PREVIEW: GRAFTON (SUNDAY 17TH MAY)

The Grafton point-to-point at Edgcote on Sunday 17th May has attracted an entry of 52 – comprising 46 individual horses – for the six races on the card, which start at 2.00pm. Clerk of the Course Graham Tawell reported on Monday morning that the going is Good to Firm and that watering is starting, with the intention of producing Good ground for racing on Sunday. The bends will be moved, following the last meeting, to ensure fresh ground.

Meeting Chair Mark Whitney told me earlier, “We are once more very excited for the final meeting of the season and thrilled to be again hosting the PPORA Novice Riders Final. Given the current climate, we’re pleased with the entries and hope the racing will be competitive on the day. As always, we’re planning to provide good racing ground. Advance ticket sales are promising and there will be a full day’s entertainment for all the family. We are also delighted to announce that the family of the late Sam Lee will be presenting a riding performance award in tribute to Sam.”

Centrepiece of the card is the Savills PPORA Novice Riders Championship Final, a Level 2 Conditions Race for riders who had not ridden more than ten winners before the start of the season and who have been placed in the first four in any PPORA-supported race during the current campaign. With £1,000 to the winner, and £1,700 total prize money, it is one of the most valuable races in the point-to-point calendar.

Nine have been entered and, with eight of them being rated 100 or more by Pointerform (the exception has a rating of 97), a competitive contest looks assured. Top on marks is Up For Appeal, twice a winner this season, but his latest success came in a Godstone match. Gina Andrews’ Young Rich, the mount of Molly Legg, blotted his copybook last time when an odds-on faller at Mollington, at which venue Definiteadare was second in a similar contest to this – if successful, he would win the PPORA leading horse title. Champion trainer-elect Josh Newman has entered two, although both Holiday Fund and Talimar Pearl were beaten favourites last time, the latter at long odds-on. Stuart Morris’ Champagne Glory won a similar event at Garthorpe last time, as did Little Peter at Shelfield Park. Pirates’ Tale won his Members at Flete Park before coming a good second at the weekend and Katie

Croft’s Baunmore Jet – while the lowest rated on paper – scored well for Molly Armytage on his most recent start at Lockinge.

Andrews said, “Young Rich will probably go for the Novice Riders Final if he’s in with a decent chance. Molly was hoping to be leading novice this year, and I was aiming for champion trainer, but we’ve both been defeated! Molly should have a decent chance next year.”

Newman refused to be drawn on plans for his pair – or indeed any of his five entries on the day – saying, “It depends on the ground, and what happens tomorrow and Saturday.” (Talimar Pearl is entered at Cothelstone on Wednesday, while Holiday Fund has six entries in total over the coming fixtures).

Morris was also unwilling to commit, admitting, “Champagne Glory definitely runs on Sunday, but I’m not sure whether to go for the Novice Riders Final or the opening race – I need to do some homework. On paper, the Novice Riders race looks easier, but (intended jockey) Fred Philipson-Stow may have to go to Tabley.”

The highest quality contest of the day on paper – again all but one entry rated 100 or more – is the John White Funeral Directors Mixed Open. It has attracted eight entries, including Josh Newman’s highly rated pair Al Gasparo and Beacon Edge, winners of seven starts between them this season. Indeed, most of the entrants have won this season – one exception is Alan Hill’s Learntalot, second in the Horse & Hound Cup in 2024/2025. However, he is more likely to go to Peper Harow on Saturday. The Lily Bradstock-trained veteran Myth Buster has won both his starts, although he has not run since January, Gina Andrews’ Tigerbythetail – another for Molly Legg – has also won twice, while Farnoge and Larry each boast a single success, but have been running consistently. Uno Mas is the other potential runner not to have scored so far this campaign, although he has been placed on both his last two starts.

“Tigerbythetail runs,” confirmed Andrews. “He’s been entered a lot recently and is owned by Molly’s family – so we want to run – and I wouldn’t be afraid of taking on one of Josh’s.”

As for Newman, he said, “It’s likely that we’ll run one of ours. Beacon Edge has other entries at the weekend, but Al Gasparo doesn’t.”

The NFU Mutual Restricted Race has seven entries, and Stuart Morris may hold the key, with two of them. Right Lets Go broke his duck at Dingley last month, before finishing third at the same venue in a warmer race than this. His other entry, Eoin’s Charm, has been out of form this season. Try The Money also ran well in a good race – this time at Chaddesley Corbett – after a Bitterley win, while Queenhill and Ridelonglivelong have both

disappointed since an encouraging seasonal debut. The two top-rated entries both have to shoulder 5lb penalties. Penniless has been runner-up on both starts this season, and O’Hallorans Castle’s form has been in and out, but he has run well on his last two starts behind better horses.

