HIGH EASTER
Sunday April 25th 2021
1.00 Restricted – 12 entries
A creditable 12 entries and Simon Marriage will do everything to make the ground as near to good as he can but with none or little rain forecast it will be an uphill battle. Dale’s horses are running well this season and Bonamargy should run well but he will need to improve from 4th on the track last season and 3m may be the issue. Fiddler of Dooney from the Owen yard has promise but has yet to show it – one to just watch. Latenightfumble with Gina Andrews up shows form over both distances and with a 7lb. mares allowance should make the frame. Another will be Tekap from the Wright yard, a comfortable Maiden winner at Higham in 2020 but ground may not suit. Pennock’s The Bonny Boy took the 12 runner Maiden field apart at Revesby Park last month and the move up in grade should stamp his form.
Selection: The Bonny Boy Alternative: Latenightfumble
1.40 PPORA Club Members (3m 6f) – 13 entries
This will be the second East Anglian point-to-point this season and no doubt Simon Marriage and his team will do their level best to provide ground which should be no worse than Good to Firm with Good in places probably at the bottom of the hill alongside the water meadow. It will be a herculean effort but sadly it is likely the entries will cut up due to the sight of the word “firm” so, in this race, although 13 are entered if more than 8 take part it will be a surprise. Although we expect the Higham winner Fox Valley to start favorite our preference leans toward Right of Reply who will be ridden by the highly talented Alex Chadwick. This horse divided tow “hot shots” in a small field 3m 1f Hunter Chase at Fakenham earlier this year and could be a cut above the rest. Fox Valley was all out to beat the Andrew Pennock trained Steeles Terrace at the last Higham meeting despite a 12lb weight advantage so it is unclear if the Ellis/Andrews combination will have much left in the tank for this race which certainly, on paper, looks stronger. The lightly raced, Harmony Row, from the powerful David Kemp yard is worthy of consideration but may find the ground a little on the lively side although he does have the benefit of an earlier outing this season. Finally of those we consider with a chance we note that top trainer Alan Hill has entered a couple. Of the two Supreme Danehill, a dour stayer, probably has the best chance. 4th in this race last year connections will be hoping for improvement this time round.
Selection: Right to Reply Alternative: Fox Valley
2.15 Ladies Open – 14 entries
The prestigious trophy, the Warwick Vase, will be contested for this race and has been won by the Turner family on 17 previous occasions and they have two entries in No Hassle Hoff and In Fairness. Here, however, a much stronger claim, for the prize, would come from Free of Charge and Gina Andrews after their close 2nd in the Ladies Open at Kimble, giving 5lb to the winner. Laurium will strip a lot fitter after his Charing outing and with Izzie Marshall taking the ride, will make it a decent contest. Fox Valley and Steeles Terrace could renew rivalry after only a length separated them at Higham, at the beginning of April. Steeles Terrace was giving the winner 12lb that day and the mare Fox Valley would only be in receipt of 7lb here. Mercers Court has run two honest races, recently, for Kate Gowing and could run on, into a place.
Selection: Free of Charge Alternative: Laurium
2.50 Mens Open – 12 entries
Many of those entered hold multiple entries as connections seek suitable conditions for their participation. Law Of Gold, made a pleasing return to the track in a hunter chase at Doncaster, finishing 3rd to Silsol, but was then disappointingly pulled up in the Cheltenham Foxhunter. Being reunited with regular pilot Dale Peters may see him in better light. Should Law Of Gold go elsewhere, Dale Peters could run Newsworthy who has won both starts this year in convincing fashion, at Revesby Park beating Summer Sounds and at Dingley beating Spanish Fleet. Diplomate Sivola has also won both starts this season, winning at Barbury before Christmas and then at Dingley over Easter. Just Cause won four points last season, was just touched off by Rio Bravo on his return to action at Revesby Park at the end of March. Laser Beam, the winner of a competitive hunt race at Higham on his seasonal reappearance beating Getting Closer by four lengths, either wins or is pulled up. Since crossing the Irish Sea in January 2019 Laser Beam has run eight times, winning six and being pulled up in the other two.
Selection: Law Of Gold Alternative: Newsworthy
3.35 Intermediate – 11 entries
Just 11 entries for this intermediate contest. Kilinkere represents the powerful Tom Ellis yard and with Gina riding will be difficult to beat here. He won earlier this month at Kimble in a restricted when beating Famous Clermont by a length. Another last time out winner is Normofthenorth from the Alan Hill yard. He beat Tempelpirate in the member’s race at Kimble by 15 lengths. Captiva Island also hails from the Alan Hill yard. He unseated his rider last time out early on at Maisemore Park last month. Occupied was 4th on his previous start going down by 27 ½ behind Benefaktor at Revesby Park last month. Fleur De Pommier is a three time pointing winner but has pulled up on last two starts and his probably best watched today if turning out here.
Selection: Kilinkere Alternative: Normofthenorth
4.00 Maiden – 20 entries
Howitsdone has shown a good level of form and has finished 2nd in all three PTP’s. He will handle the ground but is starting to look exposed, he is still a Maiden after 15 starts and is vulnerable to an improver. Pollards Fen improved on his form from his first race to his second which were both over 2m 4f. His half brother has won a 2m hurdle but being by a St Leger winner it is possible he will be suited by the step up in trip. Mountain Assault has shown a good level of ability but has been expensive to follow, a beaten favourite twice at short odds, the ground and trip should suit, and you cannot discount anything coming out of the Dale Peters yard as he is in fantastic form. Chongalolo has shown good form in two Maidens and a PTP bumper, he will improve for the run after weakening two out in a more competitive Maiden last time out. He shapes like he will stay and will the handle ground and has plenty of improvement in him and is our selection.
Selection: Chongalolo Alternative: Mountain Assault
4.35 Hunt Members – 8 entries
Nigel Padfield has five entered here, must be admired for supporting his local hunt. Aztec Cosmos, Direct Flight and Howsitdone are all entered in other races so will assume that one of the others, namely Excitable island or Man of Means will appear in this race, maybe even both. Excitable Island has been a most successful horse for Nigel winning ten of its fifteen races and placed in four others. Finished 3rd at Dingley two weeks ago so for the fourteen-year-old there’s still life in the old boy. Man of Means won its Maiden last year at Ampton and was 2nd at Aldington last weekend at Aldington. Gun Shy won two races in Wales in 2019. Ran at Higham in early April where unseated two out, race won convincingly by Thumb Stone Blues. Appeared again last week at Aldington and finished 4th beaten again by the same horse. Mahler’s Star has had eight outings in Points and best was finishing 2nd at Larkhill in 2020. Did finish 3rd at Cottenham in a Men’s Open in 2020, last race was at Dingley two weeks ago where was 3rd in a Novice Riders race. Sandygate owned by Simon Marriage, course owner, pulled up last year here in a Restricted, has been placed eight times in the last four years and did win a four-runner race at Northaw in 2019.
Selection: Nigel Padfield’s Alternative: Mahler’s Star
