Fife Point-to-Point, Balcormo Races 2020 and 2021 Cancelled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic Saturday 20th April 2019  Going Results  Race 1 (4 runners) The Turcan Connell and Northern Point-to-Point Area Conditions Race 1st  Frankies Fire, 2/1 Owned & trained J Walton, ridden by Miss C Tailford, 2nd More Madness, 5/4 fav, Nick Alexander, ridden and trained by J Alexander, 3rd Molten Brown, 6/4, owned and trained by Tony Hogarth, ridden by Miss C Dunn, 4th Maraweh, 7/1 Peter Russell, Lucinda Russell, Ridden by P Wadge pu Tambour 4/1 Major, J Threadgall, C Wood.  Time 7sec 4min, Distances 8l, 2l.  Race 2  The Lindores Abbey Distillery Restricted Race (4 runners) 1st Doldrum Bay, 6/4 N Orpwood, 2nd Moores Novelty, 4/5 fav N Alexander, C Alexander, pu Great Anticipation, Lynsey Kendal, J Teal, ur Afterclass, E McEwen, Miss A McLung, 7m21s dist 1l Race 3 The Bruce Farms Riders Conditions Race (2 runners) 1st Winged Crusader, 1/5 Fav, A Waugh, ur Chicago Outfit 5/4 (Ire) Leonard Kerr, Miss M Davies. 7m05s.  Race 4 The Pentland Landrover Mixed Open, Area Feature Race (4 runners) 1st Racing Pulse, 4/5 JFav, J Alexander, 2nd Nicki’s Nipper 4/5 Mr S Waugh, A Waugh, 3rd Killer Crow 2/1, The Alexander Family, C Alexander, pu Roo Roo 4/1, owned Mr W Aitchison, keeper L Lynsey Kendall, r J Teal. Time 6.59, dist 2l, 25l. Race 5 The Rathbones PPORA Club Members Race (5 runners)  2.5m 1st Rolling Thunder 1/2 Fav, Owned Mrs Ian McKie, N Orpwood, 2nd Rossini’s Dancer 7/4 owned N Alexander, Miss M Ogilvie, 3rd Up To Al 5/1, Owned Mr M Robertson, Keeper W Scott, Miss A J Robertson 3/1, 5th Hawk Azira 13/1 J Irvine, Miss P Shepherd, pu Longueville Flier, J Threadgall, C Wood.  Time 5min28sec  1l, dist Race 6  The Rae Grieve Memorial Open Maiden Race (5 runners) 1st Fashionistalady 9/4, Miss Liz Nixon and Mr Bryan Stanners, M Nixon, R Wilson, 2nd Okey Dokey (Ire) 3/1, Miss J Irvine, Miss P Shepherd, 3rd Atlantic Dancer 7/2, Mr C Lynn, N Orpwood, pu French Ticket 1/2 fav Messrs F T Walton, J Walton, C Alexander, pu Kicks Before Six, 15/1 Mr W G Young, W Young, C Wood. 7m11s 1l dist.   Leading Rider at the Meeting Nick Orpwood.   Pony Race 1 (4 runners) The Ship Inn Fife Foxhounds Open Pony Race 138cm and under 1st Ninfield Millionaire’s Splendour, Elliot Stockwell 5/1 fav, 2nd Telynau Apollo 3/1, Lily McGhee, 3rd Heidi 7/2 Heidi Henderson, 4th Boom Boom, 5/2 Benjamin Rogers.  1m46s Pony Race 2 (10 runners) Wigwam Holidays Montrave Estate Novice Riders Race 148cm and under 1st Dino Royale 1/2 Fav, Frances Cromarty, 2nd Raemoir Vermillion, 2/1 Conner McCann, 3rd Black Magic Special 4/1 Lana McDougall, 4th Shannonbridge Kenny 2/1, Kieran Larder, 5th Larkfield Lad 3/1, Jake Dickson, 6th Fennor Princess 3/1 Freya Deas, 7th Rainbow 7/2 Christina Young, 8th Barnview Revelation 7/2 William Hamilton, 9th My Little Chief 5/2 Sophie McCann, 10th Temple Odyssey 3/1 Elizabeth Cregan.  25l, distance, 1m35s Pony Race 3 (3 runners)  The Perth Racecourse Fife Foxhounds Open Pony Race, 148cm and under 1st Abrickinthewall, 4/5  Sarah Longthorn, 2nd Indian River 1/2 Shay Farmer, 3rd Chilworth Dancer 2/1 Elliot Stockwell.  1 1/2 l, distance, 1m41s 

