Allen is raring to go

9:15am Thursday 24th April 2008

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NATIONAL Champion Lady Rider Claire Allen has recovered from injury and is ready for her home meeting this Saturday as she aims for victory in the Berkeley Hunt point to point.

Local star Allen suffered a bad fall seven weeks ago and was left with severe concussion, and she also cracked a bone in her hand and feared she wouldn't be able to race in her favourite meeting on the calendar.

But she made her comeback for the Ludlow point to point recently, finishing second with Equivocate at Ludlow, and stormed to victory in the restricted with Mad Victor in the Atherstone point to point on Sunday.

Allen said: "Luckily I'm back in time for the Berkeley race."

"It gave me a good boost of confidence, it's really good to come back and get a victory soon after injury, it's what every jockey hopes for."

That win has put Allen in buoyant mood ahead of Saturday's meeting where she has enjoyed plenty of success in the past.

She hopes to have a few rides, the most likely will be with Equivocate, trained by fellow Berkeley man Dick Baimbridge, who has had plenty of winners over the years at his home meeting.

Allen could be up against Polly Gundry, who is well clear in this years Ladies Championship in the Members race, but the 22 year-old is feeling good about her chances of success.

She said: "Hopefully I'll be on form, I'm raring to go so it will be all guns blazing.

"There is a bit more pressure on me, and I always want a winner when I ride in the hunt so hopefully I can do that.

One of hundreds of similar race meetings that take place throughout the UK, Point to Pointing is fiercely contested amateur steeple-chasing and attracts both devoted followers and families enjoying a fun day out.

The Berkeley meeting is one of the more popular fixtures in the calendar and that fact is reflected by the massive entry of 225 and with the Maiden already divided there will be at least seven races on the card.

Allen first rode at the Berkeley meeting as a 16 year-old, and she looks forward to it more than any other.

She said: "It's definitely my favourite track to ride on, because it is local and also because it is a big long track, flat, and it is well presented and very popular.

"It's a nice proper racecourse, and a very professional point to point track.

You always get a good day's racing so hopefully the sun will be shining."

Local trainer Julie Houldey will also be looking for success and is riding on the crest of a wave at the present time. Her rivals will find it difficult to get past Bowdens Lane or Sykee Savage who are both capable of taking the prize back to Houldey's North Nibley stable.

The racecourse is specially constructed in the open countryside of the Berkeley Vale and all of the usual facilities are available including on-course bookmakers, bar, catering and shops.

Many people arrive early with a picnic to enjoy in the sunshine before the racing starts. Children and dogs are very welcome and visitors can walk around the course, looking at the jumps and watching as the horses thunder past.

Berkeley Hunt Master and Point to Point organiser Henry Berkeley said: "Everyone is welcome to come and join us for an exciting day's racing. The Point to Point is a great day out in the countryside for all the family."

The point to point takes place at Woodford on the A38, and entrance costs £15 per car and driver plus £5 per extra person.