PREVIEW OF THE CAMBRIDGESHIRE WITH ENFIELD CHACE MEETING AT HORSEHEATH ON SUNDAY JANUARY 26th
By Graham Bishop
After the disappointment of losing the recent Ampton fixture, due to the frozen ground conditions, the action returns to Horseheath this Sunday. There were some superb races at the same venue on December 31st and five of the winners from that fixture have been entered here, all looking to supplement their recent successes. It is quite common for previous course winners to return time and again, and this year’s renewal is no different. The five winners from that previous meeting are Aramax, All Is True, Fairly Famous, Allmankind and Call Me Early.
The first race of the day is a PPORA Club Members Conditions Race for novice riders, has an entry for the first of the five, namely Aramax, who won a similar contest at this earlier fixture, staying on strongly at the finish, with Master Malcolm behind him that day in third. Myth Buster and Precious Bounty have won races this season at Larkhill and Badbury Rings respectively, whilst Red Maple and Young Rich both won similar contests last season.
The Restricted race promises to be a race worth watching. Chabichou Dupoitou was beaten by the smallest of margins in the Restricted race on New Year’s Eve, but it was the Georgina Andrews trained Call Me Early who caught the eye on the day when given a supremely confident ride by Jack Andrews to win the Maiden Conditions race. Stable companion Main Stage, who won the Maiden Conditions race at this meeting last season, is also entered. Trojan du Berlais, who would be appearing for the first time this season, won the corresponding Restricted race last year, whilst his stable companions Ask Carla and Jersey Fromentin are also entered. Tiger Tobin and Designed to Win both won their Maiden races at Garthorpe’s Melton Hunt Club fixture last season. Tiger Tobin has not been seen since, whilst Designed To Win ran just once more, prevailing in a Restricted race at High Easter.
A classy looking entry for the Mixed Open race with the winners of both Open races on New Year’s Eve, Allmankind and Fairly Famous, being entered along with the 2023 Cheltenham Foxhunter winner, Premier Magic who was also victorious in the 2021 Pertemps Network Stratford Foxhunter Champion Hunter Chase for the Horse and Hound Cup. Allmankind’s switch from running in hurdle races under rules bore fruit at the first time of asking, beating the useful What A Glance, whilst Fairly Famous sauntered to an easy victory against inferior opposition. Premier Magic finished second at Chaddesley Corbett behind Jeux D’Eau on his seasonal reappearance, whilst Law Of Gold has yet to run. Fairly Famous, Premier Magic and Law Of Gold all met in last season’s running for the Horse and Hound Cup, with Fairly Famous finishing the best, in third place.
Barrington John, who finished a close third to Call Me Early can be found amongst the entries for the first of the Maiden races on the card. Del Amitir who is entered in both Maiden races, showed promise finishing fifth in the first of the Maiden races at the previous Horseheath meeting, whilst the remainder of the entries need watching.
The second Maiden race is conditional on the horse having run in at least two point-to-points/point-to-point flat races. Always Groovin finished third on New Year’s Eve, beaten in a three way photo finish and is enthusiastically owned by five former East Anglian jockeys , namely William Wales, Tim Moore, Nigel Bloom, Simon Cowell and Perry Harding-Jones. Avichi In The Park and Jump Tiep have both run with promise in 2 ½ mile Maiden races at Chaddesley Corbett and Larkhill respectively. Rounditoff has placed form in Ireland, whilst Diamon des Flos had run respectably when last seen on a course in 2022.
The concluding Level 2 Conditions race could see All Is True and Champagne Glory renew their rivalry having finished 1st and 2nd in a similar event last time at Horseheath. Back It Up, who has yet to run this season, beat both All Is True and Good Source in Conditions races at Higham and Fakenham respectively last year. Good Source has since moved stables and is now in the care of the Turner Family and along with Mount Pleasant, who performed consistently last season winning four points, both will also be making their seasonal reappearance. Royale Dance, now in the care of Bradley Gibbs, will have benefitted for her first run at Chaddesley, where she finished fourth.
Three pony races start proceedings from 10.45am with the first of the six steeplechases races at 12 midday.
Adult admission £15 CASH ONLY with children under 16 free. Dogs welcome on short leads and can participate in a family fun dog show and have-a-go dog agility. Splendid variety of stands including food and a cash bar.
Horseheath racecourse is situated 4 miles west of Haverhill on the A1307 or exits 9 or 10 off the M11 (SatNav CB21 4QP)
