ESSEX & SUFFOLK HUNT MEETING – Higham
SATURDAY 3rd April 2010
Advanced Going: Good
2.00 p.m. Higham Hunt Club –2 entries
Just two
entries.
Selection: Itsallupintheair (Magic To Do)
2.50 p.m. Restricted – 12 entries
A
modest entry, but many have been close to winning in this class so should make
good racing. After winning the 2½ mile
Maiden at Cottenham earlier this season, Coral Point (Ire) returned to the
course last month to finish 2nd in the Restricted, 3 lengths behind Mad Jack Duncan. Joanna Quinlan-trained Belavard (Ire) was the Maiden winner at North Carlton earlier this
year and last month took 3rd in the aforementioned Restricted at Cottenham,
finishing 15 lengths behind Coral Point.
Simon Andrews trained Crosby took the second division of the Maiden at
North Carlton (Belavard
took first division, in a slower time); the eight year old then went on to come
2nd in the Restricted at Marks Tey the other week, just a neck behind outsider Evening Echo. Others worth a mention include ten year old Mountain Emperor) placed 3rd on this
course in the Restricted at the beginning of March, completing a trio of places
on the course. Winner of the older
horses’ Maiden at Cottenham this March, Castleconner Lad (Ire) has had lots of experience
between the flags, but until this point little in the way of success. The Nuns Legacy was 3rd at Higham in the
Restricted in January and later improved at Kingston Blount in March fishing
2nd, just a short head behind Dream
Article.
Selection: Coral Point (Crosby)
3.25 p.m. Mens Open – 9 entries
With
so many meetings throughout the country and with the Queens Cup at Fakenham
attracting local horses on Easter Monday, it is not surprising that there are
only nine entries. Although entered in
another Hunter Chase it is possible that one of the most promising pointers
could grace Higham again with his presence.
Start
Royal still remains unbeaten in point to points, his latest win at
Cottenham in the Men’s Open was achieved easily; twice a course winner at
Higham, his style of running is suited to an easy 3 miles. Took My Eye is another who likes an easy three
miles; on his last outing he finished 4th in a Hunter Chase at Southwell behind
Mad Victor on ground softer than he likes; prior to this he won the Men’s Open
at the last Higham meeting beating The
Accordion Man in a close race.
Behind him in 3rd was Another Dude.
In this race last year Took My Eye also had Another Dude behind when victorious.
Foulstons Ruler
has been progressing throughout the season; winning a Maiden a Cottenham in
February, he has since won a restricted at Higham and an East Anglian Club
Members race at High Easter last week; in between his runs at Higham and High
Easter, he finished a distance behind Lotta
Presents and Goscar Rock in an
intermediate at Cottenham. Ballybough Jack, a stablemate of Lotta Presents has yet to show any form
this year, whilst Parrain has yet to run for his new owner. Previously trained by Francois Doumen in France,
Parrain
ran in the 2007 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and during that
season did finish 2nd to Punjabi. Sorry Al performed well on his first run for his
connections, finishing 3rd (promoted to 2nd) behind Sigma Digital at Ampton,
but his previous form under Rules suggests that he may be better suited to take
up his entry at Marks Tey on Easter Monday.
Selection: Start Royal (Took My Eye)
4.00 p.m. Ladies Open – 9 entries
Half
these horses are also entered at Marks Tey so the art is in predicting who will
run here and who will wait until Monday. Beet De Bob is lightly raced but always gives a
good account of himself; he won here two years ago and was 3rd in a
tight finish with Big Moment and Pouilly on his reappearance in February;
he subsequently finished a respectable 3rd behind Matako at Bradbury Rings and has every
chance. After a disappointing effort
at Horseheath,
Delightful Cliche quickly got back into winning ways at Ampton
finishing 6 lengths clear of Full Irish;
the only slight doubt about him is a lack of toe which the speedy Beet De Bob
may be able to exploit but he did win here last season, jockey Gina Andrews is
in excellent form, and he should be there at the finish. Assassino has disappointed in both his runs this
season and couldn’t go with Inaro
when they kicked for home up the hill at High Easter last weekend; he was
rapidly dismounted at the finish after appearing distressed on the run-in but
was reportedly fine afterwards, it would be a surprise if he reappeared so
soon. Argentato
passed Assassino
on the line in that race but finished a distance behind Inaro and may find this too fast. It would be good to see the
return of Leatherback
who took a nasty fall at the last Cottenham meeting; if back to peak form he
could go close. Dumadic
was a distant 4th behind Theatre
Diva at Larkhill in February.
Selection: Delightful Cliche (Beet De Bob)
4. 35 p.m. PPORA Club Members (Novice Riders) – 9 entries
Ed
Turner looks to have more than a fair chance of getting off the mark with two
family horses entered, Basic Facts and
Thoutmosis; both ran last Saturday at High
Easter and it remains to be seen if they have recovered sufficiently well to
run again. Of the two Basic Facts has much the best form and came close
in this race last season when beaten 3 lengths by Duke of Stradone. Ballynonty has run well this season but this has
been in the hands of some of the leading senior riders in the area; if ridden
by one of the better novices in the area this one would have a very decent
chance. Of the rest New Time ran
best when in the hands of AP McCoy and trained by Jonjo O’Neill, miracles do
happen but present connections may not quite be in that league. Stroom Bank ran well in some races last season but is
unreliable and possibly not the best vehicle for a Novice.The surprise in the
race could be Desert
Secrets; formerly quite smart under Rules the 8 year old mare had
her first race in the hands of her owner & rider who is another from the
Wales dynasty; look for a better showing from this one.
Selection: Ballynonty (Basic Facts)
5.10. p.m. Open Maiden – 19 entries
Just
19 entered for this contest and with the safety factor being 15 it's unlikely
the race will divide. Benbaystar, Creadon Boy, Hazzard A Guess, Kuriyama, Lord Prunus, Mifaze,
Mister Tibus, Salsero, Verbury Star and Would
I Lie To You also hold entries for Marks Tey on Monday. Creadon Boy was 2nd at the previous meeting here
beaten 3 lengths behind Law Court with San
Jose a further 2 lengths behind in 3rd; the horse that finished 4th
that day, Castleconner Lad has since won at Cottenham, both of these
should be in the shake up. San Jose has since been 2nd at Detling last month
beaten ¾ of a length by Dr Sparrow. Knowsall was
pulled up before the last in this race on his pointing debut but may improve
enough to sneak a placing. Jonlahy has
been 2nd on all three runs this season and should again be involved at the
business end of the contest; on his last run he was beaten 6 lengths by Castleconner
Lad at Cottenham. Would I Lie To You
pulled up two weeks ago at Hackwood in a short Maiden, prior to this he was 4th
at Cottenham in another short Maiden beaten 11 lengths by Mambo Ruler.Salsero was 3rd at Kingston Blount last month in a
2 mile 5 furlong contest beaten 18 lengths by Quenzo Conti, he showed a
modicum of form when racing under Rules for Lucy Wadham and may appreciate this
flat track. Mirage Prince was 3rd last
week at High Easter, beaten 12½ lengths by Caged Tiger; he was twice placed at this course
last season. Verbury Star is making his
seasonal appearance and improved with each run last season; on his final start
he was 2nd beaten 6 lengths by Flying Whale at Trebudannon, he would
have to have a major chance if fully wound up.
A tricky contest to call with so many doubly entered but San Jose is improving with each start, Jonlahy is consistent and Verbury Star must also be a contender if fully fit
on his belated seasonal debut.
Selection: San Jose (Jonlahy)
Enjoy some great racing