2019 Preview by Peter Burgon Britain’s most northerly point-to-point venue, Balcormo Mains, hosts the annual Fife meeting on Easter Saturday 20th April – the penultimate Scottish action of the 2018/19 Northern Area season. It has received 61 entries for a well-sponsored six race card, which starts at 2pm and features the £1500 Pentland Land Rover Mixed Open, which carries a first prize of £1000. In addition, any runner at the meeting that goes on to win the Bruce Farms Grassroots Hunters’ Chase at Perth on Wednesday 15th May will receive a £3000 bonus from Bruce Farms. The 12 entries for the opening Turcan Connell NPPA Conditions Race include the Nick Alexander-trained trio of Killer Crow, More Madness and Rossini’s Dancer. Killer Crow made all the running when beating Purcell’s Bridge by nine lengths in last month’s Duke of Buccleuch’s Men’s Open but subsequently could only finish twelve lengths 4th to stable companion, Racing Pulse at Tranwell. Although he hasn’t won for a while, More Madness posted a season’s best effort at Tranwell a fortnight ago when two lengths 2nd to Habbie Simpson in a good time. The evergreen Rossini’s Dancer has proved to be an ideal schoolmaster for Mhairi Ogilvie, twice finishing runner-up at Friars Haugh this year, and will be making his 99th career start under all codes. Of the others, Tambour Major has been pulled up on all three starts since landing a 2m4f contest here last April. Proven stayer, Wayupinthesky has enjoyed a five week break since beating Pyjama Game by a head at Friars Haugh. This season’s Corbridge Maiden and Alnwick Restricted scorer, Frankies Fire will be looking to bounce back to form after finishing seventeen lengths 3rd to Hardrock Davis last time out, while the Jackie Stephen-trained mare, Ladyvie beat Formidableopponent a shade cosily by two lengths at Friars Haugh three weeks ago and should be in the mix again. Kit Alexander’s mount, Moores Novelty stayed on well in the closing stages when getting off the mark in a slowly run Berwickshire Maiden contest last time out and the partnership can follow up in the Lindores Abbey Distillery Restricted Race. Afterclass finished runner-up in the corresponding race last season and found only the useful Rushour Ryan too good at Tranwell a fortnight ago. Doldrum Bay won a Novice Riders Maiden Race at Loughrea in October but has been pulled up on his last two starts at Boulta and Friars Haugh, while Great Anticipation finished thirty lengths 3rd to Beggars Bush on his last outing at Friars Haugh three months ago. The 13 entries for the Bruce Farms Riders Conditions Race include the aforementioned quintet of Killer Crow, Ladyvie, More Madness, Rossini’s Dancer and Wayupinthesky. Last season’s Northern Area Champion lady rider, Amie Waugh is out on her own in the 2018/19 title race and holds all the aces here with a choice of rides on Nicki’s Nipper or Winged Crusader. The latter is in the form of his life and completed a five-timer when dead-heating with Damiens Dilemma in the recent Berwickshire Ladies Open, while the consistent Nicki’s Nipper, winner of last year’s Pentland Land Rover Mixed Open, lost nothing in defeat when eight lengths 2nd to 126-rated chaser, Meldrum Lad at Tranwell a fortnight ago. Habbie Simpson came from off the pace to give Tabitha