THE PUCKERIDGE & ESSEX HUNTS – HIGH EASTER
Saturday April 5th 2025
1.00 Conditions (Level 2) – 10 entries
A neck separated Clashhill and Padjoes Legacy (level weights) when they filled the first two places at Horseheath in mid February. Both have won on the one occasion they have seen a racecourse since that day. Clashhill winning an Intermediate at Guilsbourough, a race that turned into a home straight burn up. Padjoes Legacy won at the March meeting here, in doing so incurring a 3lb penalty, making his task of reversing that Horseheath form a little tougher. Good Source was a most appropriate winner of a Hunter chase at Fakenham on Tuesday, so if the Turners do have a runner in this it is very much more likely to be stablemate Take To Heart. He tends to show his best form in the second half of the season, but even his best looks below the level of the first two entries mentioned in this preview. Red Maple, like Clashhill, is from the highly successful Nick Wright yard. He’s admirably consistent, and was a very easy winner at the West and North Norfolk meeting at Fakenham last month. This race is likely to be tougher, and a 6lb penalty makes his task even harder. Young Rich finished alone here at the March meeting, giving his rider that day her first winner in the process. This dual course winner finished behind Red Maple at Horseheath in January, but is entitled to finish closer to that rival on 3lbs better terms this afternoon. Getting Closer has only finished worse than second in 1 of 16 starts in points (winning 10). He returned from a lengthy break to win at Charing at the end of February, and would be a threat to all if taking up this option. Wallace Olinger is a half brother to Cheltenham Stayers hurdle winner Bob Olinger. This winning Irish pointer kicked off this season with a win at Revesby Park, and has followed that up with two solid efforts when filling the runner up spot at the Brocklesby and in a Leicester Hunter chase. He must go in the short list.
Selection: Clashhill Alternative: Padjoes Legacy
1.35 Conditions (3m 6f Level 2) – 9 entries
An entry of 9 for this 3 mile 6f contest, the longest race run in the EA area. A few of these will be trying this trip for the first time today. Amrons Sage won a 4 mile Mixed Open at Kingston Blount in February when accounting for Ballyadam Destiny by 10l. Who’s In The Box was 3rd in this contest, 22l behind. He was 3rd on his most recent outing at Cothelstone in a 3 ½ mile Mixed Open, beaten 7½L behind Norton Hill. He’s trained by Alan Hill who also has Getting Closer in this. He won on his only start this season at Charing beating Count Simon by 2 ½l in late February. Padjoes Legacy is a 2-time previous course winner. He beat Mylestown Upper here by 3l with a possible rival today Mountain Assault a further 12l away in 3rd last month. Red Maple won a Novice Rider’s race at Fakenham last month when beating Back Bar by 8l. Ragnar Lodbrok won 5 races last season but has PU on his last 3 starts this term including in a Leicester Hunter Chase and is probably best watched if running. Step Back is now 15 and may have to give way to younger legs. He was 5th at Larkhill on his sole outing this season, 41l adrift of the winner Midnight Midge. Another well in to the veteran stage is Midnight Cowboy. He’s a previous course winner, that win coming in April 2022 when he beat Tully’s Touch by ½l. However this 14 year old hasn’t run since February 2023 and others are preferred. Given he’s one of the few who will stay this trip, Amrons Sage is our selection. Dual course winner Padjoes Legacy is our alternative although he holds entries in three other races.
Selection: Amrons Sage Alternative: Padjoes Legacy
2.10 Ladies Open – 9 entries
Tullys Touch won this race for owner Christina Blockley and trainer John Ibbot last year and they would be delighted if they could repeat that feat. Tullys Touch was very lively and exuberant in the parade ring before his last outing at Fakenham a fortnight ago and this possibly reflected in his race performance where he never reached the leaders, to put in a challenge. Trainer Gina Andrews will select either Fairly Famous or I’m Spellbound, for her mount, to represent the Signy and Marriage Families. The Warwick Vase is the prize trophy being competed for and part-owner Simon Marriage has been attempting to win this race for many a season. Could this be the year that Simon finally picks up the prestigious award for the winner ? Fairly Famous has won seven and was runner-up in the other from all eight outings in points and was a course winner here two years ago. I’m Spellbound is a three-time High Easter winner including taking the Ladies Open at the March meeting this season. Both entrants have outstanding opportunities to land the prize. Learntalot was beaten by Tullys Touch at Ampton in early March, in a match race but his best performances have been on ground soft than he is likely to experience this weekend. Myth Buster has always given his best for Lily Bradstock but hasn’t had an outing since the end of January but his defeat of I K Brunel at Larkhill in December, was commendable. Precious Bounty doesn’t hold the same fire power as he has previously whilst Radnor Lodbrok has failed to complete the course on his last three outing this season as is need of a confidence boosting run.
