THE HAMILTON BLOODHOUNDS – HIGHAM
Saturday February 7th 2026
12.00 Hand and Heels Conditions (Level 2) for Novice Riders – 10 entries
A new fixture to the East Anglian area is the Hamilton Bloodhounds. Based in the former kennels of the Easton Harriers at Easton near Woodbridge, Suffolk. This is also a new format for the region with riders scoring points depending on where they place culminating in an award for the national champion. Restricted to novice riders, riders who at the start of this season have ridden no more than 10 winners under any rules of racing. Shentri has been a decent servant for Kelly Morgan’s yard. He won a ladies open at Ampton last month under today’s rider Poppy Shaw when beating Tully’s Touch by 10L. He’s also a previous course winner here. Hubrisko from the Fran Poste stable is a two-time winner this season under today’s rider Cerys Sheehy. He won at Horseheath in late December when beating Master Malcolm by 2 ½L but was beaten when falling 2 out at Ampton last month. Hardline was 4th in this race but was 35L behind the winner All Loved Up. Paint The Dream could be given a chance if making the long journey from South Wales. He was 3rd on his last start at Chaddesley Corbet when beaten 3 ½L behind Midnight River in December under James King. Today’s rider and owner/trainer Lucy Pickford has yet to register a win from 18 rides though. Young Rich PU early last time when his rider lost her irons at Horseheath two weeks ago. Previously he was a two-time winner last season and could be given a chance here. The Yellow Mini is a previous course winner. That win coming here at the corresponding meeting last year, however she has PU on her latest two outings and may best be watched today. Another Mystery was 5th at Horseheath on his latest start last month when going down by 20L to Toss Again. Edison Kent formerly trained by James Owen has been well beaten on his four pointing starts subsequently and again a watching brief is advised today. Shentri has solid form and is our selection today ahead of Hubrisko who needs to bounce back from a disappointing run at Ampton.
Selection: Shentri Alternative: Hubrisko
12.35 Conditions (Level 3) – 6 entries
This race is to be run over an extended trip of 3m4f, and although Higham is by no means a stiff test of stamina, apart from East Street the six entrants have unconvincing profiles regards their stamina to stay the trip. East Street has performed as well as could be expected in both his pointing starts this season. He has won four times over 3 miles under rules, but on the only two occasions he attempted this kind of distance, he was tailed off and pulled up. He must carry an extra 10 pounds as a penalty, but his usual jockey is allowed to claim a weight allowance. Good Source is a course winner over the conventional trip here and having joined the Turner yard after that victory he claimed a Fakenham Hunter Chase last season. That incurs a 7lb penalty, and although he will come on for his seasonal debut at Horseheath last month he has never really shaped as though this trip would suit. Petite Mike was a Maiden winner in Ireland and landed a couple of wins in Restricted events at Parham when running consistently in races of a slightly lower level than this one last season. Pillar Rock landed a four timer in the latter stages of last season. He faded away having jumped erratically when 3rd on seasonal debut at Revesby last month and there are major doubts over his stamina for this trip. Senior Citizen won this equivalent race last season (Good Source pulled up), when the race was run over 3 miles. He is very lightly raced in recent seasons, and only one of his five wins under Rules was over as far as 3 miles, at Doncaster in December 2022 off a mark of 132.Teds Friend has won a Bumper and a couple of Hurdle races under rules, the most recent being at Worcester in September 2022 over 2m7f. He was well beaten in his only 2 attempts over fences. This is far from straightforward with none of these ticking all the boxes, particularly the stamina one.
Selection: Senior Citizen Alternative: East Street
1.10 Ladies Open – 11 entries
Famous Clermont has only been ridden, in races, by male jockeys apart from his two Hunter Chase victories at Stratford’s finale evening when partnered by Izzie Hill. With Izzie mobility improving but still on the injured list, it seems more likely that if declared, it will be in the Mens equivalent. Shentri and Poppy Shaw took full advantage of Loughan’s last fence fall at Ampton but might still have caught the front-runner on the run-in. Gina Andrews will adopt the normal tactics on Loughan and the ‘lead from the front’ approach could be significant around the flat Higham contours. Although a previous course winner, Shentri’s form record is not foot perfect and the pairing did come to grief at Higham at the corresponding fixture last year. I K Brunel won a Mixed Open round Higham in March 2024 and won at Ampton when left solo and finished 3rd on seasonal debut at Larkhill behind Myth Buster who has won again since, at Horseheath. Somptueux won twice, last season, on sounder ground than he is likely to encounter here but is capable of a placing through his consistency.
