PREVIEW OF THE WAVENEY AND NORFOLK HARRIERS MEETING AT HIGHAM ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 9th
By Graham Bishop
The East Anglian season continues with racing taking place at the popular Higham racecourse situated on the Suffolk/Essex border. Sunday’s action begins with three pony races from 11am with the first of six steeplechases commencing at 12 midday.
This is the first of two meetings to be held at Higham this season, the other is on Good Friday, and the card comprises of three Conditions races, a Mixed Open, a Maiden and a Restricted contest. Throughout the card there are significant entries for several horses with an interesting past.
Racing commences with an “Owner-Trainer” Conditions race, run to benefit those that own and train for themselves or immediate family. The second, third and fourth in the race last year return to Higham for another potential tussle, namely The Yellow Mini, Chapelier and Highway Hero. The Yellow Mini finished runner-up in a further two races last season, but has yet to run this season. Hybery was another to run in similar contests to this last season, finishing runner-up in one. This flatter track may suit, as the races in which he ran in his earlier years with the mighty Willie Mullins were predominantly over two miles. First Preference, who holds an entry in all three Conditions races, failed to finish in three of his four outings last season and has since moved stables, but showed good form in 2023 winning three points and finishing runner up in a hunter ‘chase. When the mating decision was made to send the mare Galicuix to Champs Elysees I doubt it was at Higham where they expected to have a runner, as the mare had produced the 2000gns winner Galileo Gold, three years earlier. The result of the mating was Palladium, but he failed to win a race on the flat, although he was placed on several occasions. He was transferred to Nicky Henderson where he won two juvenile hurdles at Sandown before starting as favourite for the 2020 “Fred Winter” hurdle race at Cheltenham. He was pulled up in that race which was won by the recent Horseheath winner Aramax. He ran in three points last season and he too may prefer this easier circuit.
The PPORA Club Members’ Conditions Race could provide the first of three winning opportunities for Tom Hutsby. In this race he is aboard Rhythm Is A Dancer who ran a promising first race for almost two years, when third recently at Revesby Park. Senior Citizen who ran in two hunter ‘chases last season whilst in the care of Alan King has transferred stables and will be running for the Alan Hill yard for the first time this season. William Ewart, formerly with Christian Williams, performed consistently throughout 2024, until running poorly on his final start and being pulled up. His first venture in points will either be in this or the “Novice Riders” race. Higham course winner Good Source should strip fitter following his reappearance at Horseheath last month.
There is a distinct possibility that we could see three horses line-up at the start of the Mixed Open race that have run in an “Arkle Novices Chase” at the Cheltenham Festival.
Hardline was sent off as favourite for trainer Gordon Elliot in 2019, Saint Calvados finished 4th to Footpad for Harry Whittington in 2018, and Allmankind was 4th to Shishkin for Dan Skelton in 2021. Since those appearances, Saint Calvados went on to run at a further two Festivals at Grade One level, finishing runner-up to Min in the 2020 Ryanair Chase.
Hardline has yet to run in points for his new connections, whereas both Allmankind and Saint Calvados have both run and won this season, Allmankind winning comfortably at Horseheath on New Year’s Eve and Saint Calvados winning a 2 ½ mile Men’s Open at Alnwick, two weeks ago.
Tom Hutsby could ride Drakes Well in this contest, who finished last season winning a 2 ½ mile Conditions race at Mollington before running creditably in a Stratford hunter ‘chase when placed 3rd, in May. Course winner I K Brunel was denied by a rallying Myth Buster in a Ladies Open race at Larkhill in December, whilst Shentri who won at this corresponding fixture last year won a three-runner Ladies Open race at the recent meeting held at Cocklebarrow. Bardenstown Lad holds an entry at all four fixtures this weekend, won at Askham Bryan last weekend.
The PPORA Club Members race for novice riders provides the third opportunity for Tom Hutsby on Kayf Hernando, who has run twice this season, winning a “Grassroots Riders” race at Dunsmore in November and then finishing fifth in a competitive Conditions race at Larkhill in December. Should Kayf Hernando give the race a miss, Rhythm Is A Dancer could run in this race instead of the earlier Conditions race. Alternative options are available for seven of the entries, which includes Due Reward who was placed in a couple of races last season and Jacks Touch who finished a distant third to Master Templar at Garthorpe last week.
The horses emanating from the yard of Nicholas Wright are running well, with two winners and two runners-up out of four runners in the last two weeks. Wright saddled last week’s Charing winner Fame And Concrete who was returning to racing after a break of almost two years and his entry in the Maiden race, Salacia’s Storm, will be running for the first time in almost three years ! Against him could be the Christopher Barber-trained Shikantsen Enki who has run twice this season, finishing runner-up in a 2 ½ mile Maiden at Badbury Rings but then blundering and unseating at the second last obstacle, at Larkhill in mid-December. Although he has only finished once in seven starts, the Ed Turner-trained Graveside Lad was given a favourable prediction by jockey Paddy Barlow to win a race this year, on a recent Pointing Pointers Podcast.
The Restricted race provides an interesting finale, in which there are three horses that have won on their most recent start. Jullou de Grissay won the Restricted race at Cocklebarrow a fortnight ago, a lot easier than his Maiden race victory at Horseheath on New Year’s Eve. Always Groovin who finished a close 3rd in that Maiden contest has tasted success since. Barrington John routed the field in a Maiden race at Horseheath’s second fixture, whilst Monrocco Moonlight won the Maiden race at Charing last week. Great Valley has run well in both his Restricted races this season at Knightwick in November and Larkhill in January, whilst Quickcharge finished third in a Restricted at Larkhill in December. Trainer Andrew Pennock’s Shanes Passion won his Maiden around this course last season but was pulled up on his subsequent run.
Early-bird tickets are still available via website – www.highamraces.co.uk. Discounted price tickets can be purchased up to midnight on Saturday February 8th.
Gate prices: Adults £15 CASH ONLY. Accompanied Children 16 and under free.
Dogs welcome on short leads. Tradestands, catering outlets and public cash bar.
The popular Higham racecourse is situated midway between Ipswich and Colchester and fully signposted from the A12 using the B1068 ( SatNav CO7 6NG )
