CATSFIELD Preview Sunday April 19th 2009
As always at this time of year, weather is the major factor affecting the prospects of runners for Sunday's point-to-point at Catsfield, near Bexhill. A busy fixture list makes this the fifth meeting in the South East since March 29th, but a damp outlook seems likely to serve up good racing ground.
The battle for riders' titles has now truly taken shape. The men's championship is led by Peter Bull, ten points clear of Nick Pearce, and both men have some strong cards entered for Sunday. If the ground is good or softer, Peter Bull plans to run Honourable Spider in the Open, Master Alf or Captain's Legacy in the Club race and Hitzfromtheblitz in the Maiden. If the ground stays firm Master T may run in the Open. Pearce, who rides and trains for Simon Tindall, has Independent Trader lined up for the Club race (also in the Novice) and has a choice of three (Letterman, Jack's Present and Theatre Knight) for the Mixed Open.
Philip Hall says "Nothing is certain in this life, but providing the ground is good or softer I am hoping to be able to run both Star Gift in the Restricted, and Highland Chief in the Mixed Open." He has several options in the Maiden (Amaya Silva for James Etheridge, Conna Court for Sarah Wall and Lucteur de Pictons for Dave Walker), with Conna Court also in the Hunt race, and he should come on for his run at Aldington on Easter Monday. Delgany Gale is in the Club race and the Novice (in which he would be ridden by trainer Rose Grissell).
Stuart Robinson's Magnus Veritas will run in the club race, ground permitting, and could be taken on by Say Grace, Man From Moscow and Ten Horse Power amongst others.
Catsfield racecourse is two miles south of Catsfield, east of the A269 from Bexhill to Ninfield, Sussex. The main programme (2.00pm) is preceded by pony racing at 12.30pm.
