THE PUCKERIDGE & ESSEX HUNTS – HIGH EASTER
Saturday April 13th 2024
1.00 Conditions (Level 2) – 22 entries
The promise of some decent ground, plus multiple nationwide cancellations have produced a bumper entry for this meeting. Twenty-two entries in this race alone, but the two to concentrate on are Go Go Geronimo and I’m Spellbound. Go Go Geronimo was just touched off in a fantastic finish at Higham on Good Friday, he’s a proven performer and will surely be involved in the finish. I’m Spellbound is in his second season pointing. He was well clear when tumbling out at the last on his previous start at Larkhill. He won the Members on this card last season and his second when just outstayed by a subsequent Hunter Chase winner at Chipley Park in January is rock solid form. Lagan Valley has won four points but is held by I’m Spellbound on a form line through Another Furlough. Paper Mill has won four of his last five starts, but he’ll need to step forward again in this higher grade. In Our Dreams made all to win in ground that could only be described as a quagmire at Paxford on Easter Monday. This is a stronger race. Dragon D’Estruval has won three of his five starts in points, but he only appeared once last season, and is best watched today. Urban Grit is also held by I’m Spellbound on a form line through Another Furlough. He wasn’t at his best when behind Paper Mill at Ampton in January but bounced back to form when just prevailing in a tight finish at Charing.
Selection: I’m Spellbound Alternative: Go Go Geronimo
1.40 Veteran Horse Conditions (Level 2) – 18 entries
A reasonably healthy entry of 18 for this veteran horses heat confined to horses that are 10 years old and over. Muckamore won a novice rider’s contest at Horseheath in February when beating Padjoes’s Legacy who won at Kimble a fortnight ago by 5L. He’s been placed 2nd on his two most recent outings including here four weeks ago when going down by ¾L to Young Rich. Dragon D’Estruval was formerly very useful but he’s not run since December 2022 when well beaten in a men’s open at Chaddesley Corbett but hailing from the Jennifer Owen yard he should be fit enough on his reappearance. Minella Encore could make the long journey from South Wales and is due to be ridden by Ed Vaughan, the leading male novice rider this season. He’s a 3-time pointing winner but pulled up on his seasonal reappearance at Charing last month in a men’s open. Myth Buster was 2nd on his latest start at Lockinge early this month when going down by 1 ½L to Cusp Of Carabeli in a conditions race. One For Billy is another coming back from a layoff. He last ran in February 2023 at Brocklesby Park and is a 6-time winner under rules for Dan Skelton. Pont Aven is a stablemate of One For Billy and was 2nd on his latest start when going down by 25L to Ihandya at Larkhill 3 weeks ago. Blazing Tom is a prolific winner in points but appears on the downgrade now and pulled up on his latest start at Kingston Blount last weekend. Romain De Senam finished 10th in the 2022 Grand National. He fell at Catterick on his hunter chase debut for new connections then finished 3rd at Higham in late March, going down by 25 ½ L to Precious Bounty. The Unmentionable pulled up at Guilsborough on his latest start, previously he was 3rd at Horseheath, going down by 15L to Ragnar Lodbrok. Others to consider are The Dubai Way, Cobra De Mai and Wishful Dreaming. We will take a chance with Muckamore who finished a close 2nd here earlier in the season as our selection. The Unmentionable has the very able Dale Peters aboard so we will make him our alternative selection.
Selection: Muckamore Alternative: The Unmentionable
2.15 Ladies Open – 15 entries
The winning connections of the Ladies Open race will be presented with the prestigious Warwick Vase. The Turner family, from Ampton near Bury St. Edmunds have won this particular trophy on numerous occasions and their possible winning representative is No Hassle Hoff who this season has defeated Bawnmore at Horseheath and ran a close 2nd to Champagne Noir at Ampton. Shentri bounced back from a disappointing hunter ‘chase outing to finish 6 lengths behind Killinkere at Higham recently. Ballydonagh Boy normally runs regularly in the North and is an 8-times point winner. Cobra De Mai won twice from five outings last season and this would be his seasonal debut. Dundrum Wood won a Ladies Open on his first run this season but was subsequently beaten 18 lengths in a Mixed Open in mid-March. Tullys Touch never runs a bad race and could be declared here or go for the Mens equivalent.
Selection: Shentri Alternative: No Hassle Hoff
2.50 Mens Open – 13 entries
This race could be the classiest point to point race of the season with three of the entrants all having won at the Cheltenham Hunter Chase evening last year and currently holding a rating over 120. The three that it concerns are Fairly Famous, Fier Jaguen and Law Of Gold. Fairly Famous has run three times this season. Runner-up at Horseheath behind Ragnar Lodbrok on his seasonal reappearance, Fairly Famous headed to Wetherby for their Hunter Chase in early February, but the underfoot conditions were not to his liking and he pulled up. A trip to Charm Park last month provided the opportunity to return to the winner’s enclosure following success in the Ladies Open race when defeating Fresh New Dawn by 11 lengths. Fier Jaguen, the winner of the two mile hunter chase at Cheltenham commenced this season with victory at Garthorpe, defeating Caryto Des Brosses by 11 lengths. On his latest start at Didmarton in a four runner mixed open race he duly obliged by 5 ½ lengths from Tara Storm. Law Of Gold, whose victory at Cheltenham came in the 4 mile race, has run twice this season. Runner-up to Tigerbythetail at Horseheath in January on his first run of the season, he then reappeared at High Easter last month in the Mixed Open race where he stayed on the strongest to defeat Captain Biggles and Tullys Touch. Knight In Dubai has been in fine form for his new connections, winning all three points in which he has competed, two at Horseheath and the most recent at Thorpe Lodge on Easter Monday when defeating two rivals. His only reverse came in the Queen’s Cup Hunter Chase at Fakenham where he finished a close 2nd to Rebel Dawn Rising. Deise Aba has run five times since transferring to the point to point field, winning three races but being pulled-up in the other two. His most recent victory was also on Easter Monday, at Lockinge, where he stayed on strongly to defeat What A Glance by 2 lengths. Should Knight In Dubai remain in his box, the Stearn family also have Clara Sorrento entered for this race. The winner of four races last season, his sole outing this year was at Garthorpe last month in a two horse race, where he was stalked by Jetaway Joey throughout and could not repel his challenge in the closing stages. With that run under his belt he will strip a lot fitter.