Threadgall her first winner at Tranwell and should again go well on this galloping, stayers track. Johnny Ferguson’s recent ex-Irish recruit, Longtymegone landed an eventful Buccleuch Cup Maiden Hunters’ Chase at Kelso earlier in the month after the two leaders departed three out. Former 140-rated hurdler, Racing Pulse was quite impressive on his first start for Jamie Alexander when landing the Morpeth Men’s Open by five lengths and has scope for further improvement, while proven stayer, Iron Chancellor has run consistently well for Jess Bedi on all six starts between the flags this season, including wins at Dalton Park and Hutton Rudby. The £1500 Pentland Land Rover Mixed Open – the Northern Area Feature Race – has 11 entries, including Iron Chancellor, Killer Crow, Longtymegone, Nicki’s Nipper, Racing Pulse, Wayupinthesky and Winged Crusader. Scarlet Fire ended a lean spell at Alnwick in March but could only finish twenty lengths 4th to Meldrum Lad at Tranwell last time. 108-rated hurdler, Roo Roo, formerly trained by Iain Jardine for Paul and Clare Rooney, landed a 2m4f Perth Novices’ Hurdle in June 2018 and is an interesting recruit to the hunt racing ranks. Foxrock, a Grade 1 chaser in his younger days and rated 164 at his peak, ran a blinder on his first start for Alex Duncan when two lengths 2nd to Ballyrath in the recent 4m1f Grimthorpe Gold Cup. He does, however, hold multiple entries over the Easter weekend. The 2m4f Rathbones PPORA Club Members Conditions Race is for horses that haven’t won since June 2017. The 6 entries include Rossini’s Dancer, who should appreciate the shorter trip and lower grade. Rolling Thunder might well have won last season’s Fife Mixed Open on his reappearance had he not fallen two out and has been primed for his return to action for several weeks. Up To Al has been placed in two of his last three starts under Abby Robertson, with his best effort of the season coming last time out when nine lengths 3rd to Habbie Simpson at Tranwell. Oh So Sensible shaped with promise when eleven lengths 3rd to Fisher over this trip on his hunt racing debut at Overton last month and should come on a lot for the run. The 15 entries for the concluding Open Maiden Race are headed by Dressedforsuccess and Emory. The former has not been seen since finishing runner-up to Eden Collonges at Sheriff Hutton in January, while the ultra-consistent Emory has done little wrong when runner-up on his last four starts at Corbridge, Alnwick, Overton and Charm Park. Jimmy Walton’s yard will be represented by Cudgel or French Ticket. The former finished eleven lengths 5th at Alnwick on his Pointing debut last month, while the improving French Ticket might well have won at Tranwell last time had he not made his only serious mistake five out. This stayers track should suit Northumbrian raider, Fashionistalady, who has finished runner-up on her last three outings at Friars Haugh (twice) and Tranwell. The lightly raced Peep O’ Day Dell is the highest rated of the other 4 Yorkshire entries, having shown steady improvement on all three starts this term. As usual, the main action is preceded by three pony races from 1pm, all run over seven furlongs. The Wigwam Holidays Montrave Estate 148cm Novice Riders contest has 12 entries (including 2 reserves). The 4 