The penultimate fixture for the Midlands Season 2025-6 is hosted by The Fernie at Dingley on Sunday 3rd May. 63 horses are entered.
The course has been watered since Sunday 26th April using water from both the Dingley pond and Dingley Park opposite the racecourse. Course management has been planned carefully and we ask that connections do not attempt to walk the course until Saturday 2nd May at the request of the land owner and because work on the ground will not be complete.
Dingley is just East of the town of Market Harborough in Leicestershire. Tickets are available online at https://midlandspointing.com/tickets or on the gate on the day (£15).
This meeting hosts six races, starting at 2pm.
The feature race for the Midlands Area season is the Fernie Mixed Open, otherwise known as the Fernie Four Miler, sponsored by Welland Valley Feeds.
Nine entries are hoping to stay the course this year, headed up, on rating at least, by Aramax, who lost to Cheytac at the Easter Saturday meeting here and will be hoping to return to the winning form we saw in the two runs previous to that. He should stay the distance. Gina Andrews won that Easter Saturday Open on Cheytac, and this time she brings the prolific Master Templar, if indeed they choose not to run at the Warwickshire meeting at Mollington. From the same string, Tigerbythetail, ridden by Molly Legg, may join us but also have several other entries over the weekend. This also applies to Soldier unknown, the Alan Hill-trained seven-year-old who was third last time at High Easter and is looking for a first win of the season. Bothwell Bridge is owned by the Fernie Dingley Syndicate but lacks winning form this season. Mister Splash missed out by a short head in the Fakenham hunter chase won by On Lovers Walk on his last trip out for the Turner family – Paddy Barlow has the ride having returned from the Maryland Cup. Red Maple, owned and trained by Nick Wright in Newmarket won a conditions race at High Easter but isn’t the most consistent. Larry, won last time out at Parham for George Gorman but may find the extra distance a challenge. Who’s In The Box, second last time for Joan Jonhston, is only entered at this fixture but may run in the Conditions instead.
The day is book-ended by two maiden races. The first of these, kindly sponsored by Watling JCB, is a two mile four furlong maiden which will start by the finish line and includes weight allowances for age and gender meaning that two of the entries, Cafe Whispers trained by Louise Bevin and Manhatane, trained by Fred Timmis, will carry 17lb less than the others. Ocean View, trained by Gina Andrews, Six Seven and Rum N Reggae, both trained by Francesca Poste, would carry 10lb less. Yuledoforme, trained by Jack Teal, makes his racecourse debut.
The last race of the day is the Rod Millington Maiden, kindly sponsored by James Mossman, and does not give any weight allowances for age so is more likely to be contested by slightly older horses. Yuledoforme is entered here as well, and Jack Teal also has That’s Phwaroah who pulled up last time and is yet to complete. Corra Bheinn, trained by Francesca Poste, might be the pick of these, with two third place and one second place this season. Kelly Morgan-trained Kings Cowboy has two seconds and a third before pulling up last time. Local trainer Stuart Morris brings Lily My Girl who gets 7lb for being a mare. She has two fourth place finishes this season. No Case To Answer is another with several finished in the frame this year. This grey is trained by Bradley Gibbs.
Six horses could contest the Tattersalls Conditions race for Novice Riders, defined as such if they had not had five winners at the start of this season. Toss Again is trained in Newmarket by Jennifer Owen and has three wins from three starts between the flags but this outing would see a different jockey in the plate. Surprise Attack is trained in Yorkshire by Alice Dawson for the Racy Ladies Partnership and has multiple wins on his record, most recently second to Largy Shark at Hornby Castle, and will be ridden by Louis Covell. Young Rich is no stranger to point-to-point racing and has the very capable Molly Legg on board, who recently deputised for Gina Andrews in the Garthorpe Mixed Open to win the Quorn Gold Cup. Nick Wright trains his own Fame And Concrete, ridden by Cian Murphy who was second in the Intermediate at Guilsborough on his last trip.
After the Mixed Open we have 15 entries for the Sharnford Tractors Restricted Race. The horses coming into this with recent form include Fayrely Fruitful, trained by Rhiannon Lodge; Guess What, who was second in a conditions race at Charm Park; Jasmin des Blins who won a restricted at Kingston Blount two weeks ago; Main Stage, second in the High Easter Restricted earlier in April; Our Brother John, who was second at Larkhill in March; Right Let’s Go, who won the open maiden here at Dingley at Easter for Stuart Morris; Spartan Brave, a winner at High Easter, and Trojan du Berlais who was second in the Restricted race here at the last meeting at Dingley. Lots of potential winners among these so it will depend who declares on Sunday.
Finally the penultimate race of the day is the Savills Veteran Horse Restricted Race, with eight entries.
Local trainer Dale Peters starts this meeting with 198 point-to point winners and as leader in the Top Trainer (small strings) table. He has three entered across the card for this Dingley meeting and Bowtogreatness is the one he brings forward for this races. This first season pointer has been placed in open company and carries a 7lb penalty for this one. Larry, Who’s In The Box and Young Rich, previously mentioned, have entries here in addition to the Four Miler so may choose this company. Likewise Fame And Concrete, trained by Nick Wright, and Hunting Percival, trained by Tracey Barfoot-Saunt for A Good Days Racing have entries in the Novice Riders Conditions race as well. Champion Jockey James King is booked to ride Coolagh Park, a 12-year-old from the Alan Hill yard. Michael Dawson saddles Golden Taipan, who could be one to treat with a little caution, having run out in his last race.
As usual at Dingley there will be lots going on off and on the track, with a busy trade stand area, public bar, children’s amusements etc. in addition to the races on the card.
Meetings at Dingley do get very busy so we would respectfully suggest that you arrive in good time and have a picnic at the back of your car to avoid queuing on the roads outside the course.