Racegoers in for a treat as Chaddesley Corbett and Horseheath set to feature top-class runners

As 2024 draws to a close the two remaining meetings at Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire, and Horseheath, Cambridgeshire, offer racegoers the chance to end the year on a high with some excellent racing.

The previous weekend's fixtures at Larkhill and Alnwick saw some top-quality horses turn out and this weekend could be equally as good, if not better. 

A bumper 226 entries across the two cards, combined with a good weather forecast, should guarantee big crowds and competitive fields. Horseheath’s annual New Year's Eve meeting usually hosts a bumper crowd in holiday mood heading off to their New Year's Eve celebrations.

It’s been a good year for British pointing and hopefully next year picks up where 2024 leaves off. The number of horses starting out in British point-to-points before running under rules continued to rise, as did some of the prices achieved when they went through the sales ring.

Previous point-to-point riders continue to dominate the current seasons NH Jockey Championships, with many of the leading licensed  trainers also learning their trade pointing.

Weekend preview

Twenty entries have been received for what is sure to be a competitive men's open at Chaddesley Corbett. Last season’s Lady Dudley Cup winner Jeux D’Eau could make his seasonal debut but could face stiff opposition from the Bradley Gibbs-trained Premier Magic, winner of the 2023 St James Place Festival Hunter Chase, and Rewritetherules, twice a winner this season.

Jockey Jack Andrews is sure to be close to the competitive action should any of his possible mounts line up. Lift Me Up, who was last seen  finishing second in the Champion Hunters' Chase at Stratford in May, looks progressive, while Jetaway Joey and Master Templar, both trained by Andrews' sister Gina in Warwickshire, could have chances.

Andrews' Fairly Famous, a seven-year-old hunter chase winner, could prove hard to beat in the ladies' open, although Bardenstown Lad and Switch Hitter have the benefit of a run this season, but the pick of the runners could be Willewonga, who impressed at Knightwick last month.

The Intermediate race could challenge the men’s open as the highlight of the day, with the progressive  Crocodile Lounge and Glenmount likely to stand their ground. The two met last season with Crocodile Dundee just coming out on top, but Glenmount is now better off at the weights. 

However, Barton Snow who won first time out this season, and the Francesca Poste trained Kilfilum Woods will have something to say and shouldn’t be far away.

At Horseheath on New Year's Eve, all eyes will be on Allmankind, a fascinating recruit to point-to-pointing and still only an eight-year-old. He is now handled by Jennifer Owen in Newmarket, wife of James his most recent trainer, and still in the ownership of the Gredley family. 

Allmankind: a fascinating recruit to point-to-pointingCredit: Edward Whitaker

The winner on the all-weather, over hurdles and fences retains an official chasing rating of 144 and it will be interesting to see which of the open races he runs in. In the men’s open the Tom Britten trained What A Glance, who won two hunter chases last season, will be his main rival and will be partnered by Toby McCain-Mitchell, his previous jockey Murray Dodd having become a conditional rider.

The ladies open  looks equally competitive, Fairly Famous from the Warwickshire based Gina Andrews yard, Leicestershire’s Kelly Morgans Go Go Geronimo and the Lily Bradstock-ridden Myth Buster, already a winning partnership this season, all look of interest. The Olive Nicholls-trained and -ridden Oscars Moonshine finished fourth behind the top-class Grace A Vous Enki at Larkhill recently and also has to be respected.

Sunday December 29

Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire. DY10 4QT. First race 11.00am: 7 races. 127 entries.

Tuesday December 31

Horseheath, Cambridgeshire. CB21 4QF.  First race 11:00am: 7 races, 99 entries.

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