THE DUNSTON HARRIERS – AMPTON
Sunday January 12th 2025
12.00 Conditions – 11 entries
Many of the entries here have alternatives, not only at this meeting but elsewhere over the weekend as well. Benefaktor doesn’t come into that category, he’s consistent, having only missed the frame in 2 of his 14 starts in point to points. He has the benefit of a run at Alnwick this season, but he doesn’t want a stiff test at 3 miles and the Ampton hill may prove a little too demanding. Step Back outstayed Benefaktor when scoring at Edgcote last season (same terms today), this BET365 Gold Cup winner turned 15 on New Years Day, but would very much be one of the leading fancies if taking up this option rather than the Novice riders race. Stable companion Jaisalmer won 3 times under Lexi New in the 2022/23 season. He missed last season, and surely the novice riders race in which he doesn’t incur the 10lb penalty he would have to carry in this race would be connections preferred option. The Vaughan horses are well entered up this weekend, maybe the link up between locally based Andrew Pennock and Ed Vaughan will mean the Vaughan horse box will be heading east this weekend. Designer Destiny is the pick of their entries in this. Admirably consistent, but he has the Restricted as an alternative. Jacks Touch won 3 chases under rules in 2023/24 at up to 2m6f, so stamina should be okay, the downside is that she has to shoulder a hefty penalty as a consequence. Ask Ben was rated in the high 130’s as a novice hurdler, but his 2 runs in points last season, after a very lengthy absence, still left questions to be answered. Who’s In The Box would demand plenty of respect here if reproducing the form he showed in his first and last starts in points last season, but he’s an infrequent winner and consistency has never been his strong point.
Selection: Step Back Alternative: Benefaktor
12.35 Open Maiden – 16 entries
A tricky Maiden to solve with not alot of standout form to go by, it looks to be competitive. Constitution Grove has raced 4 times in his career and ran a good race on his first start for connections. looked like he would improve for the experience and the step up in trip up to 3miles will certainly benefit him. He holds a strong chance for the Andrews yard who have been amongst the winners recently. Creapapy has been placed in four English points to points. He was 2nd in this race last year and starts out for a new trainer this year. The change of scenery may have improved him. Nevertheless, he has strong enough form to see him getting involved. Kirsch de Cotte was a couple of lengths clear of Constitution Grove at Dingley last year, but he put in a disappointing effort on his first start this year that could have been down to the heavy ground. He looks like he will appreciate the step up in trip and if he returns to the form, he showed at Dingley he has every chance. Andrew Pennock has 3 entries, and we feel his strongest chance will be The Orchard Boy, he didn’t run badly on his racecourse debut, he has since had a couple of runs under rules but comes back to Pointing in a winnable race for the local trainer. Roundoff looks a interesting recruit, he has started favourite in his two races in Irish point to points, evidently he must show plenty of form at home. He finished 2nd on his latest start, and it will interesting to see how he fares on his English debut. Another one with Irish Point to Point form is Sports Magic, he finished 4th on his only start. He is superbly bred as his mother has won a listed hurdle and on his first start for Rob Cundy he holds a strong chance.
Selection: Sports Magic Alternative: The Orchard Boy
1.10 Ladies Open – 8 entries
The Gina Andrews trained and ridden, Captain Biggles won this race, on his seasonal debut last season and has strong claims to repeat that victory after surprising Gina with his well-being and his ability to quicken when asked for an effort, first time out. He faces two potent rivals who have already run this season in Myth Buster who beat the useful I K Brunel at Larkhill in December and Bardenstown Lad who finished a close 2nd to Master Templar at Chaddesley Corbett. Learntalot and Izzie Hill possibly surprised connections when winning the Restricted Final Hunter ‘Chase at Stratford in May and will offer a winning attempt on this his seasonal debut. Belinda Rose’s Jacks Touch could give a good account of herself on her pointing debut having won three ‘chases under rules for Sarah Humphrey, between Nov ’23 and Jan ’24.
Selection: Captain Biggles Alternative: Myth Buster
1.45 Mens Open – 10 entries
Ten have been entered for the Men’s Open Race, with the Tim Vaughan trained Angels Breath a likely absentee having won the hunter chase at Taunton on Wednesday. His stable companion Dalamoi, is also entered, and was last seen on a racecourse in April last year running in a handicap chase at Huntingdon when finishing well behind. His last competitive victory was over 2 miles 4½ furlongs in November 2022 around Kempton and he may just prefer the shorter trip. Hardline, a grade one winning chaser when in his prime for Gordon Elliot, has in recent times been primarily running in cross country races, hunter chases and point to points, with a victory at Borris House in December 2023 being the most recent. Mylestown Upper is another former Gordon Elliot inmate who has only run six times of which three were all in the space of March 2023 which included a 2 mile 5 furlong chase victory around Thurles. He has not been since his final run during that month. The ex Venetia Williams trained Didero Vallis has run in a couple of points this season, finishing 3rd on debut, but then pulled up since. He competed in some of the big handicaps under rules but has not won since defeating Who’s In The Box at Catterick in February 2021. Who’s In The Box has a more recent win at Carlisle in February 2023, but failed to score in five points last season, his best performance was a close 3rd behind Loughan at Godstone. Beyond Redemption is a half brother to Benefaktor who is down to run in the opening contest. A couple of non-finishes for his new connections were followed with a victory in a conditions race at Cothelstone, three placed efforts, and then a second victory at Chaddesley Corbett in late May. Bardenstown Lad would have a clear chance if turning out in this contest having been runner up to Master Templar last month, but has entries in alternative races. Jetaway Joey won a two horse race to start his season last year but he then found the opposition too hot in his next two races, finishing 4th to What A Glance in a hunter chase at Cheltenham in May, and then finishing 3rd to Caryto des Brosses at Edgcote.