Selection: I K Brunel Alternative: Loughan
1.45 Mens Open – 9 entries
The Men’s Open race has attracted 9 entries, although 6 of them hold alternative engagements on this card, with 5 in the Ladies Open race and 1 in the 3 ½ mile Conditions race. The ratings are headed by previous course winner Fier Jaguen. Fier Jaguen only ran twice last year, winning at Garthorpe on both occasions and although he is yet to run this season, he has won on his first outing for the last four seasons. Famous Clermont has run just once so far this season, finishing a close 4th to A Jet Of Our Own at Larkhill in November. The winner of 4 races last season including the 2 ¾ mile Ladies Open Championship Final Hunter Chase at Stratford, Famous Clermont is best remembered for his victory over the “National” fences at Aintree in 2023, in which Fier Jaguen and I K Brunel failed to finish. I K Brunel only needed to jump a clear round at Ampton last month to secure his first victory this year, once his sole rival Go Go Geronimo unseated his jockey at the second fence. Joshua Newman has made three entries at Higham, one of them being the ex Gordon Elliot trained Beacon Edge. Always highly regarded, Beacon Edge won 10 races under rules, but from November 2022 he was campaigned solely in hurdle races. His first start for Joshua Newman was a winning performance, defeating Quintin’s Man at Wadebridge last month. Sambezi, is another who has been running in hurdle races under rules, and he finished a respectable 4th in a Mixed Open race behind Linelee King at Revesby Park on his first outing in a UK point. The Turner Family have two entries, both of whom have yet to run. Janika has tended to need his first run of the season, whilst Home Free, a newcomer to pointing, has not run since November 2024, when finishing 4th to Dr T J Eckleburg for Dan Skelton, but had previously won two races over two miles in October 2024 which included the defeat of Thistle Ask.
Selection: Famous Clermont Alternative: Fier Jaguen
2.20 Restricted – 16 entries
A really creditable 16 entries with 2 rated at 111, firstly 6yr Couer D’Alene from the Barber yard with 2 runs at Chaddesley Corbett this season – a ridden out win in a Restricted and then UR 2 out when leading in an Intermediate and although carrying a 5lb penalty a place in this company is in prospect. Secondly 5yr Woodstock Octo from the Newman yard took the YH Maiden At Dunsmore in Nov and will have come on for this first run in Points. Ask Elli from the Gibbs yard beat higher rated Cash Or Card comfortably in the Jan. Horseheath Restricted, an allowance and penalty gives her a 2lb. benefit and a quick time on softish dead ground indicates a place finish. Cadillac Ranch from the Kelly Morgan yard won the Dec Charing Maiden but PU in the Revesby Park Restricted and may find the grade up a challenge. 7yr. French Symphony from the Brotherton yard won the Dunsmore Nov. Maiden and 3rd in the Jan. Revesby Park Restricted and may struggle in this company. 5th season run for commentators nightmare 5yr. J’Envoieralserenki from the Luca Morgan yard won the short Nov. Badbury Rings Maiden and 3rd. on subsequent 3 Restricted runs so a question mark in this higher grade. 7yr. Monrocco Moonlight from the Hill yard unchallenged in the Dec. short Restricted so a 5lb penalty and 3m. might be a challenge. Taghadoe from the Dennington yard fell at the last when 2nd in the Jan. and with 10 runs on the clock plenty of experience.
Selection: Ask Elli Alternative: Couer D’Alene
2.55 Maiden – 15 entries
If the forecast rain arrives, it could significantly alter the complexion of the Higham contest, placing greater emphasis on stamina and the ability to handle testing conditions. Celtic Harmony makes his first start for Tim Vaughan and, while he does not necessarily need to improve on his current level of form, he is beginning to look exposed after being beaten as favourite last time out and may be vulnerable to a progressive rival. Constitution Grove has been placed in four point-to-points, but any easing of the ground would be a major concern, as his strongest form has come on quicker going. With this also being his seasonal debut, he will need to be close to peak fitness to be fully competitive. Leopard d’Irlande was running well and making ground on the leaders when brought down last time, and if none the worse for that incident, he looks capable of significant progression for the powerful Gina Andrews yard. Master Force has had two runs this season and finished second last time in a weak contest in which only three of the six runners completed the course. Although the ground should not be an issue based on his pedigree, he faces a deeper race here and may find one or two too strong. Maxfly d’Agrostis has also run twice this season and has shown improvement with each outing, finishing third last time out. He weakened late on to finish 14 lengths behind the winner, but should now be at peak fitness, will handle conditions well, and looks capable of taking another step forward. Prince In The Park represents shrewd connections who are well aware of what they have, and he shaped with promise when finishing third in an Irish point-to-point last time. However, with this being his first start of the season, he will need to be fully wound up to feature. Tiger Talk made a promising return for Andrew Pennock after a two-year absence last time, travelling strongly before weakening after the second-last and sticking on well to finish second. Given that run, he arguably has the most scope for improvement in the field, and provided the race does not come too soon and he avoids the bounce factor, he sets a strong standard. With no ground concerns and fitness likely assured, he looks the one they all have to beat.
Selection: Tiger Talk Alternative: Maxfly d’Agrostis
Selections
Race 1: Shentri / Hubrisko
Race 2: Senior Citizen / East Street
Race 3: I K Brunel / Loughan
Race 4: Famous Clermont / Fier Jaguen
Race 5: Ask Elli / Couer D’Alene
Race 6: Tiger Talk / Maxfly d’Agrostis
