THE HIGH EASTER RACING CLUB – HIGH EASTER
Saturday March 8th 2025
1.00 Conditions (Novice Riders) – 9 entries
This opening Novice Rider’s race has attracted an entry of 9 and features jockeys with a wide scale of experience. Kilfillum Woods is a two-time winner already this season. Those wins at Knightwick and Larkhill were under the vastly experienced Zac Baker. On his most recent outing at Larkhill last month, he was 4th beaten 26 L by Crawter when sent off the odds on favourite. He’s due to be ridden here by Tom Hutsby who’s one of the most experienced riders in the race with 11 wins from 72 rides. Monkey Puzzle is very consistent in these races. He won a Ladies Open at Charing last month when beating Back Bar by 3L. Jockey Mary Ashby is another experienced rider in this grade with 5 wins from 46 rides. Young Rich hails from the Gina Andrews yard and has been ridden this season by Molly Legg who is yet to record a win from 21 rides. Young Rich was 3rd at Horseheath in January, 14L behind Aramax. He pulled up on his next start at Kingston Blount last month on unsuitable going. Jacks Touch was 3rd at Horseheath last month in a Ladies Open going down by just over 15L to last week’s Ampton winner Tully’s Touch but has been well beaten in all other outings this season. Chapelier got no further than halfway at Ampton last Sunday before unseating his rider. Seb Mead his rider today is another with experience boasting 6 wins. Alkopop was 3 time winner under rules when trained by Toby Lawes but his last win came in February 2022 and he been well beaten since then including in points. Intricate Pillar won a 7f race at Kempton in December 2022 and there must be stamina concerns. Kilfillum Woods is receiving 10lbs from Monkey Puzzle today so is our selection. Young Rich is receiving 7lbs from Monkey Puzzle so is our alternative.
Selection: Kilfillum Woods Alternative: Young Rich
1.35 Restricted – 12 entries
With 9 entries rated over 90 and 3 over 100 a really competitive race in prospect. 9yr. Access Granted from the Johnston yard was t.o. and pu in the Feb Larkhill Restricted and may struggle in this company. Atlantic Fleet from the Turner yard ran on well to take the 10 runner Feb Horseheath Maiden and will have come on for the run – place prospects. Another Horseheath Maiden winner earlier this season Barrington John from the Gibbs yard was unchallenged and with a deal in hand. 6yr. Bride Rovers Abu from the Morgan yard rallied to take the Dec Alnwick Restricted and unfortunately fell at the 15th when leading the Feb Brocklesby Park Restricted so definite claims but a 5lb. penalty won’t help. 5yr. Call Me Early from the Andrews yard was placed in the short Restricted at Alnwick in Jan. but was one paced to the finish a 4lb allowance and Jack Andrews in the plate will help. Another with Restricted experience is 6yr. Driveondonn from the Cundy yard but well back weakening in 4th at Kingston Blount in Feb Track experience when winning the 12 runner Maiden in April last season in a relatively quick time. 9yr. Fame and Concrete from the Wright yard comes from hurdling under rules with best results at shorter distances and won the short Feb. Charing Restricted in fine form on his pointing debut and will have come on for the run but 3m. and a 5lb penalty may be an issue. Graveside Lad from the Turner yard came out with all guns firing to take the Feb Higham Maiden by a comfortable 10l following last seasons succession of pu’s and a place at Kingston Blount so another to come on from a successful run. 6yr Pax from the Henderson (not Nicky) yard has little form hurdle racing under rules at short distances and kept on to 2nd in the short Feb Garthorpe Maiden – distance an issue? 7yr. Petite Mike from the Featherstone yard 5l. 2nd to Fame and Concrete in the Feb Charing Restricted and then a distant 3rd in the Restricted at the next Charing meeting. 8yr Salacia’s Storm from the in form Wright yard’s 2nd run this season and made all to win the Feb Brocklesby Maiden and could progress here and the 7lb mare’s allowance will help. Do not discount lowly rated 5yr Star of Honour from the Hill yard with a win in the soft ground Feb Chipley Park Maiden by 5l. and a 7lb allowance!
Selection: Salacia’s Storm Alternative: Star of Honour / Barrington John
2.10 Mixed Open – 8 entries
Three of the entries in the Mixed Open race were victorious on their most recent starts. Mylestown Upper, who does hold alternative engagements, won a 3 ¾ miles Conditions race at Garthorpe, defeating Mountain Assault and Red Maple on what was his third appearance of this season. All Is True and Aramax are both seeking to follow-up their successes at Horseheath. Both are stepping up into “Open” company, All Is True having won three Conditions races at Horseheath, two of which were over Mount Pleasant. Aramax’s three wins were all in Novice Riders Conditions races, the latest a two horse affair in which he defeated Monkey Puzzle, who has subsequently defeated Back Bar at Charing. The David Kemp trained trio of Our Jet, Clara Sorrento and Law Of Gold have something to prove. Clara Sorrento, who also holds an entry in the 8 year-olds and over Conditions race has yet to run this season having by-passed several engagements. Our Jet finished a distant second to Fier Jaguen at Garthorpe on his first start for the stable, whilst Law Of Gold failed to fire at Brocklesby Park and was pulled up. A longer gap since his last run may help. Ragnar Lodbrok is another who has been disappointing so far this season having pulled up on his two most recent starts. Shentri who has an entry in the Ladies Conditions race won first time out this year in a three runner Ladies Open race at Cocklebarrow. A second victory was surely on the cards at Higham, having taken the lead in the “Novice Riders’ race”, but they over jumped the second last and fell. Most recently a run at Garthorpe saw him finish second to Janika over the shorter trip of 2 ½ miles.
