THE NORTH NORFOLK HARRIERS - HIGHAM
Sunday 3rd January 2010
Advanced Going: - Good
12.00 noon. Open Maiden Div 1 – 18 entries
The organisers have divided this race on
entry and of the two divisions this looks like the weaker one. Castleconner Lad was placed on all his six outings last season; a
placing must be a certainty in this heat but can he just show that little bit
extra? Shales Ay Jay was placed four times from five starts last season and
hails from a good yard; appears to have stamina limitations, but along with
Brafield this must be one of the least demanding courses in the country on that
front. Broken Beau is now with Joe Turner but formerly trained by Henry
Daly and was placed third in a Bangor Bumper early in his career and was 4th to
Weird Al beaten 8½ lengths in a Warwick hurdle in November 08; the
yard's runners usually need their first outing. Dusty Springheeled was placed 3rd on her debut in a Newbury Bumper for
Lucy Wadham beaten 2½ lengths behind Strategic Approach but has been well
beaten in two subsequent Bumpers. Medic has been placed five
times from sixteen starts under rules for Tim Fitzgerald; he's probably the
most experienced runner here but hasn't run since June 08. Honky Tonk Angel was third on her final appearance last season beaten
12 lengths behind Barry The Cracker at Overton; she has since changed
stables and pulled up at Cottenham on Monday. Deadly Dude was
placed once from 2 starts in Irish points when 3rd at Lismore beaten 7 lengths
behind Stylos Ace; he then pulled up on his subsequent start in Ireland.
He was sent off favourite on the opening day of the season at Black Forest
Lodge but pulled up once again; may have some ability but yet to show it. A
tricky contest to call but we'll take a chance that Shales Ay Jay's stamina will hold out at this venue and Castleconner Lad should again place at the very least.
Selection: Shales Ay Jay (Castleconner
Lad)
12.30 p.m. Open Maiden Div 2 – 18 entries Of the two divisions this looks the
stronger one on the bare form. That marker is set by
Mad Jack Duncan who was beaten a neck at Cottenham on Monday by Mr
Johnson and must go close if making a quick reappearance; formerly with
Alan King, he never showed a lot under Rules but appeared to take well to
pointing. Dan Maguire was second on his
pointing debut at Eyton On Severn beaten ¾ length behind Pack Drill but
then fell on his next outing; he was placed in two Worcester Hurdles beaten a
maximum of 3 lengths in June this year when trained by Tom George and must be
one for the notebook. Mister Tibbs hails
from Ken Hutsby's Warwickshire yard and they do very well with their Maiden
runners; he has run twice this season, pulling up at Black Forest Lodge then
finishing 20 lengths behind Inner Steel when 5th at Cottenham. Greek Star was fourth at Cottenham but was well
beaten behind Goscar Rock in an older horses' Maiden; he could get a
placing. Cavanquarter was placed second
on his final run last season when beaten 2 lengths by Finnow Shan at
Northaw; he was quite consistent last season and could make the frame again. Batalov has been placed six times in 15 Irish
pointing starts; he last ran in one in October and could be an interesting
runner here. Mirage Prince had numerous
placings last season including two at this track; he could again add to that
tally. Any moves in the market for Snope
must noted as the horse was formerly trained by Nicky Henderson but never saw
the racecourse; the owners often have very good horses under Rules.
Selection: Mad Jack Duncan (Dan
Maguire)
1.00
p.m. PPORA Club Members Novice Riders – 20 entries
Yet again we have an interesting field to
contest the Novice Riders race and after Jack Quinlan’s success last week,
special praise must go to all those beavering away behind the Pony Races who
have seen the progression of winning pony riders into the world of pointing.
Quinlan’s mount The Railway
Man is entered for this race but as
his legs are apparently very fragile it seems likely he will require more than
a week to recover from his latest outing so his involvement must be in doubt.
The same must also be said of Leaseback who seemed to
have gone wrong in the closing moments of his latest outing at Cottenham. Aztec Warrior ran well in the Men’s Open at Cottenham and it will
be interesting to see if trainer Antonia Bealby enters this one or sticks with The Luder who tipped up in the Novice Riders race at Cottenham. Court Adjourn had a wonderful season in 2007/2008 ending up with third
place in the Hiscox final at Cheltenham; only one run the following season and
no show last year due to leg trouble but if he has been nursed back to full
health and has a good pilot, he might prove hard to beat. Liberty Ben a two time winner under Rules when in the Alner yard
provides the horsepower for the next one of the Andrews production line.
Following in Georgina’s footsteps this race is destined to bring about the
baptism of younger sister Bridget. Like Court Adjourn, Why Connie is another who has had good pointing form in the past
but has been off due to injury; if back to his old self and with the right
rider on board this one could also feature in the mix up. SaddlersMelody won a point in Ireland back in April but has fallen a
couple of times in his short career. With the benefit of a race under his belt Aztec Warrior gets the nod but Liberty Ben is sure
to be there or thereabouts.
