Preview of the Cambridgeshire with Enfield Chace meeting at Horseheath on SUNDAY JANUARY 28th
by Graham Bishop
Course officials will welcome the milder weather forecast, on the lead up to Sunday’s Cambridgeshire with Enfield Chace meeting at Horseheath. First point-to-point steeplechase is at midday, preceded by three pony races from 10.50am.
The East Anglian season has started with two cracking meetings and by the class of entry, the potential for some exciting racing is once again the order of the day at the picturesque racecourse, situated on the Suffolk/ Cambridgeshire border.
Advance going report states that the course has recovered well from the New Year’s Eve fixture and come raceday, ground conditions are likely to be classified as “Good” all round.
Included in the 89 entries, for the six- race card, are several horses that either won or were placed at Horseheath’s New Year’s Eve fixture, including five of those that were victorious.
The first race of the day is a PPORA Club Members Conditions Race for novice riders, which has entries for four of the first five home from that December fixture at Horseheath, including the winner Imperial Esprit who ran out a clear-cut victor ahead of Jonjoela. Another interesting entrant is The Dubai Way, who ran a good second to Lagan Valley at Sheriff Hutton only to be subsequently disqualified having lost his weight cloth in the closing stages and thus his rider failed to draw the correct weight.
Trojan du Berlais who won the Maiden Conditions race at the last meeting for trainer Andrew Pennock, features amongst the entries in the Restricted race. He may have to contend with the TIm Vaughan-trained Mary’s Fortune, who beat last week’s Ampton winner Jingle Du Gouet in November and then was unlucky not to win a Restricted race when falling at the second last at Wadebridge. Alan Hill has entered Learntalot, who won a Maiden race at Dunsmore in November and Coolagh Park who has been placed on both outings this season.
All The Ammunition and In Our Dreams both won their Maiden and Restricted races last season, and along with Coolagh Park, successful at Horseheath in December 2021, will carry 5lb penalties.
The Mixed Open race has five entrants who won on their most recent outing this season, four of them successful at Horseheath on New Year’s Eve, namely Imperial Esprit, Mitchouka, Ragnar Lodbrok and Tigerbythetail, together with the Hemmings Family’s Deise Aba who won at Larkhill on the same day. Law Of Gold who provided his owner/trainer, David Kemp, with his first Cheltenham victory when taking the “four miler” at the hunter ‘chase evening last season, could make his seasonal reappearance in this contest.
The first of the Maiden races has twenty one entries. Artiste D’Ainay and Bless The Moon finished 3rd and 4th behind Paul Manate whilst The Borobudur was chasing Trojan du Berlais when falling at the last, in their New Year’s Eve outings. The yards of Alan Hill, Tim Vaughan and Myles Osborne have all been sending out winners this season, have horses entered. Along with several lightly or unraced horses, it may prove informative for future contests.
The second Maiden race is conditional on the horse having run in at least two point-to-points/point-to-point flat races. Eight of the entrants hold an engagement in the earlier race but this should not diminish the interest. Of those not double entered, Ask Carla ran a fine race in defeat when finishing 2nd to Paul Manate around this course,in December, whilst Main Stage finished 2nd to Trojan du Berlais, on the same day..
The concluding Level 2 Conditions race could see Mitchouka (also entered in the Mixed Open) and All Is True renew their rivalry having finished 1st and 2nd in a similar event last month at Horseheath. Also at that fixture, The Unmentionable and Who’s In The Box finished 3rd and 4th behind Ragnar Lodbrok in the Mixed Open. No Dice won on the opening day of the season at Dunsmore, outstaying his rivals but has not been seen on the course since. Myth Buster, Grand Roi and Coolagh Park have been placed on their recent runs, are entered here as well as in earlier races. Two of those yet to run this season are Runwiththetide who won both her points last season but pulled up in two hunter ‘chase outings and previous course winner How To Get Away, who only ran twice last season, won on his second attempt at Higham.
Timetable: Pony racing from 10.50am, First steeplechase 12 midday.
Other attractions include:,Fun dog show, tradestands, catering outlets, public bar (cash)
Admission: Adults £15 (cash only), Children under 16 free, Dogs welcome (on short leads)
HORSEHEATH RACECOURSE IS SITUATED 4 MILES WEST OF HAVERHILL ON THE A1307. EXITS 9 or 10 off the M11 ( SatNav CB21 4QP )
