PREVIEW KIMBLEWICK (MAY) POINT-TO-POINT KINGSTON BLOUNT Sunday 12th May 2024

The Kimblewick (May) point-to-point on Sunday 12th May is the third of four meetings to be held at the Oxfordshire venue of Kingston Blount this season and has a total entry of 78 for the six races, which start at 2.00pm.

One of the main talking points is going to be the battle for the female jockeys title, in which Gina Andrews currently leads Izzie Marshall 18-17, and both are likely to have several fancied rides on Sunday.

After a further 7mm of rain on Monday, the going remains on the easy side of Good, and is almost Good to Soft, although slightly faster up Crowell Knoll hill. However, with a sunny week forecast, the ground is likely to be drier by race day.

The Farol Mens Open, over the shorter distance of 2m5f, has attracted 11 entries, including 15-year-old Gabrial The Great, who has won this race three times – including the last two runnings – among five course victories. He ran well on his seasonal debut on Monday.

Poli Roi – a winner four times this season (one was a walkover) – is a potential rival, trainer Tim Vaughan saying, “I’m not sure about running him with the 5lb penalty but he should be sharp enough for the shorter trip.”

Tim has also made several entries at Upcott Cross and advised, “I may come to Kingston Blount with a lorryload, but it depends on where are the best opportunities for (son and novice champion rider-elect) Ed.”

Take To Heart is an intended runner and his trainer Ed Turner told me, “I’ve been patient with him as he wants good to firm ground and, while I’m not sure the trip will be ideal, the going will suit, as will the track – he won here last year. It will be a step up from the Novice Riders race he won at Fakenham and Rupert Stearn will ride.”

Slievegar is expected to make his debut for Max Comley, who admitted, “He only came to me a couple of weeks ago but likes better ground and takes his racing well. Toby McCain-Mitchell will ride – his mum Joanne owns the horse.” Another to consider is seasonal debutant Captain Mc, whose trainer Luke Price is in flying form.

11 have been entered for the Ladies Open, sponsored by College and County Estate Agents. Clear top-rated is Tigerbythetail, trained and ridden by title-chasing Gina Ellis (Andrews), who said, “He’s in brilliant form. While I was disappointed on the day when he was second last time – looking back – he ran well, as he was beaten by a classy horse in Ihandaya.”

Championship rider Izzie Marshall may ride Back Bar, although trainer Alan Hill isn’t certain, saying, “I hope to run but need to speak to the owners. He’s had a wind operation this season and won his first race after that. It wasn’t a bad race when he was fifth at the last meeting here and he ran brilliantly last time when second at Fakenham. I think he’s got his confidence back.”

If Back Bar doesn’t run, Izzie Marshall could switch to Count Simon, on whom she won at Parham last month, while the consistent Myth Buster who – according to Sara Bradstock, mother of trainer-rider Lily – “Needs good ground and always seems to find something to beat him jumping out of soft, but is also entered at Holnicote”, and impressive Godstone winner Secret Cargo, for female novice title contender Katie Featherstone, are also worth bearing in mind.

The card opens with a Conditions Race (Level 2), sponsored by the Tree Barn at Christmas Common and limited to horses with a South Midlands Area certificate – the race has eight entries. Three are trained by Alan Hill and two by Gina Ellis, who talked me through their running plans. “Knight Bachelor definitely runs and will be a riding debut for owner Luci Lloyd,” said Alan. “I’ll run Goleirihem if it’s on the easy side of good on Sunday and Urban Grit if the ground is faster – he didn’t like the going when third at Godstone last weekend.”Gina confirmed, “Lunar Contact runs. He was entered at the weekend but has benefitted from an extra week off. He prefers better ground – he doesn’t stay when it’s softer.”

Another planned starter is Lily Bradstock’s Southfield Lily, a dual course winner who, as Sara Bradstock laughed, “She likes being entertained by the up and down hills here! She’s coming back pointing because it’s been too soft to run her under rules. If she starts, there wouldn’t be many pointers who could beat her.” The Highwayman Inn at Checkendon Restricted Race has 14 entries, two of which are trained by Alan Hill, who may run both. “Learnalot definitely runs,” he told me. “He liked the course last time, the horse that beat him won at the weekend and he’ll enjoy the better ground. I’ll probably also run Highland Glory for local owners the Sunday Night Partnership as I want to give Walter Barnett a ride.”

