by Graham Bishop
The new East Anglian season jumped into thrilling action at the opening Horseheath meeting with the racing of a high standard, a feature that looks set to be continued at Ampton, near Bury St. Edmunds on Sunday.
Ampton racecourse always provides a decent atmosphere with good viewing areas and Sunday should be no exception with the first of the six scheduled steeplechases starting at midday. There are numerous previous course winners amongst the entry of 69 and all races have the potential of competitiveness. The Ampton course has been expertly attended to, since it was last raced on back in March, by Clerk of the Course Simon Stearn and his team of helpers and early indications suggest mainly good to soft conditions will prevail, come race day.
Amongst the entries you can find horses that at one time raced at the highest level, such as in the Albert Bartlett novices hurdle (Step Back), the Supreme novices hurdle (Angels Breath) and an Arkle chase (Hardline) and now continue their careers seeking success in the pointing field.
The racing starts with a level 2 Conditions race for horses aged 10 and over. The eleven entries for this race includes two each from the stables of Tim Vaughan (Designer Destiny and You No Me Too Well) and Lily Bradstock (Jaisalmer and Step Back) whilst the in-form stable of Georgina Andrews has Benefaktor entered, although he will have to turnaround the form with Step Back from last season.
Creapapy was runner-up in Division One of the Maiden race last season and in spite of this promising outing he failed to prevail in his subsequent outings and now returns for new connections in this years’ edition of the Maiden contest. Andrew Pennock has the largest entry, with three entered in the race, namely The Orchard Boy, Windseeker Lad and Jasmin des Bordes, the last named holding the best form. Whatchagotder, Miss Ghillie, Kirsch de Cotte and Barrow Brook have all had at least one run this season and should improve for these outings. Apart from the unraced Twomax, the remainder have all shown glimpses of form on either side of the Irish Sea.
The winner of the Ladies Open race last season, Captain Biggles, is entered in the race once again and with the stable in fine form will surely go close in this year’s renewal. Opposing him could be race-fit Bardenstown Lad, who finished runner-up to Master Templar at Chaddesley Corbett and Myth Buster who stayed on strongly to win at Larkhill. Learntalot’s form has symmetry with form figures of 123321 from last season. The first win came in a Maiden at Dunsmore whilst the second success came in the “Restricted Final” at Stratford. Jacks Touch, formerly trained by Sarah Humphrey, won three times under rules between November 2023 and January 2024. Although in receipt of a 7lb allowance she will have to carry a 5lb penalty for these wins.
Bardenstown Lad also features amongst the entries for the Men’s Open race. Tim Vaughan has entered the once high-class Angels Breath who was runner-up in a first outing for the stable, last month at Wadebridge, and Dalamoi, who last won a competitive race at Kempton in November 2022. Although Edward Vaughan is listed to ride both of these, he is also named to ride the Andrew Pennock trained Hardline. Previously trained by Gordon Elliot, Hardline has been primarily campaigned in points and hunter ‘chases in recent years, but back in his prime was a Grade One winning chaser. With Gina Andrew’s stable, already, in fine form, Jetaway Joey should run well on his seasonal reappearance, having won a two-horse race to start his season last year but he then found the opposition too hot in his next two races.
Francesca Poste’s stable companions Kilfilum Woods and Capparattin are the only entries in the Restricted race that have had a run this season. Kilfilum Woods has won both his Maiden race and Restricted race emphatically, whilst Capparattin has been well beaten on both starts. Both would need to carry a 5lb penalty, as would Designer Destiny who also holds an entry in this race. It is just over a year since Jongleur d’Ainay made a big impression when winning his Maiden race at Wadebridge. Following that victory he was led out, unsold, when presented at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale later that month, and has not seen the racecourse since. L’Aventara won her Maiden last season, at Kingston Blount and this form was given a boost at Horseheath on New Year’s Eve, with the victory of Jullou De Grissay who had finished runner-up to L’Aventara.
A competitive race to conclude the proceedings will be the PPORA Conditions race for novice riders with last season’s winning combination of Red Maple and Cian Murphy, and the third placed horse Monkey Puzzle and his partner Mary Ashby amongst the entries. On paper this year’s renewal looks to have more depth with the likes of Bang On Target, Highland Glory, Ping Pong Paddy, Rhythm Is A Dancer and Young Rich featuring, in addition to those that hold alternative engagements on this card which includes Designer Destiny, Hardline, Jaisalmer and Step Back.
Admission Adults £ 15 (cash or card at the gate) with children under 16 Free and dogs welcome on short leads. Merchandise and food stalls, cash public bar and local bookmakers all in attendance.
Ampton racecourse is situated 4 miles North of Bury St. Edmunds on the A134 Thetford Road, through the village of Ingham. ( SatNav IP31 1NS )
