ESSEX FARMERS & UNION HUNT MEETING – MARKS TEY
MONDAY 5th April 2010
Advanced Going: Good
2.00 p.m. Open Maiden – 22 entries
The
second maiden race of the Easter period has attracted 29 entries but Benbaystar, Creadon
Boy, Hazzard A Guess, Kuriyama, Lord Prunus, Mifaze, Mister Tibus, Salsero,
Verbury Star and Would I Lie To You are
all engaged at Higham on Saturday so it's doubtful we will split as the safety
factor is 18. However we said that at the previous meeting and got that call
wrong. Rockfield was 2nd at the previous
meeting here beaten 2 lengths by Coleraine with Mill Five Acre a similar distance away in 3rd;
that was a step up on Rockfield's
previous runs and Mill Five Acre has been
placed in all four outings this term. Coxwell
Snowstorm was sent off favourite for this race having been 2nd here
in February to Broken Beau beaten 6 lengths but finished 4th, 25 lengths
behind Mill Five Acre, it's difficult
seeing him reverse that form. Saddler's Blaze
was 2nd at High Easter last week when going down by ½ a length to Caged
Tiger. Argentato has been contesting
Ladies Opens despite still being a Maiden and was 2nd to Inaro last week
at High Easter beaten 35 lengths, however he could go well here now he's had
his sights lowered. 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 but
he may appreciate Higham's less stamina sapping track. Creadon Boy
was 2nd at Higham last month beaten 3 lengths behind Law Court with
subsequent Cottenham winner Castleconner Lad 4th. 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 ability when racing under Rules for Lucy Wadham and is another who
may be seen to better effect on an easier track. Johnny
Buck is a half brother to top Novice Chaser Weird Al and is
probably capable of stepping up on his debut run at Higham where he pulled up
early this month in the race won by Law Court. Silver Barle is another who should do better after
having a quiet run here at the previous meeting in the race won by Cavanquarter
and may appreciate a bit more cut in the ground. 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. Rockfield and Mill Five
Acre were placed in the race won by Coleraine here at the previous meeting; Rockfield
has slowly been improving this term and Mill
Five Acre has been consistent so we'll side with these two as they
are not engaged at Higham and are more likely to turn out here.
Selection: Rockfield (Mill Five Acre)
2.35 p.m. PPORA Club Members ( Novice Riders) – 9 entries
Inishturk, in the very capable hands of Bridget Andrews had a
facile win at High Easter and probably took little or nothing out of himself so
may turn out again but this horse seems to run best when fresh so it may be a
few weeks before he is back. My Best Buddy seems to have developed a good
relationship with his Novice Rider, Ben Way; the
pair won here earlier this season just overcoming Ben Rivett on Sodantay another
entered for the race. The latter horse
broke a blood vessel at Ampton and was pulled up so there are clearly question
marks about this one’s reliability. Ballynonty is entered again and whilst this would
seem to be the more difficult of the Easter weekend Novice Rider events he
would still be the best over both divisions but the rider remains a question
mark. Unmistakably
and New
Lodge Express have both shown good form a few years ago but now
appear to be on the downgrade and have performed disappointingly this season. Parkinson
gave Ed Turner a good ride last time out at High Easter and could be running
into form. In that race The Painkiller faded in the closing stages
finishing a well beaten 4th; further improvement would not be a surprise after
running a much improved race. Of the other runners Belavard is
the best but nothing sticks out as likely to bother the leading contenders.
Selection: Ballynonty (My Best Buddy)
3.10 p.m. Mens Open – 10 entries
The
entries are headed by Bon Accord, the runner-up in the 2008 Cheltenham
Foxhunters. He missed last season, but returned to action at Barbury, winning a
confined by one length; his next appearance was disappointing, when he finished
4th in a Hunter Chase at Warwick, a long way behind the subsequent Cheltenham
Foxhunter winner Baby Run. Braeroy
also ran in a Hunter Chase at Warwick on his most recent run, where he also
finished 4th, 13 ¾ lengths behind Breaking
Silence; prior to this he finished 3rd to Teeton Bollinger and True
Friday at Garthorpe; this was a reversal of the form he showed last season
when Braeroy
won a Conditions race at Barbury with Teeton
Bollinger behind in 4th. Caveman has not made the winners enclosure as
often as last season, but after a slow start has been finished either 1st or
2nd on his last three runs; he has twice been denied in two closely fought
finishes in the Men’s Opens at the two previous Marks Tey fixtures; on the
first occasion he was beaten a head by Victree,
and on the second occasion by a short head to Rydal Park, with Itsallupintheair
15 lengths in arrears. In between these
two runs he won the Men’s Open at Ampton beating Rydal Park by a length. Thatmakestwoofus trounced the opposition in the
Confined race at Marks Tey’s last meeting, where he won by 20 lengths from Hidden Talents;
prior to this he showed his first glimpse of any form when 3rd in an
Intermediate at Horseheath behind Jolly
Boys Outing. Forget
The Ref finished 2nd to Where’s
My Baby in the Men’s Open at High Easter last weekend. Also in action at
High Easter were Parkinson,
The Painkiller and Super Revo who finished 2nd, 4th
and 5th respectively behind Foulstons
Ruler in the EA Club Members Conditions Race, whilst Thoutmosis finished 2nd
behind Inishturk in the Novice Riders race. Sorry Al may be better suited to this course than
Higham where he also holds an entry over Easter; he finished a respectable 2nd
to Sigma Digital at Ampton on his
first run this year, where Hidden Talents was a length further back in 3rd.