entries for The Ship Inn, Elie 138cm Open Race include Ninfield Millionaire’s Splendour (Elliot Stockwell) who is chasing a four-timer in 2019, and the Perth Racecourse 148cm Open Race has 3 entries. The post code for SatNav users is KY8 5QF. 2018 Results Results Balcormo 2018 Going: Good, with good to soft on places 1st Race The Turcan Connell Fife Foxhounds Hunt and Northern Point-to-Point Association Club Members Race 1stChanceiton, 7yrs, keeper Lucinda Russell, owner Mr Peter W Russell, Ridden by Cameron Wadge Hunt (Fife) 4/5 fav 2ndFrankie’s Promise (Ire), 10, Nick Alexander, C Robertson, Fife 3/1 3rd Whiteabbey, 13, Rebecca Hewitt, A Waugh, Berwickshire 2/1 4th Another Dark Rum, 14, Rachel Wadge, P Wadge Cumberland 14/1 5th Crazy Diamond, 14, Victoria McKie, N Orpwood, College V & N Northumberland 5/2 PU 3 out Royal Chatelier, Nick Alexander, J Alexander, Fife 3/1 PU 3 out Milans Well 12, William Young, Lanark & Renfrew, 10/1 7 ran Time:6m58s Distances 8 lengths nk 2nd Race The Strutt & Parker Restricted Race 1st Exit Ten, 7, Miss C Tailford, ridden by Miss C Tailford, Haydon 2/1 2nd Afterclass 10, Mrs Ella McEwan & Mr Ronald McEwan, R Wilson, Lanarks & Renfrew21/1 3rd Left Back (Ire) 6, Nick Alexander, C Robertson Fife 1/1 4th Sound Barrier 10, Miss Doreen Calder, C Wood, Berwickshire 7/2 5th Poetic Presence (Ire) 8, Lesley Colterd, Mr J B Ferguson, Duke of Buccleuch 4/1 5 ran 7min 7 secs Distances 1/2l, 7l 3rd Race The Bruce Farms Intermediate Race Void 4th Race The Pentland Landrover Northern Area Feature Mixed Open Race 1st Nicki’s Nipper 10 Miss A Waugh 2nd Thomond 10, Nick Alexander, Kit Alexander, Fife 6/1 3rd Viacomettie (FR) 9, Karen Lynn, Mr Kenneth Lynn, Mr J Dawson, Jedforest 7/4 4th Allthekingshorses 12, Nick Alexander, Mr Jamie Alexander, Fife 5/1 F 2 last Rolling Thunder 8, Victoria McKie, N Orpwood, College Valley & Northumberland 9/4 F  3rd last Safari Journey 14, Henrietta Dales, The Reassuringly Racy Club, Arran Anderson 9/2 6 ran 6m 57 3l 2l 5th Race The Rathbones PPORA Club Members Conditions Race 2.4m 1st Tambour Major (FR) 11, John Threadgall, Connor Wood, Lauderdale 8/1 2nd Nine Altars 9 Mrs Jane Dun, Miss C Dunn, Lauderdale 5/4 3rd Rossini’s Dancer 13, NIck Alexander, Kim Walker, Fife 15/8 4th The Ice Factor, 10, Alison Hamilton, Mr J P G Hamilton, Cameron Wadge, Jedforest 7/1 P Up to Al, 10, William Scott, Mr M Robertson, Miss A J Hamilton, Lauderdale 11/2 P Rafteiri, 11, William Young, A Chadwick, Lanarks & Renfrew 16/1 P Roskeen Boy 13, Andrew Gale, Miss E H Gale 14/1 P Allerton (IRE) Leanne Williamson, Misss L Williamson, Duke of Buccleuch, 10/1 P Mr Robinson 11, Rebecca Robinson, A Anderson, Derwent 9/1 9 runners 5mins 13sec 1l, 6l 6th Race The Rae Grieve Memorial Open Maiden Race 1st Treliver Manor (IRE), Tony Dobbin, L Ruddy, W Percy 3/1 2nd Royal Flush 7, Mr S Waugh, Amie Waugh, Morpeth 10/1 3rd Flower Ball, 6, Nicholas Orpwood, The Rollerball Partnership, N Orpwood, 1/1 4th Burnetts Joint, 10, William Young, Lanarks & Renfrew, Connor Wood 5th Caherelly (Ire), 8, Rebecca Hewit, Mrs Ray Calder. Berwicks. Miss Amy Waugh 5/1 ur at the 1st Galahill, 5, W Young, R Wilson PU 5 from home, Choix de L’Amour, Tim Reed, Haydon, A Chadwick PU 3 from home, Carrickcross Boye, Mark Russell, Kit Alexander 8 runners 7m04 1/2 l , 6l