Selection:Aztec Warrior (Liberty
Ben)
1.30
p.m. Intermediate – 14 entries
From a mainly unraced (this season) entry list, 6 yr. old Shales Army stands out as not only warranting a
Weatherby’s Star but having won a Short Maiden (v. easy) and Restricted at
Tabley under Richard Burton in 2009, he should go close. 11 yr. old Jazz Attack unseated rider in a Folkestone Hunter
Chase but rated to romp an Intermediate by Mackenzie (can’t quite see why from
previous form), may prove useful. Ballynonty
is suited by fast ground and although a Hunter Chase 2nd to Took my Eye
at Huntingdon in April should be discounted due to the probable ground. Jewel Song a 10 length 2nd in a Kingston Blount
Intermediate in May on good ground following a 20 length win over My Best
Buddy (disqualified for loss of weight cloth) a further 12 lengths over Bering
Gifts in a Novice Rider Club Members. Peppershot
only ran once, 4th in 2009 in the same race at the same meeting
under Phil York and should not trouble the judges this time either. Top Boots from the revered Marriage stable -
another single 2009 run with a 2nd in a Cottenham Intermediate. Start Royal and Maranach
areunlikely to run as raced on Monday, but if postponed for a week
could well be in the shakeup.
Selection: Shales Army (Jazz Attack)
2.00 p.m. Mens Open– 27 entries
Nine of those entered, ran at Cottenham on
Monday and are unlikely to run. Henry’s Pride won a
Hunter Chase at Wetherby and a Men’s Open at Dalton Park last season when
trained in Yorkshire. Just
Talking progressed throughout last
season, winning four races, commencing with a Maiden win at Chaddesley Corbett
in February through to an easy win in an Intermediate at Maisemore Park at the
end of March. James Pine failed to win last season, although he had a chance
to repeat his success at Cheltenham’s Hunter Chase meeting, only to unseat his
rider when leading at the second last; he did finish 2nd in a Hunter Chase at
Uttoxeter behind Noakarad de Verzee. Bonne Noel’s won a Ladies
Open at Higham, a Men’s Open at Brafield and then a Hunter Chase at Fakenham.
He then finished one and a half lengths in front of James Pine when they finished 4th & 5th respectively in a Hunter Chase at
Southwell in April. Buckby
Lane also ran in Hunter Chases last
season, his best performance was finishing 3rd to Ofarel D’Airy, but at
14 he may find it difficult to find the form that allowed him to beat Amicelli
two seasons ago. Jumbul Sale won at the corresponding meeting two years ago but
has not run since, and another who returning from a layoff is Why Connie, who ran once at the beginning of last season; he had previously won a
Hunter Chase at Stratford in 2008. Star Double finished 3rd
in a Hunter Chase at Huntingdon last year; this was preceded with a 2nd to Caveman
in a men’s open at Ampton. Andrew
Nick won a Claiming Chase for N.
Twiston-Davies at Ayr in April, whilst Victree won a Novice
Handicap chase at Plumpton in May for L. Wells and Launde won a 2 mile Handicap Chase at Wincanton in April for C. Gordon.
Selection: Just Talking (Henry's Pride)
2.30
p.m. Ladies Open - 18 entries
A reasonable number and quality of entries
but several of the better horses including Big Moment, Cathedral Rock, Petit Lord, Rajam and
Takotna ran on Monday and we would be
surprised to see them out again so soon. That leaves Honest Endeavour and Scotland Yard as the main
contenders with the former being rated slightly higher having completed a
four-timer last season against strong opposition. However, Scotland Yard was unbeaten in the points that he completed last
season and is our selection if partnered again by Clare Allen. King du Berlais has plenty of talent having won under rules in France
and at Horseheath last season, however he’s a tricky ride and the Turner’s
horses tend to run better later in the season. Pouilly is from the same stable as Scotland Yard and won an
Intermediate here last season; he has a chance if the main contenders don’t
run. Liberty Ben is a new recruit from NH racing - see Novice Riders. Roaringwater won a Ladies’ at Detling a year ago beating Big
Moment in the process but hasn’t been seen since. Badger won a 3 runner Novice Chase at Fakenham last season but rates well
below the best here. River
Pirate was 2nd here in a Ladies’ last
season but the competition looks stronger this time. Smart Boy Prince has shown nothing in his two runs this season. The Bandit ran disappointingly at Chaddesley on Monday. Top Ram was a fair hurdler for Jim Old (best over 2-2.5 miles) and last won at
Chepstow in April; he’s never raced over fences and it will be interesting to
see how he goes here.
Selection Scotland Yard (Honest
Endeavour)
3.00.
p.m Restricted – 21 entries
Despite the season being barely underway, two
entries have already achieved second places in Restricted races this season,
both in contrasting circumstances. Hiho Silver Lining took
second in the very lightly contested race last week and may struggle to make
the same position this time round. Conversely, Lotta Presents (Ire), lost out by just a neck to 16-1 Posh Dude, in a
dramatic finish earlier on in the month and may do well again. During the race
in which Lotta Presents came second, the 10-3 favourite Oscar D’Angron (Fr)was pulled up by jockey Richard Burton who,
incidentally, also has managed a second place in a Restricted race - just two
lengths behind favourite Wantage Road at Garthorpe in May 2009. The battle
between these horses that have been so close to winning through in this class
should provide some excellent racing. Two Maiden winners to keep an eye on are
Fred Hutsbytrained Mister
Teddy after winning the divided two
and a half mile Maiden by two lengths at Black Forest Lodge in December and Delgany Gunner whowon the same class of race at Dingley in April
2000; both horses look as though they could be useful in the future. Another
promising young horse is the Don Cantillon owned and trained Inner Steel (Ire), who steps up to the Restricted level after winning his
first race between the flags in the first division of the two and a half mile
Maiden at Cottenham in December, going off as 4-6 favourite, but may need some
time to mature. Several entries, Baraka de Baune (Fr), Clifford T Ward and
Silver Ace all have many years of
experience between the flags, but have struggled to win their respective
Maidens and are unlikely to get a place.
Selection: Lotta Presents (Oscar
D’Angron)
Enjoy
some great racing