Selection: Braeroy (Caveman)
3.45 p.m. Intermediate – 16 entries
Softening
going conditions will have a major influence and will favour the experienced
horses. 8 year old Cosby, from the legendary E. Anglian Andrews and
Rowe families and ridden by the now very experienced Gina Andrews, will have
come on from a neck 2nd to Evening Echo in the March
Restricted at Marks Tey following a head win in the February North Carlton
Division 2 Open Maiden but in a relatively slow time on good to soft ground, he
may be punching above his weight here and could possibly go in the Restricted. Foulstons Ruler ran on to beat Jazz Attack into 3rd by 6 lengths in
last Saturdays' High Easter Conditions race but was beaten a distance in a very
quick time (3sec. faster than the Mens Open) March Cottenham Intermediate by Lotta
Presents – a 3 time winner this season he will have every chance if 9 days
is enough rest. Another with a short
rest and still young but improving is 6 year old Native
Bob from the Turner stable – coming from a win in the High Easter
Restricted beating Jack Ford (1 fence) and Maree Hall (unseated rider midfield) following a
Maiden win at Ampton in March. Little Legend
won the Restricted at Detling in March from Supa Tramp by 10 lengths and
the Godstone Members earlier in the month in a very quick time. The highly rated, experienced and
improving Thatmakestwoofus took the March
Marks Tey Confined in style by 20 lengths from Hidden Talents and should
justify the rating.
Selection: Thatmakestwoofus (Little Legend)
4.20 p.m. Ladies Open– 14 entries
This
promises to be an exciting encounter between two of the best mares in the
region – Mid Div
And Creep and Forget The Ref – and the result is likely to be
closer than “The Weekender” ratings imply. Mid Div And Creep ran exceptionally well at the
last meeting here to beat Inaro by ¾
length, jockey Kelly Smith said it was the fastest she’d ever been and the race
time backed that up as it was the quickest here for several years. Forget The Ref
has been running in Men’s Opens and was a close 2nd to Where’s My Baby at High Easter last
weekend; she will appreciate the lighter load and should go close. Delightful Cliche
would also have an excellent chance but is more likely to go to Higham. Roaringwater
is capable of putting in strong performances but can also disappoint; he won
his last race –a Ladies Club Members’ at Detling. Inishturk is an interesting outsider
as he’s won both his starts in Novice Riders’ albeit in slowish times. It would be interesting to see how he fares
in better company. The comments made about Argentato, Assassino and Leatherback in the Higham preview
also apply here and they are all likely to find others too good.
Selection: Mid Div And Creep (Forget The Ref)
4.55. p.m. Restricted – 9 entries
After
winning the Maiden on this course in February, Bynack Mhor (Ire) finished 3rd in
the Restricted at Kingston Blount in March, just a short head and a neck behind
the winner Dream Article.Tuesday Club was
3rd in the Restricted at Ampton earlier this season; despite finishing last
season with a 2nd place in the Confined at Northaw, just a single length behind
Bunratty’s Sole. One of several of the Turner’ horses
entered for this race, Broken Beau took first in the second division of
the Open Maiden at Marks Tey a few weeks ago, with a six length lead over Coxwell Snowstorm; after moving up a
class, the seven year old finished 2nd in the Restricted at Horseheath just 1½
lengths behind favourite Horsham Lad.
Cavanquarter
and Coleraine
both step up to the Restricted class after winning the respective
Maidens on this course. Cavanquarter had a ¾
length lead over Mossapoag a few
weeks ago whilst Simon Andrews trained Coleraine finished with a slightly more
comfortable two length lead. Belavard, Broken
Beau, Crosby, Mambo Ruler are also
entered in the Restricted at Higham.
Selection: Broken Beau (Crosby)
Enjoy some great racing