GENERAL PREVIEW
Puckeridge and Essex at High Easter – Saturday 11th April
Author: Graham Bishop
The action returns to High Easter racecourse in deepest, rural Essex. on Saturday with pony racing from 1pm and the prospect of seeing six live steeplechase races without missing any of the action of the Grand National. The big Aintree race starts at 4pm and will be screened live on a large screen, so there will be a break after the 4th live point-to-point race, to ensure the whole afternoon will be action packed from start to finish. There will be a fun dog show taking place during the afternoon and as usual with this meeting, there will be a large display of a variety of retail trade stands, catering outlets, beer tent and a gigantic funfair, so the racecourse takes on the distinct feel of a country show. Since the last meeting, a month ago, all the bends and the plain fences have been moved to fresh ground and the course has also been levelled, slitted, mown whilst watering has commenced and is continuing with the aim to produce “good” ground for the meeting.
This fixture is the final one of the 2025/26 East Anglia area season and is hosted by the Puckeridge and Essex Hunts with the first race of the day being the PPORA Club Members Restricted race which has attracted 10 entries. Amongst these entries there are four owned by Nigel Padfield, of which both Ice Prowler and Fortuneville have won their Maiden races this season, the latter having won around this course last month. Reel Much Fun won his Maiden race around Higham in February and then won a Restricted race around the High Easter course beating Graveside Lad who is also entered. Another to have won a Restricted race this season is Fayrely Fruitful, who won at Dalton Park last month on her seasonal reappearance.
The “Essex National” Conditions race to be run over 3¾ miles has six entries. Red Maple who was successful in this race last year is once again amongst the entries, but so far this season has yet to complete the course. Entity of Substanz had shown a progressive profile winning his first four starts but was beaten on his most recent run at Fakenham behind the likes of Mister Splash and Police Academy, who have both won subsequently. Soldier Unknown finished 2nd to Master Templar in a four mile Mixed Open race at Kingston Blount in February, whilst the remaining three entrants, Dusart, Grand Soir and Island Run all finished third on their first starts in points this season.
The Ladies Open race, run for the Warwick Vase, and the following Mixed Open race includes both Fairly Famous and I’m Spellbound amongst the entries, both owned by the Signy and Marriage Families, however Fairly Famous is declared to run in the Aintree Foxhunter on Thursday. I’m Spellbound has already won four races around High Easter, including last month when defeating Slipway. Others entered in the Ladies Open race includes recent Higham winners Good Source and Police Academy, two times course winner Padjoes Legacy who has won both his starts this season at Ampton and Parham, and Aramax who had won at Guilsborough and Higham, whilst Grand National winning jockey Jim Culloty trains Spyglass Hill and will be ridden by his daughter Eliza, who finished 3rd at the recent fixture at Maisemore Park.
This year the Mixed Open race is being run over 2¾ miles, starting between the third and fourth fences. There are seven entries although five of them hold an entry in the Ladies Open race (Fairly Famous, I’m Spellbound, Jacks Touch, Janika and Police Academy).The two that remain are the Stearn Family owned pair, No Risk des Flos and The Big Lense, both having won their most recent starts at Fakenham and Higham respectively.
The fifth race on the card is a Countryside Alliance Club Members Conditions Race (Level 2) which has eight entries. Cash or Card (won Hunt Members at Dingley) and Go Go Geronimo (won a PPORA Club Members Veteran Horse Conditions Race at Paxford) so both ran over the Easter weekend and a week earlier Petite Mike won a Conditions Race for Novice Riders at Parham, ahead of fellow entrant Carrolls Cottage. Senior Citizen could only finish a distant 3rd to No Risk des Flos at Fakenham, but had previously won a 3½ mile Conditions race at Higham in February. Fame And Concrete has run twice this season, finishing 4th and 2nd respectively as the stable seek their first victory of the season. The remaining entries are Entity of Substanz and Island Run: both are also entered in the “Essex National”
The Maiden race that concludes the action in East Anglia has nine entries. Trainers David Phelan and Dale Peters have both made two entries for this contest, of which Spartan Brave is the most interesting having finished third at Knockanard in Ireland in February, the winner and runner-up both going to the sales thereafter. Nigel Padfield’s Affinaka was pulled up on his first start but he had finished 2nd on his final start in Ireland last season. Diamon des Flos finished 2nd around this course and also at Fakenham, but refused to race at Dingley last week. Harpers Creek has steadily improved and finished 3rd in the Fakenham race. Rounditoff was runner up at Higham last week, whilst Wait At The Gate was promoted from 3rd to 2nd in the Maiden race at Parham.
Gates Open 11am Pony racing from 1pm First of six point-to-point steeplechases at 1.45pm
Fun Dog Show
Break for big screen coverage of Grand National (4pm start) after the 4th point-to-point race.
Various retail trade stands, numerous catering outlets, beer tent ( cash or card ), Ice cream vendor and a Gigantic Funfair.
Adult admission £18 ( cash only on the gate )
Children 15 and under admitted free. Dogs on short leads welcome.
Advanced reduced price adult tickets ( £15 ) available via the following link, until midnight Friday April 10th and will be still available on raceday, via the link at £18.
High Easter racecourse is situated eight miles west of Chelmsford and set in a picturesque location, to the south of the village of High Easter. ( Sat Nav CM1 4QL )
