PREVIEW – PERCY (SUNDAY 25TH JANUARY)

Following the abandonments of the Morpeth West Percy and Jedforest fixtures earlier this month due to frozen tracks, the Northern Area Point-to-Point season deserves a change of fortune with the weather and is set to resume after a six-week break with the Percy card at Alnwick on Sunday 25th January (First Race at 12.30pm).

Claramount is top-rated in the opening 2m4f Maiden Race (11 entries) and looks the one to beat. Amy Milburn’s mount made an eye-catching seasonal debut when four-and-a-half lengths 3rd to Azlad over course and distance in December and should have more to offer with that run under his belt.

The main danger is Jack Wooley (also entered in 3m Maiden) who finished just in front of Claramount at Alnwick, having previously been beaten under five lengths when third to Millena Agent on debut at Hexham. Of the others, ex-hurdler Midnight Alnwicky shaped with plenty of promise when ten lengths 4th on heavy ground at Hexham, the dam of unraced 5-year-old Talktotherocks won a Ballyarthur Mares’ Maiden in April 2015, debutant William Crump is a half-brother to course winner Worcester Pearmain, while debutant Percy De Courcy is a half-brother to Misstree Song who completed a four-timer under Gina Andrews in the space of seven weeks towards the end of the 2021-22 season.

Phantoms Cave heads the 9 entries for the 3m Maiden Race. After making most of the running at Alnwick last month, he finished six lengths 2nd to Warwickshire raider The Dog Thief and can go one better here.

Possible rivals include Where’s Willy who finished eight lengths 3rd to The Dog Thief on his reappearance here six weeks ago, home-bred High On The Hill who has been placed in all five Maidens to date, the aforementioned Jack Wooley, and debutant Hard To Know who comes from a yard that knows how to get one ready first time out.

Midlands raiders Champagne Noir and Somptueux should be in the mix in the 3m Ladies Open Race (9 entries). Although the former has been off the track for almost twenty three months, he boasts a career strike rate of 50% between the flags and is unlikely to be making the long journey from Ellie Holder’s yard just for a change of scenery, while, on paper, Somptueux faces an easier task here than when finishing ten lengths 4th to the useful Myth Buster at Larkhill on November 30.

Of the others, Diable De Sivola looked as good as ever when making a winning reappearance at Alnwick in December, winning chaser Lunar Contact might be seen to better effect if taking his chance in the 2m4f Mixed Open, Lucy Brown can choose between Amma Lord and Saladam who both act well on soft ground, while winning hurdler Palm Beach is an interesting recruit to Pointing and is likely to be one of seven runners on the card for Victor Thompson.

Former Ben Pauling-trained 133-rated chaser Densworth, a five-times winner under Rules, faced some stiff tasks last season against the likes of Caldwell Potter and Saint Segal, but is back in calmer waters here in the 2m4f Mixed Open Race (16 entries).

Bellaney Lord scored over this trip in a lower grade at Overton (March 2024) and Alnwick (February 2025), the aforementioned Diable De Sivola is suited by a strong pace and won over this shorter trip at Friars Haugh last January, Eagles Rock lost nothing in defeat when four lengths 3rd to Whatdeawant in the 3m Ratcheugh Racing Club equivalent on his reappearance, the progressive Eastern Storm stayed on well to beat Saladam by just under three lengths on heavy ground at Hexham, Harjo was given a positive ride by Jesika Rennie when only beaten three-quarters-of-a-length by 137-rated hurdler Whatdeawant at Alnwick last time out, while Overton specialist Western Run, unbeaten in four visits to the South Lanarkshire track, might need the run on his first start for nine months.

Former Nicky Henderson-trained gelding Easy Rider kept his rivals at bay from two out when getting off the mark at Chaddesley Corbett on December 28, and a repeat of that effort must see Marina Bealby’s mount go close in the 3m Restricted Race.

The pick of the other 8 entries are Lets Go Harry, Theoldboggroad and Portgloriam. Last season’s Revesby Park 2m Flat Race and Tranwell 2m4f Maiden Race winner Lets Go Harry was subsequently beaten under four lengths when 5th to Rebel Tribesman in a hotly contested Aintree Point-to-Point Bumper but takes a significant step up in trip here on his reappearance. Theoldboggroad finished six lengths 3rd to Line Em Up on his seasonal debut at Alnwick in December and that form was franked when the winner followed up in good style under a 5lb penalty at Revesby Park last Saturday, while Portgloriam has been absent for almost eleven months since landing a 2m4f Friars Haugh Maiden on his first start for Lesley Coltherd’s yard.

The 12 entries for the concluding 3m Northern Area Conditions Race are headed by the aforementioned duo Eastern Storm (5lb penalty) and Harjo (7lb penalty). Lucy Brown can choose between Annie Magic and Saladam, Not The Chablis (5lb penalty) landed the corresponding contest at last season’s College Valley & North Northumberland fixture, while So They Say won a Ffos Las Maiden on debut in November 2021 and subsequently scored over fences at Musselburgh in January 2024 but has been off the track for almost twenty one months.

The Ratcheugh Farm course is about 3miles NE of Alnwick and is signposted from the A1. The post code is NE66 3AD, and the What3Words address is tractor.kiosk.juices.

Admission is £15 per person (Cash only), with under 16’s free.