SUFFOLK HUNT MEETING – AMPTON - Sunday 7th March 2010    

Advanced Going: Good To Firm, Good in places

 

1.30 p.m. Hunt Members –7 entries

Racing kicks off with the Hunt Members, only 7 are entered.   Big Rob has been running under Rules but has run poorly on last three outings, last time ridden by Tony McCoy.   Broken Beau has run really well in last two outings winning a Maiden and then finishing really a good 2nd in a 17 runner Restricted at Horseheath last week.  Garundi was running in Auteuil last year and won there in 2008, also ran well when 2nd this year.   Jilted Lover ran OK when 3rd in the Confined race at Marks Tey.    Lee Gap Fair has been off for a long time and will probably need the run.   Parkinson has run twice this year but may struggle in this company.  Robeson is having his first run this season and may also struggle in this company.

Selection: Broken Beau (Garundi)

 

2.05 p.m. Confined –15 entries

Disregarding Find Me Another, Maree Hall, Ski Dazzle and Unmistakably, who ran with little distinction last weekend at Horseheath, the form horse, with an unchallenged victory over Forget the Ref (5L), Jilted Lover (a further 2L) and Hidden Talents (PU) in a similar Confined at Marks Tey in mid Feb, has to be Sigma Digital; faster ground is forecast but even carrying penalties he should still triumph.   From the Turner yard Parkinson struggled in the Club Members at the same meet and Garundi and Thoutmosis were outclassed in a very slow Mens Open at Godstone on the same weekend but it is their home track and they maybe now fully fit so watch the market.   Portavo will have come on from his run at Marks Tey but will probably need another run or so to get back to his 2007 form.

Selection: Sigma Digital (Forget The Ref)

 

2.40 p.m. Ladies Open– 11 entries

Six of the eleven horses entered ran at Horseheath last weekend – none with distinction – and we would be surprised if many of them turn out again so soon.   None of the horses entered have performed particularly well this season so the task of picking a winner is slightly trickier than usual.

Of those that ran at Horseheath: Delightful Cliche finished 59 lengths 4th in the Ladies’ with A Few Bob Back 10 lengths further behind in 5th and Unmistakably unseated.   Go North was 38 lengths 6th in the Men’s and Find Me Another and Toe To Hand pulled up in their races.   Delightful Cliche’s performance at Horseheath was a little disappointing but it was his first run of the season and he has been a consistently good performer so he can be forgiven that; he won readily at this meeting last season and has every chance if appearing again.    Go North won at the same meeting in easily the fastest time of the day and would have an excellent chance if he could regain that form, however, he has been running below par this season and also has an entry in the Men’s which connections may prefer.    Full Irish placed 8 lengths 3rd behind Carryonharry at Godstone 3 weeks ago. Leatherback pulled up on his only run this season and usually takes a few races to get fit.   Roaringwater has ability but was a disappointing 4th at Detling; that was his first run for over a year and he may have come on for that.   Argentato is a Maiden under all codes; Fantastic Champion won a Members’ last year but hasn’t been seen since; A Few Bob Back, Find Me Another and Unmistakably all seem to be on the decline.   Assuming Go North runs in the Men’s:

Selection: Delightful Cliche (Full Irish)

 

3.15 p.m. Mens Open –10 entries

The Men’s Open has only attracted 10 entries, and five of them hold an alternative engagement.   Rydal Park and Go North met in the Men’s Open at Horseheath last week.  Rydal Park finished ahead of Go North, although this was only a 5th place behind Unowatimeen; disputing the lead at the fourth last, Rydal Park pecked on landing and weakened thereafter; previously he had started the season winning at North Carlton.   Go North on the other hand has yet to hit form; prior to this 6th place, he was pulled up on his first run of the season at Detling; last season he was victorious at this meeting, winning the Confined with Feathered Storm 5˝ lengths adrift in 4th.   Caveman, a stable companion of Go North, has been gradually been getting closer to winning; his first run of the season was disappointing, but he then ran much better when a close 3rd to Star Double at Higham and then was caught close home by Victree in the Men’s Open at Marks Tey.   Forget The Ref won first time out this season, beating Sirius Storm in a PPORA Club Members race, and then finished 2nd to Cedrus Libani in a Men’s Open; a poor run at Detling was followed by a staying on 2nd to Sigma Digital at Marks Tey.    Itsallupintheair won a Club Members race at Higham in January, however his victory at Higham was fortuitous, since Henry’s Pride, with the race at his mercy, fell three out.   Stable companions Garundi and Thoutmosis opposed each other in a slowly run Men’s Open at Godstone; Garundi finished 2nd, 25 lengths in front of Thoutmosis who finished 3rd and are gradually running into some form.   A third stable companion Basic Fact has yet to run this season; on the evidence of his form from last season, PPP22221, he is likely to be at his best later in the season.

