REPORT: 

ESSEX & SUFFOLK AT HIGHAM ON GOOD FRIDAY APRIL 3rd  

Author Mike Ashby 

Just like night follows day, the crowds flocked to Higham racecourse for the annual Essex and Suffolk meeting on Good Friday. The weather didn’t deter anyone and the normal fabulous array of picnics were on display and racegoers were determined to arrive early to save being directed to the overflow car parking areas.  

The day was full of equine and canine activities with the racing and dog show, coupled with two avenues of tradestands and catering outlets, beer tent, funfair, ice cream vendors and more importantly an adequate number of portaloos ! 

The lead rein dash contest that opened the day’s on course happenings was hilarious with some of the participants only 3 years of age being “carefully handled” like rag dolls but the enjoyment radiated by everyone who took part, was loudly applauded by the onlooking racegoers. 

The two pony races, as ever, produced tremendously exciting finishes with Maesteg Ruth and Jack Grundy snatching victory by a neck, winning the opening race whilst Its Fatherted and Sophie Fryer were rewarded for their consistency this season and were victorious in the second contest. The fun dog show took place in two rings in the centre of the course and it was then time for the first of six point-to-point races to take centre stage. 

Honours during the afternoon went to two trainers who registered doubles. Newmarket-based Jenny Owen with Toss Again and The Big Lense and Ed Turner who operates from Ampton, near Bury St. Edmunds visiting the winners’ enclosure with Mister Splash and Good Source.  

Ed Turner had wholly supported the meeting by saddling four runners and by claiming these two victories he has now achieved 51 career winners as a trainer. His late grandfather Joe would have been proud of this achievement and the whole Turner family’s continued dedication to the sport, over many decades.   

Mister Splash and Paddy Barlow were repeating their victory in the corresponding race last year , namely the extended 3½ mile Level 2 Conditions race, by beating My Gift To You in a match race. There was never more than a length between them over the majority of the early part of the race but Barlow sent Mister Splash into a lead approaching four fences out, where his rival made an error, a lead they never relinquished. The 10lb weight advantage in favour of the winner would have be influential in the result but Barlow , who was riding his 7th winner of the campaign was delighted to have retained his winning sequence with Mister Splash and its now three from three for the pairing. “ It was a cat and mouse situation and just deciding when to go in front and always a pleasure to ride for the Turner Family” was Paddy’s post-race assessment. 

MISTER SPLASH and PADDY BARLOW

Good Source provided Ed Turner and the family with their second success of the afternoon in the Jockey Club 0-110 Series race with Charlotte Butler aboard. The potential odds-on favourite Inchidaly Robin was brought to the course but didn’t eventually get saddled leaving Garde La Peche to start as the favourite, based on recent form. The mare’s trainer Tim Underwood was making his first ever visit to Higham and couldn’t believe the size of the massive crowd, gathered for the meeting. However, in running, Garde La Peche was always playing catch up from the back of the trio of runners, but plenty close enough and her progress was not helped by some jumping errors. In the end, she and jockey Paddy Barlow were never able to land a blow and Good Source’s jumping won the contest and the leap at the last typified his whole round. The winning margin was 5 ½ lengths from the other runner, The Yellow Mini.  

GOOD SOURCE and CHARLOTTE BUTLER

Boris Ball took the riding honours with the first double of his career and is enjoying a splendid season having not ridden a winner before the campaign started. He was aboard Toss Again in the opening Essex & Suffolk Members’ race and Toss Again and Ball are an unbeaten partnership and were winning for the third successive time this season. They took the lead going out on the final circuit and had their two rivals Back Bar and Atlantic Fleet toiling behind. Three fences from home the eventual winners were 6 lengths clear with Atlantic Fleet and Charlotte Butler beginning to stay on but another mistake at the last cost the challenger any chance of success. Butler afterwards confirmed the fast pace had contributed to any jumping errors Atlantic Fleet had committed as the course was drying out after watering had been carried out pre-raceday. John Morrey the enthusiastic owner of Toss Again is hoping to ride him himself but is currently recovering from a back injury and if still not race fit to do his horse justice at the next planned outing, then Boris will continue the partnership. Toss Again came for Henry De Bromhead’s stable for which he won four races. Having lost his way, a change of surroundings has proved beneficial and his former trainer still keeps in touch with his new owner with texts, after each success. 

TOSS AGAIN and BORIS BALL

Ball completed his double on The Big Lense who had no difficulty in coming home 9 lengths ahead of Shentri and Poppy Shaw in the PPORA Mixed Open for Novice Riders.  

THE BIG LENSE and BORIS BALL

Police Academy and Ellie Callwood won the Mixed Open which carried prize money totalling £1250 on offer. Tullys Touch went off in front before being settled, at the back, by Ellie Holder after the first open ditch, behind his two rivals. This left Police Academy and Janika, Ed Turners runner, to take control of the race. Four fences from the finish Janika and Charlotte Butler had 3 lengths advantage over Police Academy with Tullys Touch another 4 lengths away. By two out Callwood and Police Academy had cruised to the front and the winner was pushed out to take the valuable prize by 3½ lengths from Janika. Miss Callwood was “really happy” with the way the race evolved and “it worked out well as she can be a bit of a madam !”. Tullys Touch who finished the race in 3rd place was running his last race for owner Christina Blockley and his trainers John and Mel Ibbott have sourced a perfect setting for his retirement which will involve some RoR and all things that he enjoys. Having won 16 points and a Fakenham hunter ‘chase this wonderful servant will be greatly missed around the East Anglian courses.

POLICE ACADEMY and ELLIE CALLWOOD 

The concluding Maiden saw four runners go to post giving a total of 19 declarations on the day from the 30 individual horses entered. The significance of trainer Luke Price coming from his south Wales base and leading jockey James King taking his only ride of the afternoon, was not lost on the punters. Having opened at 2/1 before being backed into odds-on the fairly diminutive 5yo mare Rhythm Of Life was given a perfect introduction on her pointing debut being restrained by King, at the back of the quartet. The more experienced Rounditoff took and held the lead as 2 to 3 lengths covered all four runners as they embarked on their final circuit. King and Rhythm Of Life jumped into the lead four out and they maintained their increasing advantage, all the way to the line, for a decisive 8 length victory from Rounditoff. 

RYHTHM OF LIFE and JAMES KING

Another highly successful and extremely well supported, Good Friday meeting with plenty of praise for the safe jumping ground provided by Clerk of the Course, Roderick Duncan and his team. 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GRAHAM BISHOP PHOTOGRAPHY

www.gdbphotography.co.uk