PREVIEW – HEYTHROP (SUNDAY 25TH JANUARY)

James King could bid for a remarkable fourth successive win in the Howden Insurance Brokers Lord Ashton of Hyde’s Cup Men’s Open at the Heythrop Hunt Point-to-Point at Cocklebarrow, near Aldsworth in Gloucestershire on Sunday (12.35pm).

The four-time champion rider completed a superb hat-trick in the 3m 6f contest – the first of the sport’s four ‘classics’ – on Boss Man Fred last year following victories aboard Just Your Type (2023) and Oscar Montel (2024).

This time, he is booked to ride Lavorante, who made it eight straight wins – including a walkover – for South Wales trainer Luke Price when claiming a 12-length verdict over Kilfilum Woods at Charing last month.

King said: “It is obviously a race that has been very good to me. He is not 100 per cent definite to run. We will do a bit of homework and if it looks winnable then he will more than likely take his chance.

“I think he will definitely stay the trip. He is still a conditions horse and it is whether you want to win an open and give that up.

“Luke likes to target Cocklebarrow. He is very shrewd and has placed him very well. He has won a maiden, two restricteds, a hunt race, an intermediate and conditions races. He has used every step on the ladder.”

Kilfilum Woods, who also has an entry in the ladies open, could renew rivalry.

Trainer Francesca Poste’s husband, Charlie, said: “He has been a star for us and has run two solid races this season. It’s just been frustrating he hasn’t got his head in front.

“Hopefully, Cocklebarrow will be really nice ground, which will suit him better. We will probably decide later in the week whether he runs.”

The eight-strong entry also includes the Jason Maguire-trained veteran One For Rosie, winner of his last start at Maisemore Park in March, and Jack Veysey’s Larkhill third Grangeclare Glory.

Maxine Filby has entered Lift Me Up, owned by former Spice Girl Geri Horner and her motor-racing husband, Christian, but he is on course to run in the Dubarry Ladies Open with Heidi Palin on board.

Filby, who trains out of the Horners’ Marston St Lawrence stables, near Banbury, said: “Heidi has not ridden him before, so I am really excited for her to ride him.

“He is always a bit stuffy on his first run, so anything can happen but it’s a nice race to start the season in a point and then we will probably go hunter chasing with him.

“The owners will be there and hopefully they will have a nice day out. They like Cocklebarrow.”

Lift Me Up, who signed off last season with a game win at Garthorpe, is among 13 entries in the 3m contest.

The prolific Master Templar, whose 12 point-to-point wins include this race two years ago, appears his main rival.

The Gina Andrews-trained and ridden 11-year-old will be making his seasonal reappearance after taking a crashing fall at Becher’s Brook in the Randox Foxhunters’ Chase at Aintree in April.

With the Horners due to be in attendance and the likes of former Prime Minister David Cameron and TV presenter Alexander Armstrong regular visitors to the meeting, celebrity spotters should be in their element.

With clerk of the course Nick Phillips reporting the going to be Good on Tuesday, the six-race card has attracted 68 entries.

Filby must pass a concussion test to partner Forever William for the Horners in the closing Ptarmigan Capital PPORA Club Members Conditions (Level 2) For Novice Riders after the pair parted company at Charing last month.

The trainer-rider said: “He made quite a big mistake and fell. They gave it as an unseat but it was definitely a fall. He was going quite nicely until then. He is a work in progress and has bags of ability. It’s just if he wants to do it on the day.

“He really lost his way a bit under rules. If you look at his form he beat Iroko as a juvenile.”

The 14 entries are headed by Guy, a five-time winner under rules and a creditable fourth to Unexpected Party in a Taunton hunter chase on his debut for Mary Cookson.

Harry Brown’s easy Chaddesley Corbett winner Bass Rock and the consistent Imperial Esprit, from Robert Varnham’s Surrey stables, also come into the reckoning.

Guy holds an alternative engagement in the new-look Brown Advisory Heythrop & Adjacent Hunts only, Conditions (Level 1), for which 10 are entered.

The 11-year-old shares top rating with Mumbo Jumbo, who made it five wins from seven starts between the flags for Andrews when beating East Street by five lengths at Ampton two weeks ago.

Ragnar Lodbrok, now in the care of Brooke Gardener-Wollen after winning 12 points for Jenny Owen, is another with strong claims.

King is set to ride Shoal Bay, trained by owner Marcine Marshall’s daughter, Jessica Botham, but feels the 13-year-old faces a tough task with the race opened up to adjacent hunts.

“It looks competitive enough for an old horse like him,” he commented. “I would say he would be up against it.”

Entity of Substanz could be a warm order for Andrews’s Marton stables, near Rugby, as he chases a hat-trick in the SE Solicitor Restricted.

The seven-year-old grey won a Chaddesley Corbett maiden in good style before following up in a similar contest to this at Horseheath.

Burdened with a 5lb penalty now, the son of No Risk At All will be fancied to confirm the placings with J’Envoievalserenki and Practice Run, who were third and fourth at the Cambridgeshire track.

Samba Mambo, who has moved to Nickie Sheppard’s Eastnor yard after winning a Badbury Rings maiden for Chris Barber, is another to consider.

Charlie Poste is hoping a combination of trip and track will see Laudable make a bold bid in the opening Knight Frank Maiden over 2m 4f.

The five-year-old finished a creditable fourth to Sailor McKay at Charing last month and Poste commented: “He is progressing with racing. He ran a nice race and didn’t quite see it out over three miles.

“You would have thought the drop back to two-and-a-half miles and a flat track would suit him well under a positive ride. Hopefully, he will be winning before long.”

Jeu De Pic, who was beaten only 10 lengths when sixth in a Listowel handicap chase last September, is an interesting contender for Jo Lang if running here or in the hunt race.

Percy De Courcy, a debutant from the powerful Andrews yard, also commands respect as do the Barber-trained trio, Guts And Glory, Titi Montmartre and Walkingtheline if taking their chance here rather than at Chipley Park. 

Gates open at 9.30am and the meeting is preceded by three pony races, sponsored by Rockcliffe Stud, starting at 11am.

Other attractions include a massive shopping village and a heated picnic tent. There will be dog racing, a hound parade, a tug of war, bungee run, bucking bronco and a free kids’ zone.

Admission is £20 per person and £15 in advance. Under 14s go free.

The course is located at Cocklebarrow Farm, Aldsworth GL54 3PP, about a mile and a half of the A40. For more information, visit www.cocklebarrowraces.com