A HOST of area championship titles will be decided when Chaddesley Corbett stages the final West Midlands point-to-point fixture of the season.
The Albrighton & Woodland (South) meeting will be held on Monday from 2pm.
Early arrivals will be able to see the hound parade at 1pm, while Hazel Hill, the winner of this year’s Foxhunters Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and the Timico Final at the same venue a month later, will be parading in the paddock at 1.30pm.
The prestigious West Midlands Open Race Championship has been in Wishing and Hoping’s grip for a month or so, but victory for Diamond King in the Ladies Open will snatch the prize from his grasp.
The former has two victories to his credit but does not hold an entry at this meeting so that is the best he can achieve, while Diamond King has one victory and a third place, so another success would tip the scales in the Worcestershire-trained gelding's favour.
The same race could also have a significant impact to the outcome of the leading horse award. You’re the Man is the current leader but will do well to gain any points in the men's conditions.
There are numerous permutations but if his principal opponent Ballyboker Breeze finished second in the ladies' race and You’re the Man failed to score any points it would end up in a tie, while success would see Jo Priest's gelding pip his rival at the post.
There are seven points separating Josephine Banks and Alice Stevens in the battle for the ladies' jockey title and with Banks partnering Diamond King and Stevens riding Ballyboker Breeze, this race will play a significant part in deciding the outcome of who becomes the area's leading rider.
Diamond King and Ballyboker Breeze both have to concede weight to their rivals and this complicates things even further.
Big Man Doe is an interesting contender and his chances have to be respected but like Celtic Silver both have alternative engagements over the weekend.
King Willie has shown a good level of form between the flags, but may just lack that vital turn of foot in the closing stages. Vasco du Mee ran no sort of race at Edgcote last weekend, while Well Mett could spring a surprise as he has done in the past.
Tb Broke Her has not been out since finishing fourth at Cheltenham but she is still in contention for the mares award and victory will provide crucial points towards that target.
Her best performance was at Monmouth Showground earlier in the season and if she is in that sort of form her rivals will struggle to catch her.
Two other contenders for the mares title are competing in the restricted race earlier in the afternoon, including Tb Broke Her’s stablemate R Bren. Sam Jukes has enjoyed another successful campaign and will be keen to finish off the West Midlands season with a winner.
Jeans Lady still has a chance of winning the mares award but she has gone off the boil since winning at Paxford in April.
Behomebymidnight, Brass in Pocket and Diplomatico could cause a surprise, while Chief Sittingbull jumped well and easily outpointed a more fancied rival over course and distance a couple of week ago.
The meeting opens with the Club Conditions race where the experienced Mister Dix and Son of Suzie pit their wits against the likes of Aupcharlie and recent Bredwardine winner Galbally King.
Ballycahane, Carrig Dubh, Drumhart and Summer Sounds look a cut above the rest in this contest.
Summer Sounds also has an alternative engagement in the men's conditions race, which has attracted 21 entries. These include Big Casino, the improving Chase Me, Hawkhurst, Phil Rowley's Knight Bachelor, the Welsh challenger Spencer Moon and You’re the Man.
The open maiden contest brings the curtain down on the West Midlands season at 4.55pm.
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