Selection: Fairly Famous/ I’m Spellbound Alternative: Tullys Touch
2.45 Mens Open – 6 entries
A small, but select entry for the Men’s Open race, however it must be noted that apart from Aramax, the remainder of the entries hold alternative engagements either in earlier races on this card, or at other meetings. Aramax just failed to maintain his winning sequence at Fakenham, where he was beaten ½ length by stable companion The Big Lense. This defeat followed 4 victories, the most recent was around this course in a match with Law Of Gold. Law Of Gold, winner of this race last year, has not yet won this season. He has been runner up twice, the first of which was on his seasonal reappearance behind Fairly Famous at Horseheath. In between these he ran disappointingly at Brocklesby Park and was pulled up. Fairly Famous is one of two horses owned by the Signy and Marriage Families that are entered in this race. After a couple of wins at Horseheath, Fairly Famous next appeared in the “Foxhunters” at Cheltenham. After racing prominently, Fairly Famous gradually dropped back running towards home on the second circuit and was eventually pulled up. Their second horse is I’m Spellbound who has won 3 Conditions races this season, including a 4l defeat of Shentri around this course last month (his 3rd win around High Easter) with Take To Heart a further eight lengths back in third. Wallace Olinger, a half brother to the “Stayers Hurdle” winner Bob Olinger, won on his first start this season in an Intermediate race at Revesby Park. He then finished runner up to Ocean Drifter in a Conditions race at Brocklesby Park and filled that same position in a 2 ½ mile hunter chase at Leicester behind Pyleigh Court at the end of February.
Selection: Aramax Alternative: Law of Gold
3.20 Intermediate – 7 entries
With 4 entries rated over 100 it should be a competitive race and looking for entries that favour fast ground as there is no likelihood of rain this week. Cash or Card from the Peters’ yard won his Maiden and Restricted races last season on soft ground and has been placed on his 2 Restricted runs this season on good ground with a 5lb penalty, now down in weight but ground may be an issue. Driveondonn from the Cundy yard well back weakening in 4th at Kingston Blount in Feb and pu when well behind at the recent Fakenham meeting – track experience when winning the 12 runner Maiden in April last season in a relatively quick time but a distant 4th here in March so may struggle in this company. Fame and Concrete from the Wright yard comes to Pointing from hurdling under rules with best results at shorter distances and won the short Feb Charing Restricted in fine form on his pointing debut then a close 2nd in the March Guilsborough Restricted giving 16lb to Star of Honour indicates at least a place. 8yr. Mister Splash from the Turner yard placed in 4 out of 6 Restricted runs and in ground conditions ranging from soft to good to firm this versatility will mean he could possibly make a place. 9yr. Mumbo Jumbo from the Andrews yard scored back to back wins in Maiden and Restricted runs earlier this season and then led to the last in the March Guilsborough Intermediate, a length back 2nd to Chashill but on good to soft – how much water is Simon applying? Padloes Legacy from the Padfield yard has Intermediate, track and Hunterchase form in spades, placed at Cheltenham 3m 2f and Stratford 2m 6f last season and winning here on his last run in the March Conditions (2) and a neck back from Chashhill in the Feb Horseheath Intermediate beating Touch Tight 22l on good to firm ground.
Selection: Padjoes Legacy with Gina up Alternative: Fame and Concrete
4.25 Open Maiden – 9 entries
Buzzbee pulled up in his sole Hurdle race before making a low-key debut for Dale Peters finishing 5th. He made headway through the race before weakening and is best watched on this occasion as he gains experience. Constitution Grove is not one to be trusted as he has had four outings for Gina Andrews, placed in one and well beaten on the other three starts. Diamon des Flos has strong form but is now 9 years old and susceptible to an improving competitor. He has been placed three times out of the six points starts for Brain Dowling. Alex Chadwick is set to do the steering, and he must be one of the best pointing jockeys riding now. Iconic Jack has had two pointing starts and pulled up on both occasions, he looks hard to recommend. King James has had four starts in Ireland, and he makes his debut for Joe Hill. He finished 5th on his most recent start in March, fitness should be assured, and he should still be improving. Red Letter Day has decent form to his name but is another who is hard to trust, if running to his best form he could easily be involved. Rounditoff has had three starts for John Ibbott and has shown glimpses of promise but does look best watched. Secret Plan has pulled up on his first two starts in Points to Points, he led on his last start before weakening quickly. He cannot be discounted as the Turner family have had a magnificent season so far and it would not be a surprise to see an improved effort.
Selection: King James Alternative: Secret Plan
5.00 Hunts Members – 5 entries
Epping owner-trainer Nigel Padfield once won this race nine years in a row and he is responsible for two of the five entries this time around. His duo is led by the reigning champion, Padjoes Legacy, who was also successful at last month’s fixture here when accounting for Mylestown Upper by three lengths to land his fifth career pointing victory. His other representative is Can Daddy Dance, who made a promising British and stable debut when third in a nine-runner Restricted at Garthorpe in February. However, the Padfield pair will have to produce career bests if either of them is to beat Call Me Early, who hails from the Gina Andrews yard and took his record on this side of the Irish Sea to two from three when posting a deeply impressive triumph over this course and distance four weeks ago. The other two entries are Brian Dowling’s Diamon Des Flos, who failed to build on an encouraging Charing third on his return from a long absence when dropping out tamely at Kingston Blount in February, and Jacks Touch, who has given his Corinthian owner-trainer-rider Doctor Belinda Rose plenty of fun but did not seem to enjoy himself at the last fixture here and has since been readily brushed aside when fourth to Coolagh Park at Fakenham.
Selection: Call Me Early Alternative: Padjoes Legacy
Overview
Race 1: Clashhill / Padjoes Legacy
Race 2: Amrons Sage / Padjoes Legacy
Race 3: Fairly Famous/ I’m Spellbound / Tullys Touch
Race 4: Aramax / Law of Gold
Race 5: Padjoes Legacy with Gina up / Fame and Concrete
Race 6: King James / Secret Plan
Race 7: Call Me Early / Padjoes Legacy
