By Mike Ashby

The superb Spring sunshine quickly cleared the early morning frost on the course and mid-afternoon there was further reference to aforementioned type of wintry condition, but this time in name only.

Vicky Frost registered her first winner, on her ninth ride in points, when taking the Open Maiden race on her own horse, Jasmin Des Bordes. In a power-packed finish, Frost drove her mount home to beat Gina Andrews on Patricks Hill by a short head with the favourite Sports Magic another 2¼ lengths further back. If recording your first winner wasn’t enough for a lasting memory but to narrowly defeat a winning phenomenon in Gina, with over 500 career wins, is what dreams are made of and it all happened on her local course.

Vicky is from Bury St. Edmunds and wanted to stable her horse with a small, friendly, local yard and having already known Andrew Pennock, then his training facilities, adjacent to the Ampton course, became the obvious choice. She rides out there 2/3 times a week before taking up her daily duties as an HGV driver for local sugar beet hauliers. Jasmin Des Bordes was purchased, approximately a year ago, from Kent-based Stephen Spice after being offered on a Facebook site with Vicky’s intention of making their debut together at Higham on Good Friday. Their early outings were in Open races, more to learn their trade together, before running a close 2nd, beaten a neck at Dingley in May, when competing in their first Maiden race. Two runs this season have showed promise and this was the day to remember with plenty of photographic evidence to capture the moment of glory.

JASMIN DES BORDES and VICKY FROST

The Open Maiden race had the most runners numerically, on the day, with nine declared of the twelve entered whilst some of the races might not have had runners, they didn’t lack in close finishes. Take the Ladies Open for example, where a match took place between Learntalot and current national champion Izzie Hill and Tullys Touch ridden by the very capable and competent Ellie Holder. The two were always in close proximity throughout the contest and as is often the case in match races, tactics decide the final outcome. Content to sit behind their rival it was only when pace was injected into the race, going down the hill for the final time, from there Tullys Touch was asked for his effort and he obliged by taking command approaching the last fence to go on a record a two length victory and register his sixth course success. Winning trainer John Ibbott had just had him ticking over since winning at Horsehaeth a fortnight ago and wanted and was delighted to have three clear days without rain falling on the course, in order that it dried out to suit Tullys’ ideal conditions which is slightly on the fast side of good. Although it’s easy to get attached to winning partners but Tullys Touch is fast becoming Ellie Holder’s favourite horse ! Plans for owner Christina Blockley’s 12-y-o is to attempt to retain the prestigious Warwick Vase at High Easter in early April with probably another outing, prior to this race.

TULLYS TOUCH and ELLIE HOLDER

The very likeable grey, Captain Biggles, resumed winning ways in the opening Veteran Horse Conditions race having last visited the winners’ enclosure back in January of last year. His consistent performances have never been in doubt and this was as much a confident booster for the horse as it was for his group of owners, the Captain Biggles Syndicate. With trainer/rider Gina Andrews more than content to let Rhythm Is A Dancer and Tom Hutsby do the front-running until the winning partnership made their move round the final bend and ease to the front and record a comfortable five length success.

CAPTAIN BIGGLES and GINA ANDREWS

The Restricted contest went to L’Aventara, trained by Bradley Gibbs and with Ed Vaughan aboard and their success came without too much concern after the pairing went on going out on the second circuit. They maintained their lead from then on and the Ed Turner-trained Mister Splash, making his seasonal debut, was unable to make an inroads into their commanding lead and there was ten lengths between the two at the finish. Vaughan had partnered L’Aventara when they won a Kingston Blount Maiden, last May. Sadly Ask Carla, who was one of the four declared for the race, broke down and was pulled by Charlie Case.

L’AVENTARA and ED VAUGHAN

Ed Vaughan went to complete a riding double when partnering Jersey Fromentin in the concluding East Anglia Area Conditions race. Only three runners but another extremely tight finish with the front-running Soldier At War and Connor Baker only giving way his lead approaching the last fence with the other runner, Good Source and Rupert Stearn and the eventual winner also challenging as they approached the final obstacle. Giving trainer Andrew Pennock his second winner of the day, Jersey Fromentin gained the judge’s verdict by ¾ of a length from Soldier At War with Good Source a head away in third place.

JERSEY FROMENTIN and ED VAUGHAN

Paper Mill followed up his recent Horsehaeth success with another victory in the Mens Open but had to be kept up to his work to overcome the persistent challenge of Shoal Bay. Charlie Case on the winner was eventually able to edge his mount home by 1¾ lengths having taken up the lead going down the hill for the final time but Tom Hutsby and Shoal Bay stuck with them to make it a close affair, at the finish. John Whyte’s runner Le Boulevardier suffered a career-ending tendon injury after jumping the open ditch on the second circuit and was immediately pulled up by Archie Loweth.

PAPER MILL and CHARLIE CASE

Archie himself took a heavy fall when unseated in the The Jockey Club Opportunity Condtions race for Grass Roots riders and was taken to hospital with a suspected knee injury. The race itself went to Galileo Silver who jumped brilliantly out in front, and was never headed. Ridden by Dan Cherriman who was notching up his 16th success of his career and had previously been successful at the same Suffolk meeting at Ampton, back in 2019.

GALILEO SILVER and DAN CHERRIMAN 

What a day for memories. For Vicky Frost and her first winner. For the wonderful weather conditions for everyone there and for the excellent organisation by the exceptional band of volunteers which made the whole day flow like clockwork.  

PHOTOS BY GRAHAM BISHOP PHOTOGRAPHY

www.gdbphotography.co.uk