THE CAMBRIDGESHIRE WITH ENFIELD CHACE – HORSEHEATH
Sunday January 28th 2024
12.00 Conditions (Novice Riders) – 13 entries
A respectable entry of 13 for this opening novice riders race. A few of these met at the first meeting here late last month. Imperial Esprit beat Jonjoella by 3 ½ L with Knight Bachelor 4th 13 ¾ L behind and Killinkere 5th a further ½ L away. Dickie Diver was 7th and last but 26 L adrift of Killinkere. My Little Toni unseated her jockey early in this race. The Dubai Way finished 2nd beaten 2 L by Lagan Valley at Sheriff Hutton earlier this month but was disqualified as the rider weighed in light. He would be an interesting runner if making the trip down from his Cheshire base. Jonjoella finished 2nd on her next start at Ampton earlier this month when beaten 6 L by Red Maple with Monkey Puzzle a further 3 L adrift in 3rd in this race and Knight Bachelor a further 12 L away in 6th, 4 L ahead of Dickie Diver in 7th. Padjoes Legacy pulled up on his first start this season at Ampton in the restricted. He was 2nd on his final start last season at Edgcote in May 2023 beaten a Nk by Chenery when ridden by Gina Andrews. He has previously won under today’s rider John Simpson when scoring at Aldington in April 2023. Diamond Fort won at Kimble last season when beating Pass The Glass by ½ L. On his final start he was 4th beaten 9 L by Good Source at Chaddesley Corbett in May. He has changed hands since and this would appear to be his rider’s first start. Although he has to give weight to most of his rivals we will side with Imperial Esprit to follow up his win here last month. Monkey Puzzle will have come on for his Ampton run and he is our alternative and might reverse places with Jonjoella who has run two solid races this season.
Selection: Imperial Esprit Alternative: Monkey Puzzle
12.35 Restricted – 11 entries
A respectable 11 entries for what looks to be a competitive race. All the Ammunition from the leading EA Kemp yard comes off a driven out Edgecote Restricted win in May and has been 1st or 2nd in his 5 runs between the flags so will carry a 5lb. penalty but has not run on this track which will test him and he may need the run. Headed on the run in on his Restricted run on this track in Dec. 10yr Coolagh Park from the in form Hill yard won his Maiden unchallenged here in Dec. 2021 but again with a 5lb. penalty, his form and a 2 run experience on this track will be a big plus. 9yr Fine Investment took the Jan. Hunt Members at Wadebridge earlier this month but may struggle in this company. 6yr Highway Hero pu on his 2 runs to date this season and preferring easy trips is probably best watched. 7yr Imperial D’Ainay placed on his first 2 runs then rather lost it on his final 2 runs in Restricted company last season so fresh out may well see an improvement. In Our Dreams from the Poste yard fell when in the rear at Chaddesley Corbett in Dec. and will carry a 5lb. penalty so may find this testing track too much. 8yr. Learntalot another from the inform Hill yard has his 4th run of the season and was 6l. 3rd on his most recent heavy ground Restricted run at Wadebridge earlier this month and could challenge. 5yr. Mary’s Fortune from the inform Vaughan yard will have the benefit of a 7lb allowance, fell when in contention in the Wadebridge Dec. Maiden but with an unchallenged made all win in the Nov. Great Trethew short Maiden in Nov. with both runs on soft to heavy ground a place here is feasible but 3ml and a testing track is a question mark. Padjoes Legacy from the Padfield yard won the Aldington Restricted on soft ground in April but the obligatory 5lb. penalty won’t help his cause and pu in the Jan. Ampton Restricted when tailed off does not inspire confidence. 7yr Tango Pete ran a prodigious 11 times last season with a win and 6 places so not lacking in experience but was well behind when pu in the Nov. Great Trethew slow run Restricted. Trojan du Berlais from the local Pennock yard took the Maiden here in Dec. comfortably and with a 7lb age allowance could well challenge here again but this company is a serious step up.
Selection: Coolagh Park Alternative: Trojan du Berlais
1.10 Mixed Open – 17 entries
A total of 17 entries have been made for the Mixed Open Race, five of whom were victorious on New Year’s Eve.
