THE DUNSTON HARRIERS – AMPTON
Sunday January 14th 2024
12.00 Conditions – 18 entries
Blazing Tom was going for an 11th win on the bounce when an excellent close third in the John Corbet cup at Stratford in May 2022. The winner of the Heart Of All England Hunter Chase on his preceding outing, a dual Ampton scorer during that winning sequence has now changed hands and has not seen the track since that Stratford run. Now in the veteran stage that lengthy absence means he goes unpenalized here. Castle Trump has won six points and won at this meeting in 2022. He was competing in strong company in his three outings after scoring on his seasonal debut last season at Revesby Park, and also escapes penalties here. Koyote is admirably consistent, and won four of her six starts last season, consequently she has to shoulder an 8lb penalty. Tully’s Touch is penalised 5lbs. He has won ten points and a H/chase, five of those point wins were over this course. He found conditions too soft when meeting defeat for the first time here at this meeting last season. He has alternatives on the card. Hawkhurst has been a tremendous servant for the Hill yard, a sixteen time winner in points, but the last of those was at Horseheath in 2022. Poli Roi is part of Tim Vaughan’s team of pointers for son Ed to ride. A winner a Wadebridge last season was well below that level when pulling up on seasonal debut at Dunsmore in November. Pileon a three time winning hurdler, was rated in the 140s at that discipline in the past. He showed precious little in his three chase outings, but is in a good yard, and pointing could revive him. Knight in Dubai was rated in the 140s when successful in a Doncaster novice chase for Dan Skelton back in 2019. He is winless since, and although he has won an Irish point he pulled up on his only outing over three miles under rules. Starsky formerly with Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton is a dual winning hurdler. He had lost his way under rules but posted a good effort on his first outing in a point, and for these connections when third at Cothelstone towards the end of last season.
Selection: Blazing Tom Alternative: Castle Trump
12.35 Open Maiden – 17 entries
More quantity over quality is entered in the Maiden. Out of the Tim Vaughan entries we think Imaginaire holds his strongest chance, a very lightly raced 6 year old having only set foot on the racecourse once at the end of November last year. He must have shown plenty at home as he went off a short price favourite. He was beaten ten lengths and looked green and in need of more experience and with normal improvemen the holds every chance.
Creapapy hails from the Tom Ellis yard and ran three times in Irish point to points, he has not shown improvement in his three runs and was well beaten in his last race. Through a form line with possible rival Arkle Rua, he has sixteen lengths to find, we think he is best watched on this occasion. Arkle Rua has been placed twice in 3 Irish point to points and has solid form. The form of his last run is working out extremely well with the winner and the third both winning next time out. The partnership of Nick Wright and Alex Chadwick has to be feared when they team up. Jingle du Gouet has run once in an English PtP over what looked an inadequate trip of 2m 4f the step up to three miles should suit. He showed a willing attitude to finish second in what looked very tiring ground conditions and needs to sharpen up on his jumping after making errors. With better ground and a longer trip he holds a strong chance in what does not look a strongrace.
Selection: Jingle Du Gouet Alternative: Arkle Rua
1.10 Ladies Open – 10 entries
Captain Biggles could make his seasonal debut here after a very successful campaign last year, winning 4 out of 5 points and securing victory in the “Restricted Final” at Stratford’s hunter ‘chase evening. I K Brunel possesses a creditable form record with 2 point wins and a hunter ‘chase success last season before taking part in both Foxhunter contests at Cheltenham and Aintree. Suffered and unseat at the Festival and was unluckily brought down at Aintree, before winning a match race at Kingston Blount. Has already been seen this season when finishing 3rd at Larkhill, beaten 8 lengths and will surely be better for the outing. Precious Bounty has never let his partner, Ellie Callwood, down, especially around Ampton, where they have enjoyed success on two occasions whilst Tullys Touch is likely to side-step this contest unless Gina Andrews is available to take the ride.
Selection: I K Brunel Alternative: Captain Biggles
1.45 Mens Open – 12 entries
Apart from Grand Roi who has a rating of 98, the remaining 11 entries are all rated over 100 for this men’s open race. The joint highest rated of the entries are Hung Jury and Go Go Geronimo. Hung Jury’s first venture into open company coincided with his seasonal reappearance at Chaddesley Corbett in early December, where he beat Highway Jewel and One For Rosie by 2 ½ lengths and 8 lengths, with Forest Chimes a further 20 lengths back in fourth. Go Go Geronimo will be running for the first time this season. He rarely runs a bad race, winning his first two points last season, both at Alnwick, before being pulled up at Cheltenham and then unseating his rider on his final outing. Castle Trump, Loughan and Forest Chimes all met on their seasonal reappearances last season at Revesby Park, finishing in that order. Castle Trump failed to add to that victory, whilst Loughan went on to win two points and Forest Chimes won four. Count Simon has had a couple of runs this season, most recently at Larkhill in a ladies open where he finished a respectable fourth behind Viroflay. The winner of four races last season he is likely to team up with Keagan Kirkby who won on stablemate Imperial Esprit at Horseheath. Halo des Obeaux travels to Ampton from the Tim Vaughan yard in South Wales. The winner of a conditions race at Great Trethew in November where he beat Joey Steel by 11 lengths, he then went to Wadebridge in mid December running in an open race but was just beaten by Ellipsism.