 

(Results below)

Kinneston trainer, Nick Alexander is always worth following at his home Fife meeting and recorded a double for the third season in a row in Saturday’s renewal at Balcormo Mains, where a bumper crowd gave 2017 Grand National winner, One For Arthur a great reception when he was paraded before racing.

Allthekingshorses set the ball rolling when repeating last year’s success in the Pentland Land Rover Men’s Open Race. Ridden as usual by his owner, Jamie Alexander, the 11 year old made virtually every yard of the running and forged clear from three out to beat Another Dark Rum by twenty lengths. Jamie, younger brother of Nick, said: ”That’s the first time he’s worn cheekpieces for us although he had done in the past when trained by Philip Hobbs. He didn’t jump as fluently as usual but still won easily.”

More than nine years after making his racecourse debut over six furlongs at Pontefract when trained by Richard Fahey, Rossini’s Dancer is still a force to be reckoned with and took his winning tally to 17 on his 86th career outing under all codes in the two and a half mile Rathbones Balcormo Racing Club Members Race to complete Alexander’s short-priced double.

Nick’s son, Kit said of the 12 year old: ”He seems better these days when he can get a lead in his races but with only three runners and a shorter trip that wasn’t going to happen here. He picked up immediately when The Ice Factor came alongside approaching two out, finished strongly to score by a couple of lengths and I had a job to pull him up after the line.” Nick added: ” He was very lame after falling three out at Perth last April and I feared the worst but he has made a full recovery and still has a few more options this season.”

After three near misses earlier in the campaign, Charlie Snow Angel deservedly got off the mark in the Rae Grieve Memorial Open Maiden Race to give Tom Hamilton a 75th career winner, including 20 under Rules. Sent on a mile from home, the 8 year old gradually extended his advantage over Burnett’s Joint from four out and went on to score by an eased-down six lengths.

He was bred by North Tyne farmer, Michael Walton out of his four-time winning Pointer, Sister Seven but was given away five years ago when he had a stroke. Coincidentally, Charlie Snow Angel’s registered foaling date was on the corresponding day (29th April) in 2009. The gelding’s Yetholm-based trainer, Clive Storey, who was making his first visit to Balcormo since 2010, commented: ”He had a couple of runs under Rules in 2014 but then had two seasons off as I didn’t have the time to train him. He was hardly blowing at the finish and might run next in a Kelso Novices Hunters’ Chase on May 10.”

It was a case of patience paying for Bill Aitchison’s Fernando’s Song in the Subaru Restricted Race. Bought privately in August 2013, five months after landing an Irish Maiden, the gelding was sidelined with a leg injury until making a comeback this season. Always going well in a slowly run affair, Gary Beaumont”s mount led after three out and kept finding extra to repel a renewed challenge from Hey Listen by half a length, with Kitty Fisher a further length away in third.

There was a popular win for Cumbrian raider, Nickwillis in the Turcan Connell NPPA Club Members Race in the hands of Cameron Wadge. The 12 year old was still two lengths behind Great Gusto at the last but engaged overdrive on the run-in to snatch the spoils inside the last fifty yards.

Tim Brockbank said of his mother, Elizabeth’s home-bred charge: ”That’s one for my father, John, who passed away on Tuesday. I’ve been hunting the Cumberland Foxhounds on Nickwillis all winter and this was the perfect warm-up for his next run at the last ever Cumberland Point-to-Point at Heathfield near Aspatria on Saturday 13th May.”

Whisperdale ended a losing run stretching back twenty seven months in the Bruce Farms Ladies Open Race. The 9 year old jumped and travelled well under a positive front-running ride from Charlotte Dun but looked in trouble when headed three out by the odds-on favourite, Shantou Magic. Although the latter was still two lengths up at the last, Kelly Bryson’s mount was running on empty and quickly surrendered the initiative on the run-in as Whisperdale swept by to win, going away, by four lengths.

The winner has been well hunted with the Lauderdale by his owner/trainer, Jack Clark, who said: ”His recent poor form can be forgiven as I discovered he had been running with a poisoned near fore. He needs top of the ground and will run again at Mosshouses on Sunday.”

The main action was preceded by three pony races which attracted a total of 17 runners. Thomas Bradburne, 10, son of former National Hunt jockey, Mark Bradburne, made the long trip from Lambourn worthwhile by steering Push The Button to victory in The Ship Inn, Elie contest for ponies 138cm and under.

The Perth Racecourse-sponsored 148cm and under race went to Beverley raider, Carrowmeer in the hands of Sarah Longthorn, 13, while the Treehouse Sporting Colours Novice Riders Conditions Race was won by Georgia Laurie, 15, on Glenmorangie.

The Fife Point-to-Point committee led by secretary, Fiona Drysdale along with their hard-working course management team provided good, well-watered ground and deserved much better support from owners and trainers. In addition, Balcormo offered the best prize money across the UK over the Bank Holiday weekend , while owners, trainers and jockeys could enjoy a hot meal, snacks and drinks. Hopefully, more trainers based south of the border might think about sending their horses to Balcormo in 2018.