Conditions Race for nine-year-olds and upwards, along with Port Melon, Duke Arcadio and Six A Side.  It looks like an excellent race in prospect.

The Keepers Conditions Race is confined to horses whose Keepers have not trained more than three winners since the beginning of October 2020, so it gives the smaller stables a better chance of victory.  Ballybroker Breeze ands Bletchley Castle are also entered here and would have good prospects.  Waterloo Warrior and Workbench both have good placed form this season and should be competitive. Nicki’s Nipper had useful Open form a couple of seasons ago but has not run this season. Caroline Robinson runs the progressive seven-year-old Ryans Fancy who has won a Restricted and Intermediate this season, but was pulled up in a Hunter Chase at Cheltenham.

The feature race of the meeting is the Lord Daresbury North West Area Final with a prize fund of £1,000.  2019 Cheltenham Foxhunter winner Hazel Hill is the leading entry and although he could only manage fifth in the same race this year, he is likely to have too much class for his rivals. Duke Arcadio beat Garde Ville in this race when last run two years ago, but has not been in such good form this season.  The latter is still a force to be reckoned with having won a Ludlow Hunter Chase, and was the first horse to ever beat Hazel Hill in points in the UK.  Others to note are Mr Snuffles and Port Melon, so it should be an exciting race.

The PPORA Conditions Race is confined to horses who have not won Opens or National Hunt races since October 2018.  Ryans Fancy and Waterloo Warrior have been covered in previous races but are among the twenty four entries.  Knockaderry Flyer could only manage fifth at Cheltenham behind Trio For Rio, but previously won well from Waterloo Warrior at Mollington. The Francesca Nimmo trained seven-year-old Largy Mountain has improved throughout the season, winning a Maiden and a restricted at Garthorpe with an impressive display.  Another with a progressive profile is Pillowman trained by Jack Teal in Yorkshire having won his last two races. Behind Time from Joe O’Shea’s Cheshire yard did not appear to be suited by the faster ground at Sandon, but should be more competitive here.  Blackwater Bridge would also have a chance, but has a nine pound penalty.

There are twenty two entries for the older horse Maiden and the best of them on known form appear to be Desjay, Everything Now, Forest Chimes and Lennox Again.  Nicky Tinkler trains the six-year-old Desjay who has showed promise in each of his two Maiden runs this season.  The ex Tom Symonds staying novice hurdler Everything Now was runner up in his first race for Francesca Nimmo and is likely to give owner/rider Alexandra Ingram every chance.  The Phil Rowley trained Forest Chimes ran well when a close second to Willewonga at Sandon. The other horse that looks to have a good chance is Lennox Again who ran a promising third to the aforementioned Largy Mountain. The gelding is owned by the Garton family who are major supporters of the meeting, with Tim training the horse, Tinker his wife is the meeting Secretary and Richard their son is Clerk of the Course.