Selection: Go Go Geronimo Alternative: Halo des Obeaux
2.20 Restricted – 12 entries
An excellent entry of 12 compared with 9 last season and with 3 rated over 100 a competitive race in prospect. Over from Ireland and having won his Maiden last Oct. Above and Beyond from the local Pennock yard looks a place prospect. 6yr. Foxylee looks to be progressive with a comfortable, making all, win in the Dec 2023 9 runner short Maiden at Alnwick in heavy ground but 3m. and the hill here may find her out but a 7lb. allowance will help. Harbour Queen ran 2nd in the mares champion final at Woodford in April and has a Restricted win under her belt so the 7lb allowance is somewhat negated by the 5lb penalty but has won on soft ground so place prospects. Joe Kidd from the Hutsby yard 14L. 4th in the Dec Larkhill Restricted and pu on his other run in Nov so may struggle in this company. Mount Pleasant from the Wright yard 2l. 2nd on his last run in the May Dingley Restricted but 2 pu’s on previous Restricted runs, a comfortable Maiden win in March could mean a place is on the cards. Padjoes Legacy from the Padfield yard rated 105 won the Aldington Restricted on soft ground in April so the 5lb. penalty won’t help his cause but a Conditions race 2nd to Chinery with Gina Andrews up gives a positive vibe. Paper Mill with 2 wins and a place on his last 3 runs in 2023 is a positive but another with a 5lb. penalty. 8yr. State of Fame from the Vaughan yard was a comfortable 12L 9 runner Restricted winner in the Dec. Great Trethew Restricted and possibly looks the one to beat but a negative is very ordinary Rules form in the UK & Ireland so perhaps he’s rejuvenated between the flags. Urban Grit from the Hill yard carrying a 5lb. penalty was 12L. 2nd to Another Furlough in the Badbury Rings Restricted in Nov. and should merit a place finish. Why Didn’t Ya the oldest in the field has struggled in Restricted company since his all out Maiden win at Penshurst in March.
Selection: State of Fame Alternative: Paper Mill
2.55 Conditions (Novice Riders) – 11 entries
There are 11 entries for this concluding novice rider’s race. A few of these have already had a run or two this season. Jonjoela ran at Horseheath on 31st December and finished 2nd to Imperial Esprit beaten 3L with Knight Bachelor a further 13 ¼L back in 4th this day. Dickie Diver was well behind in 7th and last place. Siberian Star has been placed 3rd on both starts this season for rider Ed Vaughan, son of trainer Tim Vaughan. On his most recent start he finished 1¾L behind Teescomponentsfly at Larkhill in November. The other horse that finished in front of him was Mitchouka who scored at Horseheath last month. Craigmor was 3rd on his seasonal debut at Badbury Rings in mid November when going down by 16L to Captain Woodie and is a stablemate of Knight Bachelor. Port Of Mars was 4th in a Stratford hunter chase in April but has pulled up on his next two starts including on his seasonal debut at Larkhill last month. Red Maple could make his seasonal debut here. Trained by Nick Wright he’s due to be ridden by the promising Cian Murphy. Red Maple won on his final run last season at Dingley in May to give Archie Wright his final winner when landing the men’s open by 12L from The Unmentionable. Monkey Puzzle is another who could make his seasonal reappearance here. He’s a previous course winner, that win coming in a novice rider’s race in March 2022. He won on his final run last season at Godstone when defeating Cheltenham Mati by 4L. Sum It Up was previously trained by Andrew Pennock but is now in the care of Tony Humphrey. He was 4th on his final outing last season at Edgcote when beaten 10¾L by Give Us A Swig with Jonjoela a further 2L back in 5th. He’s due to be ridden by his new owner, the recent Newmarket Town Plate winning jockey Belinda Rose. As always these contests are quite trappy to call. Red Maple has the best form but may need this run so we will take a chance on Siberian Star if he makes the long journey from South Wales as our selection. With Craigmor having also had a run this season he’s our alternative just ahead of Red Maple.
Selection: Siberian Star Alternative: Craigmor
Overview:
Race 1: Blazing Tom / Castle Trump
Race 2: Jingle Du Gouet / Arkle Rua
Race 3: I K Brunel / Captain Biggles
Race 4: Go Go Geronimo / Halo des Obeaux
Race 5: State of Fame / Paper Mill
Race 6: Siberian Star / Craigmor
