ESSEX HUNT MEETING –High Easter

SATURDAY 17^TH April 2010

Advanced Going: Good, Good to Firm

1.30 p.m. High Easter Hunts Club Members –8 entries

The Hunt Members kicks us off at 1.30 and we have an entry of 8. Killeengh Lodge and Quel Ferbet have not done enough this season to be fancied in this. Benbaystar ran well when finishing 2^nd in the Maiden at Marks Tey beaten 3 lengths but a distance clear of the remainder. Thyne Hall ran on Saturday in the Maiden at Horseheath finishing 3^rd beaten 16 lengths and may struggle in this if turned out again so quickly. Creadon Boy was 2^nd to Law Court at Higham in March beaten only 3 lengths but was pulled up last time. Cavanquarter is the only one of these to have won this year and merits respect in this company. Montevideo is talented but took a nasty fall last time out so let's hope that has not affected his confidence. Remysterio has been 4^th on last two appearances but may have to settle for a minor honour again.

Selection: Benbaystar (Cavanquarter)

2.05 p.m. Restricted – 15 entries

Simon Andrews trained Crosby won the divided Maiden at North Carlton, the eight year old then went on to finish 2^nd in the Restricted at Marks Tey last month, just a neck behind outsider Evening Echo. Joe Turner owned and trained Broken Beau (Ire) took 1^st in the second division of the Open Maiden at Marks Tey last month, with a six length lead over Coxwell Snowstorm; after moving up a class, the seven year old finished 2^nd in the Restricted at Horseheath just 1.5 lengths behind favourite Horsham Lad. Seven year old Tommy Thunder bypassed the Maiden class and has so far this season had three 2^nd places from three starts between the flags, all in the Restricted Races.

Promising young maidens in entry include six year old Teeton Coral who won the Maiden at Thorpe Lodge earlier this month with the official going as holding. Six Year old Winnine Wood convincingly won the Maiden at Parham last month with a 20 length lead. Andrew Braithwaite rode 20-1 nine year old Lord Prunus to win the Open Maiden at Higham Earlier this month, completing the nine year olds first win from three starts.

Selection: Tommy Thunder (Crosby)

2.40 p.m. CA Club Members – 16 entries

Firstly remember this race is 3 miles and 6 furlongs, in other words 25% longer than normal so stamina will play a key aspect of selecting the winner. Sticking out like the proverbial sore thumb is Teeton Bollinger who was recently touched off in the Detling 4 miler so stamina is clearly not a problem; ridden in the past by Stuart Morris, who has now retired, it will be interesting to see who gets the ride but it is sure to be a top jock. Assuming he turns up then this one will surely be the odds on favourite despite the possible presence of Caveman, comprehensively beaten by old rival Rydal Park at Horseheath on Saturday, Inishturk who has a 100% strike rate so far this season and The King of Angels from the highly successful Gerald Bailey yard – BUT - if he doesn’t run then we will have a far more open race. George Greenock has two entered, Caveman, who had a hard race on Saturday and perhaps more interestingly The Painkiller the easy winner of the Men’s Open at Marks Tey’s Easter Monday meeting; whether the ground will be to his liking remains a question mark but he has improved throughout the season so could be the one to follow. A real outsider who might just surprise is Unmistakably who has shown absolutely nothing so far this season; those with good memories however, will remember that this one won the Lady Dudley Cup back in 2006 – when it was rated at 11 – 1; sadly however the ground might not be in his favour. In truth we cannot see beyond Teeton.

Selection: Teeton Bollinger (The Painkiller)

3.15 p.m. Ladies Open – 14 entries

It’s great to see a high quality entry for the East Anglian Area Feature Race - all of the EA Ladies’ Open winners this season have entered apart from Scotland Yard. Mid Div And Creep won this last year and after triumphing in four of her last five starts will almost certainly go off favourite. The strongest challenge could come from Inaro who was only ½a length behind the mare at Marks Tey and ran out an easy winner here last time beating Argentato & Assassino by 35 lengths +; he won again at Guilsborough last Sunday beating Home By Midnight and has an excellent chance though we doubt whether he will run again so soon. King Du Berlais is the only horse to have beaten Mid Div And Creep this season and he won well at Horseheath last weekend, however, the mare has beaten him three times and we don’t expect that form to be reversed here. Last year’s 2^nd Assassino, couldn’t stay with Inaro last time here but bounced back with a win at Higham; he should appreciate the faster going. Big Moment won three early season races but fell at Cottenham in early Feb and hasn’t been seen since; connections may prefer not to risk him on the fast ground. Those with place chances include: Delightful Cliche who was well beaten by King Du Berlais last weekend; Forget The Ref couldn’t get near Mid Div And Creep when 2^nd at Marks Tey; Coat Of Honour has been disappointing but should enjoy the switch to Ladies’; Leatherback has gradually been improving. Roaringwater beat Badger at Detling in March but the form was reversed at Charing on Easter Saturday. Montevideo showed good form under rules for Jonjo O’Neill but hasn’t been seen since falling at Higham in February.