Selection: Rydal Park (Caveman)

 

3.50 p.m.  Restricted – 12 entries

Of the twelve entered, none have been placed on the Ampton course.   Gerald Bailey trained Hardwick Wood was the winner of the Second Division of the younger horses’ Maiden at Whitfield earlier this season, finishing 4 lengths ahead of Moscow Mule.    Jack Ford (Ire) finished 2nd by five lengths in the Restricted at Marks Tey in April last year, this following a Maiden at win at High Easter the previous month; after that, the nine year old pulled up in the Restricted at High Easter whilst 5-4 favourite, when Minehill Lad went on to place 3rd.    Minehill Lad (Ire) managed three places in Restricted races last season, the aforementioned 3rd place, but missed out on moving up a class after losing by just a head to Rock Charlie at Horseheath in March.   Toe to Hand (Ire) was 2nd in a Northaw Restricted last season after winning a Hunt Members race at Fakenham the previous month; although the eight year old has no Maiden win to date, the best result was 3rd in that class.    Tuesday Club (Ire) came 3rd in the Restricted at Cottenham in December and also has beaten Toe to Hand by 5 lengths at in a Maiden at Marks Tey. Maiden winner at High Easter last year, Sodantay (Ire) was 2nd in the CA Members race at Marks Tey last month, finishing just a neck behind seasoned runner My Best Buddy, and 25 lengths ahead of favourite Briar’s Mist; of seven starts between the flags, the eight year old has had three places.   Of the Maiden winners moving up into the Restricted class, the only eye catching entry is five year old Nothingtoloose (Ire), who won a Maiden last year at Cottenham, it being one win from two starts between the flags.

Selection: Sodantay (Minehill Lad)

 

4.25. p.m.  Open Maiden –15 entries

A small entry of 15, exactly the same as the safety factor and one of the entries Robeson, is more likely to go in the opening Members race.   Marine Gunner was placed twice from 3 outings last season and was 2nd at Detling on his final appearance in March 09; he did pull up at Marks Tey last month on his seasonal reappearance in the race won by Bynack Mhor, but on the strength of last season's Detling run must be considered here.   Ciderlay has been no worse than 4th on all his completions, but is not the greatest of leapers; he should make the frame if completing in what really is quite a weak contest.    Joe Turner's yard has Native Bob in this, formerly trained by Henrietta Knight; his form under rules was nothing special, he pulled up at Horseheath last week in the race won by Orient Legend, but the yard's runners usually need their first outing and it would be no surprise to see him amongst the principals if making a quick reappearance here.    Salsero was 4th at Cottenham to Pocket Park last month, beaten 28 lengths; he'd previously been placed three times under Rules when trained by Lucy Wadham, but was pulled up at Horseheath last week in the Club Member's race won by Romper Stomper.   Royal Gesture was 3rd at Godstone in a Mares Maiden last month beaten 14 lengths behind Florence Mary; another placing looks a strong possibility here.    Flytomoscow was twice placed 4th in Irish points, but pulled up on his British pointing debut at Godstone last month.    Master Charm makes his pointing debut and had reasonable form under Rules when with Carl Llewellyn.    Ballymager was 2nd in a Mares Maiden at Kinsale in Ireland beaten 2 lengths by Present Promise in May last year; her other form however, is not that inspiring.

Selection: Marine Gunner (Master Charm)

Enjoy some great racing