Morris intends to run both his, saying, “They’ll be my last runners of the season, and it would be nice to go out on a winner. They both ran OK at Dingley in what looked like a good race – Eoin’s Charm was only two lengths behind Right Lets Go. Charlie Case will ride the latter again, and Paddy Barlow will be on the former if Fred is at Tabley.”

The card opens with the Heygates & Sons Grafton & Adjacent Hunts Conditions Race (Level 2), which has attracted nine entries. Three of the leading contenders – Champagne Glory, Myth Buster and Young Rich – have been covered above and, aside from them, Bradley Gibbs’ Practice Run, third in a Hunter Chase last time, looks the pick. However, Gibbs is more likely to take up his entry in the last race. Alan Hill’s Soldier Unknown ran well in a long distance Open in February but less so last time, while the five-year-old J’Envoievalserenki, trained by Luca Morgan, stepped up in grade convincingly at Mollington recently. He had Shanty Alley behind that day, and Ben Case’s charge – along with Francesca Poste’s In Our Dreams – has placed form this season but has something to find with the principles. Alan Creighton’s Dubai Dandy ran well last season but is 14 now and has not run for over a year.

“Soldier Unknown definitely runs,” confirmed Hill, “And will appreciate the return to a right-handed track. We would have gone to Mollington, but there was no race for him there, as I didn’t want to run him in the Open. I’m not yet sure who’ll ride.”

Another definite runner is In Our Dreams. The trainer’s husband Charlie told me, “The owners are closely associated with the Grafton and the track will suit. He ran his best race of the season last time at Woodford, where Huw Edwards got a good tune out of him.”

The Towcester Vets Maiden Race has 11 entries, the highest of the day. Francesca Poste has two – the consistent and improving Corra Bheinn, a good second on both his last two starts, and Empress Eugenie, green when third on her Chaddesley Corbett debut. Devon Rouge and Josh Newman’s Dart Of Ginger are two more mares who have shown promise in their first season. Bingo Little looked the certain winner when unseating at the last at Kimble, before disappointing at Chaddesley Corbett, and Gladiateddi – owned and bred by Clerk of the Course Graham Tawell is another youngster who’s been running greenly – he shaped with promise last time. James Henderson’s Knick Knack, an encouraging second at Cocklebarrow on his first pointing start, returned to form when third last time, and Bradley Gibbs’ No Case To Answer has placed form this season but needs to improve to win this. The other three entries,

Café Whispers, Maxine Filby’s Mi Chico Latino – named after a song by her owner Geri Horner – and Hydrbra appear to have plenty to find.

“I haven’t found the key to him yet,” admitted Gibbs of No Case To Answer. “He’s been placed a lot and has been running well without winning.

Charlie Poste advised that Empress Eugenie is the more likely runner of his two. “She’s well bred, but we had some hold-ups with her, which is why she didn’t run until last month,” he said. “She ran well at Chaddesley Corbett, and Huw gave her a nice educational ride.”

The final race of the day – with eight entries – is the Framptons Planning Conditions Race (Level 3), over the shorter distance of two miles five furlongs. Restricted to horses who have not won an Open or under rules since 1st October 2023, and who have not won any Conditions Race this season, this type of contest offers an opportunity for a progressive youngster, or an experienced type who has failed to get their head in front recently.

Penniless and Practice Run also hold entries here and – based on ratings – would again have a strong chance, while Knick Knack would appear better off in Maiden company. Taghadoe beat Alan Hill’s Tellmesomethingood, who I co-own, at Lockinge last time – the latter disappointed since in the Hunter Chase where Practice Run was third. Unless the race cuts up, though, the intention is to wait for Kingston Blount a week later. Veteran Castletown, trained by Verity Green, took his Members at Lockinge last month, Connor Gray’s The Sad Shepherd was tailed-off after making the running last time – he will appreciate the shorter trip – but Ballydesmond is out of form.

“He’ll probably go for the shorter race, as it looks the weaker of the two,” advised Gibbs. “He’s come out of his Warwick run bouncing and I’m delighted with him.”

In addition to the six races, there will be live music in the bar, a family dog show, vintage tractor display, children’s corner and hound parade before racing.

Entrance is £15 per person on the day, and tickets can be purchased in advance – at the reduced price of £12 – here. Under 14s go free.

Edgcote is about six miles northeast of Banbury, near the A361. The postcode is OX17 1AG, but this covers the whole estate. The best way to arrive is to come off the M40 at junction 11, follow the A361 to Wardington then turn right at the Hare & Hounds pub and follow the road round to the right. Cross the pond then turn right at the electric gates for Lodge Farm and Trafford Bridge stables. It is also possible to arrive coming from Culworth or Eydon. What Three Words: otter.owns.scrolled

Horseboxes will be signposted to a different entrance, postcode OX17 2ER. The What Three Words given above are for racegoer access – the W3W for the horse box park are bike.meanders.verve

The road from Culworth to Edgcote via Trafford Bridge is still closed. There will also be some road closures on the B4525, which may affect usual routes to the course.