Selection: Assuming Inaro doesn’t run. Mid Div And Creep (King Du Berlais)

3.50 p.m. Intermediate – 14 entries

2 runners from 16 entries at Horseheath for a very poor Intermediate so what can we expect this week from 14 entries!! Duke of Kentford comes from an easy distance Restricted win with Nick Pearce up at Thorpe Lodge in holding ground on Easter Monday following a 7 length 3^rd to Kilcascan at Whitfield and must have place claims. Also moving up in grade following a Restricted win at Aldington is Belavard but he was an outpaced 18 length 3^rd to Mad Jack Duncan on good to firm at the March Cottenham meeting. Foulstons Ruler is rated as the form horse in the race with a 3 length win over Parkinson at this track in the March Club Conditions race following a distance 3^rd to the progressive Lotta Presents in the March Cottenham Intermediate. Lorikarad won the April 3^rd Barbury Restricted in a quick time on good to soft from New Series following a head 2^nd to Shernally in a Restricted at Garnons again in a competitive time. Native Bob was 2^nd of the 2 runners in the Horseheath Intermediate and may not run but the Turner stable are in form and he should not be discounted if running. Ski Dazzle won at the same meeting last year in the Restricted but is quoted as ‘moody’; disqualified from 2^nd to Sigma Digital in the March Ampton Confined and 11 length 3^rd to Jazz Attack in the April Marks Tey Intermediate but was a disappointing run-in 4^th to Mid Div and Creep in Ladies at Marks Tey in March where Evening Echo scored a neck win over Crosby in the Restricted.

Selection: Foulstons Ruler (Duke of Kentford)

4.25. p.m. Open Maiden – 21 entries

There are 21 entries for this race and with the safety factor being 15 there's just the slimmest chance of a split on the day. Benbaystar was 2^nd to Mill Five Acre at Marks Tey on Easter Monday beaten 3 lengths, prior to this he had been running in Irish points as recently as March this year; on his penultimate start in Ireland he was 2^nd at Kildorery to In The System beaten 2 lengths. Royal Gesture was 3^rd at Marks Tey, 28 lengths behind Benbaystar and Ciderlay was a further 10 lengths behind Royal Gesture in 5^th; it's difficult seeing these two reverse the form with Benbaystar. Saddler's Blaze unseated in this contest, but previously he was 2^nd here last month to Caged Tiger beaten ½ a length and was staying on that day; he should at least get placed again. Lady Athlacca has been placed on all her three starts this season and was 3^rd at Garthorpe three weeks ago to Spirit Of Man beaten 22 lengths; previously she was 3^rd again at Garthorpe in early March when beaten 25½ lengths by Enigma Variations. Jonlahy has been runner up on all four outings this season, on his last run he was 2^nd at Higham on Easter Saturday to shock 20/1 winner Lord Prunus beaten 5 lengths; prior to this he was 2^nd at Cottenham last month to Castleconner Lad beaten 6 lengths but does appear to have stamina limitations and may struggle at this course. The same comment could apply to Would I Lie To You, on his previous run he pulled up at Hackwood Park last month in a short Maiden; prior to this was 4^th at Cottenham in another short Maiden beaten 11 lengths by Mambo Ruler. Greek Star was 4^th at Marks Tey in a Novice Riders contest early this month beaten 16½ lengths by Parkinson. Creadon Boy pulled up in Jonlahy's race at Higham, but previously was 2^nd at the same course early last month beaten 3 lengths by Law Court. Thyne Hall has been placed on all three outings this term and was 3^rd at Horseheath last week beaten 16 lengths behind Spotthestripe. Course supremo Simon Marriage loves to have a winner here and is represented by Quel Ferbet, however, with what he's produced so far it's extremely unlikely to be in this race. Sizzling Shizzy only completed once from four outings last season when placed 2^nd at Eyton On Severn beaten a length by Rich Nomad; she's probably best watched though on her belated seasonal reappearance. Another difficult race to call but Benbaystar's run at Marks Tey put's him in the mix and Saddler's Blaze ran well here at the previous meeting so he get's our second choice nod.

Selection: Benbaystar (Saddlers Blaze)

Enjoy some great racing