Selection: Bardenstown Lad Alternative: Beyond Redemption
2.20 Restricted – 9 entries
Only 9 entries which is disappointing but a competitive race in prospect. Ask Carla from the local Pennock yard was an all out Maiden winner on this track in March followed by a 2nd in the March Higham Members and has every chance. Capparattin from the Poste yard was a distant 4th in the recent Horseheath Restricted and will again carry a 5lb. penalty so a real challenge to make a place. 7yr. Clashhill from the Wright yard won his Maiden in Ireland in Oct. 2023 but has shown nothing since and on his first run in England perhaps just best watched. Desert Fortune an 8yr. ex. Venetia Williams now in the Bingham yard won her Irish Maiden in 2022 but rather indifferent Class 5 handicap form so another to watch on her English PtP debut even with a 7lb. allowance. 11yr. Designer Destiny from the Vaughan yard won back to back Maiden and Restricted races last season but then came up 6l. short in a Conditions race at the testing Godstone track and with a 5lb. penalty may struggle here. A single run and comfortable win last season in the January Wadebridge young Maiden on heavy ground for 6yr. Jongleur D’Ainay from the Hill yard bodes well but he might need the run after a year off the track. Coming off back to back Maiden and Restricted wins in his 2 runs this season is another Poste entry Kilfilum Woods indicates solid form here and at 107 is the highest rated but will the 5lb. penalty tell? 7yr. L’Avantara from the Gibbs yard stayed on well to win by 12l. the May Kinston Blount Maiden on good ground following a mistake when in the lead and u.r at Kingston Blount earlier in the month – place prospects and a 7lb. allowance will help. The youngest in the race at 6yr. is Main Stage from the in form Andrews yard with 5 placed runs last season and a Maiden win at Horseheath in Jan. when Ask Carla pu – another with a 7lb. allowance and a strong place prospect.
Selection: Kilfilum Woods Alternative: Main Stage
2.55 Conditions (Novice Riders) – 15 entries
An entry of 15 for this concluding novice rider’s contest but a few of these also hold an entry in the opening veteran horse’s race. Only two of these have had a run this season, Highland Glory and Young Rich and both finished 4th on their reappearances. Highland Glory was beaten 18L behind Paper Mill when she finished 4th and last at Dunsmore in early November. The Gina Ellis trained Young Rich finished just over 18L behind Llandinabo Lad at Chaddesley Corbett late last month. Red Maple won this race last year under today’s jockey, the very proficient Cian Murphy when beating Jonjoella by 6L with a possible rival today Monkey Puzzle a further 3L away in 3rd. Monkey Puzzle is a previous course winner and is now in the veteran stage but may need the run on his seasonal reappearance. Another one in the veteran stage is the Andrew Pennock trained Hardline. Formerly handled in Ireland by Gordon Elliot he finished 7th in last season’s Aintree Foxhunters, earlier he had finished 2nd in a Leicester hunter chase, beaten 23L behind Benny’s King. With no jockey booking he’s hard to select. Four time pointing winner Rhythm Is A Dancer missed last season and has changed stables since and may need a run but is due to be ridden by Tom Hutsby, one of the more experienced jockeys in this race. Veteran Step Back fell on his final start last season when leading at Upcott Cross in May. Previously he had won at Edgcote when beating Benefaktor by 8L earlier that month. Designer Destiny was 2nd on his final start last season going down by 6L to Secret Cargo at Godstone in May. Lily Bradstock, trainer of Step Back also has Jaisalmer entered here. He missed last season but had previously won his final two races in 2023 including a 30L victory over Clondaw Westie at Peper Harow. He’s due to be ridden by Lexie New who boasts a 40% strike rate. Horses from the Nick Wright yard are usually well primed for their seasonal debut and with the highly capable Cian Murphy up Red Maple is our selection to follow up his victory from last season here. Step Back is our alternative.
Selection: Red Maple Alternative: Step Back
Overview:
Race 1: Step Back / Benefaktor
Race 2: Sports Magic / The Orchard Boy
Race 3: Captain Biggles / Myth Buster
Race 4: Bardenstown Lad / Beyond Redemption
Race 5: Kilfilum Woods / Main Stage
Race 6: Red Maple / Step Back
