PREVIEW :
The High Easter Racing Club – at High Easter – Saturday 7th March
Author Graham Bishop
The first of two fixtures to be held at High Easter takes place on Saturday with the first race at 1pm. The racecourse is located in a delightful setting in rural Essex and three new fences have been built since last season with the overall course condition described as perfect, for this initial meeting.
Comprising six races, the first race on the card is a PPORA Club Members Conditions race for Novice Riders.
Eleven entries have been made, several of whom have already met in similar contests. Toss Again won the Novice Riders race at Horseheath in January, with Master Malcolm behind in 3rd, Another Mystery in 5th, whilst Grange Island and Young Rich both pulled up. Grange Island has since won a Conditions race at Charing, whilst Another Mystery, Hardline and Young Rich all finished behind Hubrisko at Higham. Major Dundee, the winner of the 2023 Midlands National has finished 2nd in both outings in points, but was then pulled up in a Hunter Chase at Fakenham. Red Maple, who would have to carry a 10lb penalty in this race, ran well for a long way at Horseheath until tiring and eventually unseating his rider at the last and Commander Of Ten showed improved form at Kingston Blount last week to finish a close 3rd.
The Restricted race has two recent winners amongst the nine horses entered. Seek Him There won his maiden at Horseheath in January with Reel Much Fun a long way behind in 4th. Reel Much Fun has since made amends for his defeat with an emphatic win around Higham. Easy Rider has won both a Maiden race and Restricted race this season, and most recently has finished 4th in another Restricted race. The remaining entries will be looking to step up on the form they have shown so far in the Restricted races they have run.
Our third race on the card is a Mixed Open race which has attracted six entries. Highest rated is Fairly Famous who won on his seasonal reappearance at Horseheath and then filled the runner-up spot in a Ladies Open race at Charing. Aramax who has been placed on all three starts this season has the beating of Larry on last season’s form around Dingley. Slipway who has yet to run in a point, finished 5th in a Hunter Chase in January and previously ran in some prestigious races under rules.
The Ladies Conditions race has entries for two of the winners at Ampton on Sunday. Shentri, who won the Ladies Open race, is entered along with Padjoes Legacy who won the Veteran Horse Conditions race. I’m Spellbound won at Garthorpe in November and then finished 2nd on New Year’s Eve at Horseheath is a three time winner around this course including victory over Shentri last season. Padjoes Legacy also has course form having secured a victory over fellow entrant Mylestown Upper last year. In addition to his Mixed Open entry, Slipway also holds an entry in this contest.
The 8 year olds and over Conditions race has nine entries, four of which hold earlier engagements on this card namely Commander Of Ten, Grange Island, Mylestown Upper and Padjoes Legacy. Three that are not amongst the entries in earlier contests are Clashhill who has filled the runner-up position on both starts this season and the Georgina Andrews trained pair Arctic Oscar and No Risk des Flos.
The concluding Maiden race has eleven entries which includes some interesting individuals.
Francesca Poste has entered Guseakie who was runner up at Revesby Park in January and the ex Ben Pauling trained Corra Bheinn. Nigel Padfield who had two winners at Ampton has entered Fortuneville, an ex Irish pointer making his seasonal reappearance. Prince In The Park, another that has crossed the Irish Sea, finished 3rd at Badbury Rings last month for his new connections. Lily My Girl has yet to run this season, has placed form to her name having been runner-up in two point to point flat races, and then she finished third in a 3 mile point before finishing her season with a 4th place in a 2 mile 5 furlong race. Also amongst the entries is a 4 year old filly named Cafe Whispers who would be making her racecourse debut.
Gates open at 11am
Dogs welcome on short leads.
Gate admission £18 for adults with accompanied children 16 and under free admission.
Advance discounted adult tickets are available priced at £15 until midnight Friday March 6th and will still be available on race day, via the following link at £18.
https://higheasterraces.ticketsrvco.uk/events/
High Easter racecourse is situated eight miles west of Chelmsford, to the south of the village of High Easter ( SatNav CM1 4QL)
