Brocklesby races take place on Saturday 21st February at Brocklesby Park by kind permission of the Earl and Countess of Yarborough.
94 entries have been taken for the 6-race card starting at 12noon, with gates opening to the public at 10am. Entrance on the gate is £15 per person with under 16’s free, early bird tickets at £13 available online up to midnight on 20th February.
At the beginning of the week the going was described as “soft, good to soft in places”. North Lincolnshire has been fortunate in not having had as much rain in recent weeks as some parts of the country and the old Brocklesby turf has taken it well with the forecast now looking more favourable for the rest of the week. There will be a range of trade stands, hot and cold food outlets and a heated bar. Other highlights include a prize for the best picnic on a day and the popular Boozy Barrow raffle in aid of the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.
The first race on the card is the PPORA Club Members & Brocklesby / Lincs Conditions race (Level 1) for which 16 horses are entered. The Countess of Yarborough trophy will be presented to the first Brocklesby horse past the post and owner Laurence Kirkby would be a popular recipient. His horse Emir Sacree, trained by his son in law, Charles Clark and a former Nicky Henderson trained 12-year-old, won at Sheriff Hutton last year and has been in the frame finishing second at Alnwick in December. Trainer / rider Dale Peters is having a very successful season and has a choice of David Kemp horses; he could ride either hunter chase winner Rebel Dawn Rising or the lightly raced 9-year-old All the Ammunition. Fumet d’Oudairies appears to have had his training issues but cannot be ignored if teaming up with top rider Gina Andrews.
16 entries have been made for the feature Baillie Haylage Open race. There are a few interesting horses in here who have turned to pointing following careers under rules. Bothwell Bridge, from the Kelly Morgan stable gave Ellie Callwood and spin around the Randox Foxhunters Open Hunter Chase at Aintree last April. Designed To Win could be the mount of Dale Peters; he stays very well and has form on both soft and heavy ground when trained by Henry De Bromhead in Ireland. Bardenstown Lad finished third in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham festival in 2022 when trained by John McConnell. He won a hunter chase at Fakenham last year but has lost his way a bit recently and his jumping will need to be better than it has been.
The DDM Agriculture sponsored third race is a Conditions race for 8-year olds and over (Level 3). Red Opium is normally consistent and has been placed second the last two years at Brocklesby for the Mason / Coward team. Sunset On Fire is another to consider; he won at Witton Castle towards the end of last season.
The restricted race is being sponsored by Brigg Office Supplies and has attracted an entry of 13. Jockey James King rode a double at this meeting last year and will be hoping to add to his tally of winners on Nice to See You who is trained by Alan Hill.
The meeting closes with two maiden races, the first of which is sponsored by the Jockey Club and Andrew Jackson Solicitors and restricted to fillies and mares. Among the 11 entries are two 4- year olds; Kalyeeda Creek and Café Whispers who, if they run will have a huge weight for age allowance, they are required to carry just 10 stone. However, the pick could be the more experienced Chiroqui Princess for Will Thirlby; she has been placed three times in Ireland. Nunns Isuzu sponsor the open maiden race for which 20 horses have been entered. The Alan Hill Drayton Flyer, formerly trained by Olly Murphy has form on soft ground and has been placed second four times including when a beaten favourite when ridden by Sean Bowen in December.
The course at Brocklesby is located close to the B1210 near Humberside Airport and approximately 5 miles from junction 5 of the M180.