The consistent but quirky Jean Genie will represent Tim Vaughan if he brings his team to the meeting, while Luke Price’s dual winner Lavorante, last season’s course winner My Friend Freddie and Higham victor Shanes Passion are highly rated entrants, while Julie Wadland’s Bushtucker Park will be fancied to step up on her Larkhill pointing debut success.

The highest entry of the six races – 24 – is in the Richardsons Chartered Accounts Maiden over 2m5f and it could be divided on the day. Top-rated is Ed Turner’s Graveside Lad and his trainer said. “Good to firm ground was the key to his improvement when he was second at Fakenham. While the shorter trip may not suit, he’ll like the ground. Rupert Stearn will ride him this time.” Tim Vaughan has entered two and confirmed Heathrow his intended runner, telling me, “He’s been off for a while but has got form over two miles, so I’d prefer to run him over two-and-a-half than three.” Get Cracking will have his first run for Max Comley, who explained, “I’ve bought him from Myles Osborne, for whom he’s been knocking on the door, and his fourth last time in the Exeter point-to-point bumper is good form. He’s by Getaway so should like the better ground and James King will ride. I’ll probably also run Arknell. I don’t like running two against each other but there aren’t many 2m4f maidens left now.”

Gina Ellis and Izzie Marshall will continue their championship battle, the former on newcomer Washpool and the latter on her fiancé Joe Hill’s – and this is the name of the horse as well as the course – Kingston Blount! Gina said, “It’s the first horse (Stratford Clerk of the Course) Nessie Chanter has had with us, and he came in late, so it’s taken a while to get him jumping but his done plenty of homework and we galloped him at Thorpe Lodge over Easter. He’s a light-framed horse – the first we’ve had by Sageburg – who should appreciate the better ground and looks like he’ll be a National Hunt prospect in time.” Asked about riding plans, she confirmed that she – rather than brother Jack – will take the mount, laughing about her title challenge, “Needs must!” Alan Hill said of his son’s runner, “We’re still finding out about him – we had to rebuild him after he unseated on his first start, and he had a bridle problem at Kimble. Hopefully we’ve got it right for him this time and we’ll see a better Kingston Blount at Kingston Blount!”

Others to look to have a chance on this season’s form are Islo, Kilford’s Queen, Our John, Pillar To Post and Yellow Car.

Ten have been entered for the closing race, an Intermediate sponsored by Bonner and Babington Estate Agents. Alan Hill has two of them – the aforementioned Goleirihem and Saturday’s Godstone winner Soldier Unknown. The trainer admitted, “Soldier Unknown may wait another week for Edgcote but one of them will definitely run – ‘Operation Izzie’ is in full swing.” Ocojohn, consistent all season until disappointing last time, may travel for Tim Vaughan, and Max Comley is considering the race as an option for Burtown. “He’s also in at Holnicote and it’s ground dependent as we don’t want it too quick for him – he’s a nice horse who we want to look after.”

On ratings, this contest would appear to be more suitable than the Mens Open for Bonamargy while Mini Fortune has taken her last three races for Luke Price and could well continue her improvement.

Admission is £15 per person, with payment by either cash or card on the gate.

Under 17s are admitted free.

Tickets may also be purchased via the Kimblewick Races website here

The course is approximately two miles from Junction 6 of the M40 in the direction of Chinnor.

There will be black and gold signs to the course from the M40 and in Kingston Blount village. For SatNav, use postcode OX39 4SG.

We do not recommend you leave the motorway at Junction 5, as the route down Kingston Hill is both narrow and steep.

Participants and racegoers should also be aware of a number of road closures that may affect their journey.

For those travelling from the Southeast (i.e. Kent, East/West Sussex, and Surrey), the M25 will be shut between junctions 9 (A243 Leatherhead) and 10 (A3 Wisley) all weekend so please allow extra time for your journey and plan an alternative route.

There are also road closures at the weekend on the A40 Westbound between the M40 services slip