Puckeridge and Essex at High Easter – Saturday 5th April
By Graham Bishop
The action returns to High Easter racecourse in deepest, rural Essex. on Saturday April 5th (first race 1pm) with the prospect of seeing seven live races and 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 5th live point-to-point race, to ensure the whole afternoon will be action packed from start to finish. There will a parade of retired racehorses organised through the charity RoR ( Retraining of Racehorses) to commence the afternoon proceedings at 12.20pm together with a fun dog show starting at 2pm. As usual with this meeting, there will be a large display of various 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 harrowed, rolled, spiked and topped.
With only 6% of the usual rainfall having fallen throughout March in East Anglia, this lack of rainfall has created extra work for the organisers with extensive watering having started well in advance of the fixture. Fortunately, Clerk of the Course Simon Marriage, has access to a large pond on the course and has a further arrangement with a neighbouring farmer, to utilise his pond facilities, to provide as much watering of the course, as man hours allow. The ultimate aim being to provide as near to “good” going as possible come race day.
The seven race card has attracted 55 entries, although several of these are entered in more than one race. The Countryside Alliance Club Member’s Conditions race that opens proceedings has attracted the most entries, and on paper looks quite competitive. Clashhill would be seeking a fourth consecutive victory having won twice at Horseheath before beating Mumbo Jumbo in an Intermediate race at Guilsborough. Red Maple, a stable companion of Clashhill, won a Veteran and Novice Rider’s Race at Fakenham on his latest start having been placed on his previous two starts. Getting Closer, who missed all of last season, returned to action with a victory in a three-runner Conditions race at Charing and is a previous winner around this course. Midnight Cowboy is another to have missed last season and has yet to run this season but he too can boast of a previous victory at High Easter, in the Mens Open three years ago. Padjoes Legacy, who was narrowly defeated by Clashhill at Horseheath, has since won a Conditions race around this course last month. Another to win at High Easter is Young Rich who finished alone when securing victory in the Novice Rider’s race at the last meeting here in March. Wallace Olinger, a half brother to this year’s Cheltenham Festival Stayers Hurdle winner Bob Olinger, won first time out this year in an Intermediate race at Revesby Park and has subsequently been runner-up in his next two races.
The entries for the “Essex National” Conditions race to be run over the extended distance of 3¾ miles includes four of the entries in the previous race, namely Getting Closer, Midnight Cowboy, Padjoes Legacy and Red Maple. Amrons Sage, a stable companion of Getting Closer won a 4 mile Mixed Open race at Kingston Blount in February in which Who’s In The Box finished third, and then travelled to Cothelstone, finishing third in a 3½ mile Mixed Open race. Mountain Assault is another to have run over this extended distance this season, finishing a close second to Mylestown Upper at Garthorpe in a Conditions race over 3¾ miles in which he was just ahead of Red Maple. Mountain Assault faced Mylestown Upper over 3 miles around this course last month, with the same outcome, however it was Padjoes Legacy who beat them both comfortably. Radnar Lodbrok who holds an entry in the Ladies Open race has been disappointing this season, and has something to prove having been pulled up on his last three starts.
The Ladies Open race, with the Warwick Vase going to the winning owner(s), includes both Fairly Famous and I’m Spellbound amongst the entries, both owned by the Signy and Marriage Families. Fairly Famous ran well for a long way, but was eventually pulled up in the Cheltenham Foxhunter, having won both points this season. I’m Spellbound, who has won three Conditions races this season, including one around this course last month, would be stepping into Open company for the first time. Tullys Touch was successful in this race last year and has won two Ladies Opens this season, the second of which was against sole opponent Learntalot, at Ampton. However at Fakenham recently, Tullys Touch was very exuberant in the parade ring but then failed to show the same zest during the race and finished last. Prior to running at Ampton, Learntalot had won a 3 ½ mile Mixed Open race at Friars Haugh in January. Myth Buster has not been seen since finishing fourth in a Novice Rider’s race at Horseheath in January, but had shown a desire to win when defeating IK Brunel at Larkhill in December.
Both Fairly Famous and I’m Spellbound are also entered in the Men’s Open race. In addition to them, both Aramax and Law Of Gold who had a match race at the previous fixture are entered. On that occasion Aramax prevailed with a late run, but on this occasion Aramax will have to carry a 3lb penalty. Since then, Aramax has run in a competitive Mixed Open race at Fakenham, finishing runner up to his stable companion The Big Lense. Dale Peters, the regular rider of Law Of Gold, has also entered Wallace Olinger, whom he trains.
The Intermediate race has only seven entries, but could provide an entertaining race. Padjoes Legacy has an entry here as well as other contests. His close second to Clashhill at Horseheath gives him a good chance in this race. Mumbo Jumbo found Clashhill too strong in the closing stages of the Intermediate race held at Guilsborough. Prior to this run he had defeated Cash Or Card in a Restricted race at Brocklesby Park, Cash Or Card having carried a 5lb penalty. Cash Or Card has since been seen at Charm Park finishing third. Fame And Concrete won a 2 ½ mile Restricted race at Charing on his first outing this season and then finished a close 2nd, whilst carrying a penalty in a Restricted race at Guilsborough. Mister Splash has run well on all three visits to this course, winning his Maiden in 2023 and finishing a close second on the two other occasions, but may find one or two, too good again.
The entries for the Maiden race which is scheduled to be run after the Grand National have shown glimpses of form, whilst five of them were all pulled up on their latest appearances. A good look at them in the paddock to check their wellbeing may well be best approach to this particular contest.
The concluding Members’ race has traditionally been targeted by trainer Nigel Padfield, in the past, and his horses are multiple winners of the prize, on offer. Padfield is based in Abridge which is situated less than 20 miles from the High Easter course has two entries, the aforementioned Padjoes Legacy and Can Daddy Dance. The latter has run just once since arriving from Ireland, finishing 3rd in a Restricted race at Garthorpe. The Gina Andrews-trained representative Call Me Early impressed many with his victory around this course last month and would provide stiff competition.
Gates Open 11am
RoR parade of retired racehorses 12.20pm
First point-to-point steeplechase at 1pm
Fun Dog Show starts at 2pm
Break for big screen coverage of Grand National (4pm start) after the 5th point-to-point race.
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 4th and will be still available on raceday, via the link at £18.
https://higheasterraces.ticketsrv.co.uk/events/
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 )
