A superb weekend of East Anglian Point-To-Pointing saw 183 horses contest 15 races at two different venues with some very high class performers, both human and equine, on display.
Bedtime Boys was the star of the Easton Harriers fixture at High Easter on Saturday, landing a quite brilliant Men’s Open to put his name in the frame for Cheltenham glory in March.Top rider at High Easter was Andrew Braithwaite, whose double aboard Top Boots and Lightningconductor means that he moved on to three for the season so has already overtaken his tally for an injury-ravaged 2006.Top rider at High Easter was Andrew Braithwaite, whose double aboard Top Boots and Lightningconductor means that he moved on to three for the season so has already overtaken his tally for an injury-ravaged 2006.
Top Boots was a popular winner, as he is owned and trained by landowner Simon Marriage, who has done so much to make High Easter one of the best courses in the region. In following up his New Years Eve Cottenham success, Top Boots became the first horse in Marriage’s 24-year training career to win twice in the same season.Lightningconductor was another to appreciate the underfoot conditions, overcoming a number of awkward leaps and veering to the right on the run-in to hold off Murphymeboy by a length in the Restricted Race. He is owned and trained by Bishop’s Stortford’s Christopher Sporborg.
Trainer-rider David Kemp, from Kilverstone near Thetford, was thrilled by Cantarinho’s close third in the Men’s Open and had earlier broken his duck for the campaign when Ifubelieveindreams, in the colours of Kelvedon builder Barry Belchem, lifted the young horse Maiden.The elders Maiden went the way of Hatsnall, trained at Ashdon, near Linton, by Chris Lawson and a first ever winner for owners Simon Mills, Gary Peet and Alan Escott, who have been friends since attending Beauchamps Comprehensive School in Wickford, Essex.Lucy Franks, now a Londoner but once of Sutton, near Woodbridge, brought the admirably consistent Sure Future, trained near Colchester by Wilf Tolhurst, with a late run to take the Dodson & Horrell Conditions Race. And Kent raider Carryonharry made in six wins in a row in the Ladies’ Open.
Results
Club Members Race:
1 Mrs J K Marriage, Top Boots (Essex), A Braithwaite;
2 R Barr, Loup Bleu (Easton Harriers), M Mackley;
3 N Padfield, Arthur Daly (Essex), C Gordon.
Also Bel Ombre (fourth), Bede (PU), Infidel (PU). Six ran. 15 lenths, 10 lengths. T 6:55. Tote £3. SP 2/1 fav.
Open Maiden Race (5, 6 and 7-y-o):
1 B Belchem, Ifubelieveindreams (E Essex), D Kemp;
3 The Andrews and Barthorpe Families, Shilgrove Lad (Cambs with Enfield Chase), S Morris; N Padfield, Ciderlay (Essex), J Owen.
Also Never Be Poor Again (fourth), According to Rupert (F), Cadtauri (UR), Marlion (F), Mon Avis (CO), Moods (F), Trip to the Stars (UR). Ten ran, a distance head, T 7:12. Tote win £5. SP 6/4 fav.
Open Maiden Race (8-y-o and over):
1 Jigsaw Racing Partnership, Hatsnall (Essex), M Mackley;
2 Mrs E Wilson, Special Benefit (Blakeney), R Morgan-Evans;
3 R Green and B Sayer, Esplendidos (Fitzwilliam), A Braithwaite.
Also Mona Lease (fourth), Edensword (fifth), Wainhill Lad (UR), Winapenny (F). Seven ran, 20 lengths, two lengths, T 7:03. Tote £15. SP 5/1 (Special Benefit 7/4 fav).
Men’s Open Race:
1 Miss M Samworth, Bedtime Boys (Quorn), J Docker;
2 Mrs C Aldridge and R Juleff, My Best Buddy (Pytchley), R Barrett;
3 M Kemp and D Kemp, Cantarinho (N Norfolk), D Kemp.
Also Splash and Dash (fourth), Cedar Chief (fifth), Caveman (sixth), Trusting Tom (seventh), Lucky Leader (eighth), Briar’s Mist (PU), Dunmanus Bay (PU), Patrix Prial (PU), Pendle Hill (PU), Philson-Warrior (PU). Thirteen ran, one length, three lengths, T 6:50. Tote £3. SP 7/4 fav.
Ladies Open Race:
1 Mrs H Silk and R Purkis, Carry On Harry (Kent and Surrey Bloodhounds), Miss C Haydon;
2 J Hunt, Danaeve (Farmers Bloodhounds), Miss S Phizacklea;
3 Mrs D Andrews, Jolly Minster (Ashford Vale), Miss C Douglas.
Also Limerick Leader (fourth), Gatchou Mans (fifth), Stylish Dave (sixth), Black Frost (PU), Make Haste Slowly (PU). Eight ran, three-quarters of a length, 10 lengths, T 6:51. T £1. SP 4/7 fav.
Restricted Race:
1 C Sporborg, Lightning Conductor (Puckeridge), A Braithwaite;
2 J Wilson, Murphyme Boy (Pytchley), S Morris;
3 T Ellis, Airmark (Warwicks), owner.
Also Box On (fourth), Doneraile’s Choice (fifth), Ballalley Lad (PU), Intaglio (F), Killeengh Lodge (PU), Mai Cure (PU), Nigel’s Dream (PU), Supreme Vintage (UR). Eleven ran, one length, 20 lengths, T 7:00. T £5. SP 5/2 (Intaglio 2/1 fav.)
PPORA Club Members Condition Race:
1 G Franks, Sure Future (Essex Farmers and Union), Miss L Franks;
2 J Hunt, Highland Vasco (Farmers Boodhounds), T Ellis;
3 P Rackham, Round the Isles (Pytchley).
Also Asthefellowsaid (fourth), Sorkatcheguy (fifth), Wonder Weasel (sixth), Crystal dance (sevent), Galaxy Minstrel (eighth), Kentish Bard (PU), Leachbrook Lady (PU), Misty Future (PU), Punta Cava (PU), Rakatia (PU), Teeton Fizz (PU). 14 ran, three lengths, one lengths, T 7:01. Tote £1.50. SP 3/1 fav.