Selection: Law Of Gold Alternative: All Is True
2.45 Ladies Conditions (level 2) – 8 entries
I’m Spellbound would be a popular winner for the owners the Signy and Marriage Families and holds strong credentials having won 7 times from 12 outings including two wins this season, both in Conditions (Level 2) contests and both with Gina Andrews aboard. Mylestown Upper landed a 20/1 shock win at Garthorpe two weeks ago, over an extended 3 ¾ mile, staying on strongly at the finish. The High Easter course would suit a similar finish and Ellie Holder would use his stamina to good effect. Shentri would come into calculations if able to see out the trip having won over 2½ miles at the same Garthorpe meeting and would have won over the flatter track at Higham but for falling two out. Being set to give weight away to both the aforementioned rivals would make his task that much more difficult. Of the others Monkey Puzzle could be declared in the opener and his last two races have been match affairs where he was just beaten at Horseheath but took the prize at Charing.
Selection: I’m Spellbound Alternative: Mylestown Upper
3.20 Conditions (level 2) – 9 entries
This is a real puzzle for punters, not least trying to guess who will contest this race, as many of the entrants have options not only here, but at other meetings over the weekend as well. Mylestown Upper has only had 8 career starts despite turning 9 on New Years Day. He won a chase and a hurdle race in Ireland (2m5f max). Having changed hands, and crossing the Irish sea his new connections hit the target on his third start for them when winning a 3m6f conditions contest at Garthorpe (good to soft) last month. Mountain Assault and Red Maple filled 2nd and 3rd places on t hat occasion, a 3lb penalty for the winner gives that pair the opportunity to reverse placings, but I feel Mylestown Upper has scope to improve, and despite the drop back to 3 miles and very likely encountering a quicker surface than at Garthorpe I feel he can confirm the form. Mountain Assault made much of the running on that occasion, but couldn’t match the finish of the winner. A 4 time winning pointer (up to Restricted level) he is consistent but lacks a finishing kick. Red Maple is a 2 time winner from 11 starts in Hunter Chases and points, is admirably consistent, but 7 placings in addition to those victories show that he lacks a turn of foot. He was beaten by a useful ex NH performer in this race last season, when sent off at odd on. Ecco was a close third on that occasion, but his form regressed after that. Benefaktor has won 5 of his 16 starts in points and finished in front of Mountain Assault when they were 2nd and 4th at Revesby Park in January. He bypassed an opportunity at Ampton last weekend, but needs serious consideration here.
Clara Sorrento is another who bypassed Ampton last weekend. He’s been a tremendous servant for the Stearns, and won this race in 2023. He won a Mixed Open on the last of what was only two appearances last season, and this is a drop in level. Drop Him In has landed a couple of confidence boosting wins since finishing runner-up on seasonal debut at Horseheath on New Years Eve. He was placed behind some useful performers last season, and is very much on the short list here. Padjoes Legacy has a C&D win on his CV (2 runner Members). His best form has been when being placed in Hunter Chases at Cheltenham and Stratford at the end of last season. He needed another 10 yards to get his head in front on seasonal debut at Horseheath last month, this out and out stayer needs plenty of driving, and juice in the ground suits him. A wide open affair with veteran Claar Sorrento needing serious consideration if anywhere near the level of form he showed on his two starts last season. Padjoes Legacy and Drop Him In are right at the top of the potential candidates list, and Mylestown Upper is very lightly raced for his age, and looks progressive.
Selection: Mylestown Upper Alternative: Clara Sorrento
3.55 Open Maiden – 17 entries
This looks a competitive Maiden race. Hopping Mad Wife has had two starts in Point to Points. On his debut he ran a race full of promise staying on strongly to finish a close second. In his second race he started as favourite but disappointed and weakened into a well beaten 5th place. May be best watched on this occasion as he has fitness to prove on his first start of the season. Kirsch de Cotte cannot be discounted as he is improving and finished 2nd last time out. He will enjoy the staying nature of the track and the forecast quicker ground. Lewins Gully is another who is improving finishing 2nd last time out and holds a good chance. Sports Magic finished 3rd just a week ago. If he appears after a short break he should not be discounted as he holds some of the strongest form on offer. Pax ran a huge race on debut finishing 2nd in a strong looking Maiden just weakening after the last, beaten a couple of lengths. With that experience under his belt and fitness assured he could prove tough to beat.
Selection: Kirsch De Cotte Alternative: Pax
Overview
Race 1: Kilfillum Woods / Young Rich
Race 2: Salacia’s Storm / Star of Honour / Barrington John
Race 3: Law Of Gold / All Is True
Race 4: I’m Spellbound / Mylestown Upper
Race 5: Mylestown Upper / Clara Sorrento
Race 6: Kirsch De Cotte / Pax