Deise Aba, who runs in the colours of the Hemmings Family won his race at Larkhill defeating Olly Norse by 12 lengths in a conditions race taking up the lead at the second last and then to forge clear. The other four winners on that day were all victorious at Horseheath. Ragnar Lodbrok stayed on strongly to win the mixed open race by 3 lengths from Fairly Famous, with Who’s In The Box a further 14 lengths back in 4th. Tigerbythetail won the Ladies conditions race beating sole opponent Back Bar by 30 lengths. Mitchouka, who also holds an entry in the concluding race on the card, defeated All Is True by 1 ¾ lengths in a level 3 conditions race having previously gone close in a 2 ½ mile men’s open at Larkhill. The final “winning entrant” is Imperial Esprit who won the novice rider’s race, and reports emanating from the stable suggests the novice riders race on this card may be preferred. Grand Roi, Myth Buster, Tullys Touch, Slievegar and Millbank Flyer have all run this season finishing in the places in at least one race, whereas Law Of Gold could make his seasonal reappearance in this contest. Runner-up to Premier Magic on his first run last season, Law Of Gold went on to win a mixed open race at Garthorpe defeating Precious Bounty by 5 lengths. His next two starts were both in Hunter Chases, winning the 4 mile edition at Cheltenham by 16 lengths ahead of Shantou Flyer, but was then pulled up at Stratford in May. Another to consider is Captain Tommy who was kept busy under rules last summer, running 11 times between March and November, winning twice and being placed on a further three occasions.
Selection: Law Of Gold Alternative: Ragnar Lodbrok
1.45 Maiden – 21 entries
The Borobudur has been placed in three Point To Points and was running the best race of his life last time out over course and distance. He was staying on and only one length down when falling at last. If he is unaffected by his fall he holds a strong chance. The two highest rated horses Artiste D’Ainay and Bless The Moon reoppose from the last Horseheath meeting finishing 3rd and 4th respectively. Artiste D’Ainay had no excuses that day, he jumped well and travelled into the race looking the winner before weakening up the hill. The trip would be a major concern and we think he is best watched until he runs over shorter distances. Bless The Moon made many errors and lost lengths at the first ditch and needs to brush up on her jumping and settle better, but we feel she will turn the form around with Artiste D’Ainay as she has more scope for improvement. Carryonaway hails from the yard of Alan Hill who is in tremendous form having sent out four winners of Maiden races this season already. Carryonaway finished second on his racecourse debut at the back end of last season. Greenness and inexperience cost him the race as he jumped to the front at the last fence but hung and was just beaten. He jumped and travelled very well and the step up in trip can only be a benefit to him, he would have learnt plenty from his debut and holds a strong chance.
Selection: Carryonaway Alternative: The Borobudur
2.20 Maiden Conditions – 13 entries
At Horseheath’s December meeting, Ask Carla was in front everywhere except at the winning post when headed in final 100 yds, by Paul Manate. Andrew Pennock’s entry must go close if repeating this front-running performance. I Like Oats has already been saddled twice this season by trainer Myles Osborne and although the 6yo was runner-up, beaten 15 lengths, at Wadebridge three weeks ago; the winner Jongleur d’Ainay is a smart performer. Main Stage made good headway, on her racecourse debut, at Horseheath on New Year’s Eve before being outpaced eventually finishing 2nd , beaten 10 lengths, by Trojan Du Berlais. The winner could run in the second race on the card, the Restricted, and a note of his performance could be a useful indicator to the chances of Tom Ellis’ entry. The 5yo mare receives a 14lb allowance, here, which could be significant. Dale Peter’s Largy Pearl finished 8 lengths further behind Main Stage, whilst The Borobudur fell when challenging, the winner Trojan du Berlais, at the final fence. This was The Borobudur’s eight start in points and has to be considered for at least a place.
Selection: Ask Carla Alternative: I Like Oats
2.55 Conditions (level 2) –14 entries
This looks like being really competitive. All Is True looked as if he were going to land a third course victory here on New Year’s eve when hitting the front in the home straight, but he could not hold off Mitchouka after the last. In all honesty it was still a decent effort from the Tom Ellis trained gelding as Mitchouka was very useful when trained in Ireland, winning under all codes and £150,000 plus in prize money. The Unmentionable and Who’s in the Box filled third and fourth positions in the Mixed Open on New Year’s eve. The Unmentionable is versatile as regards ground, whereas the winning chaser Who’s in the Box goes best with cut in the ground. Myth Buster landed his only point over four miles and may find one or two of these a little too pacey. How to get Away is a five time winning pointer, David Kemp trains him, in the same ownership as All Is True, either of them would be very much on the short list here. Boss Man Fred is trained by Max Comley, who is firing in winners left, right and centre so far this season. He is not seen a racecourse since April 2022, but has an Irish point and four hurdle victories (Dan Skelton trained under rules) on his cv. He only contested on Chase under rules, in which he finished an excellent third. Grand Roi a very useful bumper and hurdle winner (Grade 2 over hurdles), never reached that level over fences. He ran perfectly okay when fourth in the Men’s Open at the Dunston meeting, but he needs to prove his stamina, and has not won since December 2020.
Selection: All Is True Alternative: Mitchouka
Overview:
Race 1: Imperial Esprit / Monkey Puzzle
Race 2: Coolagh Park / Trojan du Berlais
Race 3: Law Of Gold / Ragnar Lodbrok
Race 4: Carryonaway / The Borobudur
Race 5: Ask Carla / I Like Oats
Race 6: All Is True / Mitchouka
