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By BETSY BRANSCOME
Rappahannock Ncwa Special Writer
In an unprecedented, international prep race, two-time Virginia Gold Cup and 1992 Maryland Hunt Cup victor Von Csadek will make the March 13 Warrenton Hunt Point-to-Point at Airlie his sole start before the April 3 Grand National Steeplechase in Liverpool, England.
Eight carded races are slated for Saturday’s 1 p.m. post time. Splits are expected in three events.
The headliner will be the 2V±mile open hurdle over the rolling course. Seven are entered, including Von Csadek’s Monkton, Md. stablemate, Commanding Dance.
“Von Csadek is training well,” said part owner, Margaret Worrall. “We just have to remember that the '2V‘ miles is only half as long as the National. Four miles has always been his favorite distance. At two miles, he’s just getting warmed up!”
The gelding scored an incredible 100-length victory in the 1988 Gold Cup, repeating the triumph in ’90. He fell in the Great Meadow race in ’92, attempting a rare, back-to-back Hunt Cup-Gold Cup double.
In 1990, the Scanden Stable runner, trained by Doug Worrall and regularly ridden by son Patrick, shipped to England to train for the '91 National. He won his first two English starts, but then popped a splint and was brought home.
The gelding will utilize the Warrenton race as his main preparation for the National. Commanding Dance will travel with his training partner from New York to England on March 29 to race Friday, April 2 in the Topham Trophy. The Topham races once around the National loop, giving the 21-year-old rider valuable experience over the huge course.
Two to watch will be March 7 Blue Ridge flat victor. I Lead The Band and ’92 Warrenton maiden hurdle victor, Vernon’s Victory.
Series events share the spotlight, as ladies, owner-riders and novice riders will race. The ownerrider timber drew a field of seven.
The owner-rider hurdle features eight in the line-up. headed by Jill Waterman's Abacus, runner-up last Sunday at Blue Ridge. Casanova victor Chinn’s Crossing and Nelson
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