Selection: Law Of Gold Alternative: Fier Jaguen
3.25 Intermediate – 14 entries
An excellent 14 entries with 5 rated 100+ so a competitive race in prospect. Burtown from the Comley yard just held on to win the recent Paxford short Restricted in heavy ground but the company and distance on this testing track could see him struggle. The progressive 6yr. Glenmount from the Wadland yard has his 5th run (2 wins and 2 places to date) and made all to hold on well to win the Milborne St. Andrew Restricted in March and with James King up and suitable ground a strong contender. Paper Mill from the Kehoe yard with 2 wins in Restricted races (Ampton by 8l.) and Intermediate (Garthorpe by 11l.) races this season although now carrying a 5lb penalty will be another major contender. 6yr. Penniless from the Padfield yard struggled behind Douglas Longbottom in the recent Lockinge short Restricted even with a 7lb advantage and again my find this company too strong. Veteran 10yr. The New Kid from the Peters yard weakened on his 2 Restricted runs this season with a 5lb penalty and is one to just watch. Trevada from the Poste yard placed on all 4 Restricted runs this season and has stayed on well to win the last 2 this season and is a place prospect. Urban Grit from the Hill yard just held on to win the Level 3 Conditions race at Charing in Feb. on good ground but is another who may find this company too strong. Young Rich from the Ellis yard stayed on well but was all out to win the Level 3 Conditions Novice riders race on this track in March, so track and ground suits but this is a higher level.
Selection: Paper Mill Alternative: Glenmount
4.30 Open Maiden – 26 entries
A vast number of entries for this Maiden and every chance of a division. Let’s start with Atlantic Fleet who was a short head second at the last High Easter meeting. He made a sweeping move round the home turn and looked the winner before getting headed on the line. He should appreciate the drying ground and holds a strong chance. Capparattin finished a credible fourth in a Restricted race at the back end of last year where the form has worked out. He steps back down in grade into a Maiden and holds every chance. It is his first race of the season so possibly he might find it tough against race fit horses. Destination Mahler finished third on his first start for Dale Peters back in January and if he is ready after his short break he holds every chance. Driveondonn has seven lengths to find with Atlantic Fleet on their previous meeting but is steadily improving and can’t be discounted. Jardin Carre makes his racecourse debut for Bradley Gibbs and has to be respected for a yard that has done well with their debutantes. Liveyourbestlife is a well bred son of Order Of St George and half-brother to a two time chase winner, he gets a fourteen pound weight allowance and could be anything and shouldn’t be discounted. Miss Ireland is another well-bred animal and this mare is a half-sister to three jumps winners and coming from the yard of Harry Whittington must be respected. Wotnowcato would have finished second on his debut. He ran green and was staying on strong before falling at the last. If he has recovered from his fall, and his jumping has improved, he holds a strong chance to atone for his fall.
Selection: Miss Ireland Alternative: Atlantic Fleet
5.05 Hunts Members – 5 entries
A Nigel Padfield versus Gina Ellis duel is assured here as those two trainers account for all five entries, two of which have alternative engagements earlier on the card. Ellis, of course, will be otherwise engaged riding Latenightpass in the Grand National, but her brother Jack Andrews will prove an able deputy on either the defending champion I’m Spellbound or the Horseheath maiden winner Main Stage, who both carry the silks of High Easter Racecourse owners the Marriage family. I’m Spellbound is the pick of that pair, given that he would have notched the fifth victory of his career in a much tougher race than this last time out at Larkhill but for crashing out at the final fence with the race in the bag. Main Stage was a little disappointing when third in a Restricted at Charm Park last month and would be suited if the ground is close to ‘good’. Padfield has won this race many times in the past but not since 2019. Padjoes Legacy is the best of his three entries, although he benefited from the stronger handling of Zac Baker when scoring at Kimble three weeks ago and may instead have his Corinthian part-owner J J Simpson in the saddle here. Penniless has finished second in two of her three starts this season while Vango Vick deserves a first win after 17 attempts having been placed in six of her last seven but would have a better chance in the Maiden.
Selection: I’m Spellbound Alternative: Padjoes Legacy
Overview
Race 1: I’m Spellbound / Go Go Geronimo
Race 2: Muckamore / The Unmentionable
Race 3: Shentri / No Hassle Hoff
Race 4: Law Of Gold / Fier Jaguen
Race 5: Paper Mill / Glenmount
Race 6: Miss Ireland / Atlantic Fleet
Race 7: I’m Spellbound / Padjoes Legacy
