THE HIGH EASTER RACING CLUB – HIGH EASTER
Saturday March 16th 2024
1.00 Conditions (Novice Riders) – 14 entries
Muckamore got no further than the sixth at Guilsborough last Sunday but won well at Horseheath on his previous start and is the pick both of the two Fran Poste representatives (she also has the disappointing ex Shark Hanlon inmate Russian Diamond) and of the 14 entries as a whole. Muckamore’s jumping can be erratic, but he has the beating of Padjoes Legacy on that Horseheath form and a clear round would make him hard to beat. Red Maple, from the Nick Wright yard, has won two of his last five and been runner-up on the other three occasions but the ground here, softened by a couple of lengthy spells of rain over the past week, may prove more testing than is ideal for him. Get Out The Gate is an interesting recruit to pointing after having notched four chase wins at a decent level for Scottish NH handler Sandy Thompson, but he is another who would prefer quicker underfoot conditions, especially since this will be his first start since 2022. Sum It Up already has five pointing successes to his name and won at Higham last month but is likely to be ridden by owner Belinda Rose rather than his pilot that day, Josh Parker. Vango De Vaigne is a three-time winner who might be short of peak fitness on his first start of the campaign while Young Rich posted an improved effort when third in a Larkhill restricted last time and might be capable of further progress.
Selection: Muckamore Alternative: Young Rich
1.35 Restricted – 9 entries
A rather miserable 9 entries for the first High Easter Restricted race of the season. Veteran 12yr. Cereal Killer from the Stearn yard has a long series of 5 pu’s but when he has finished he wins but that was in 2017 under Will Biddick. 5yr. Designed to Win from the Kemp yard was a convincing winner in the Feb. Garthorpe soft ground short Maiden in Feb., so ground and a 4lb. allowance should suit, but 3m. on a testing track is a question mark. Another with a 4lb. allowance is 5yr. Jepsone from the Hutsby yard has pu on 2 Maiden runs over both short and long distances and will again struggle in the higher grade and a testing track so probably best watched. 7yr. Mister Splash from the Turner yard ran on well to be 2nd. to Mount Pleasant in the recent Ampton Restricted and with a Maiden win on heavy ground on this track last season could well run to a place. First run of the season for 8yr. Mossy be Lucky from the Ibbott yard, placed on faster ground in Restricted last season but the ground and track may find him out. 5th. run of the season for 8yr. Padjoes Legacy from the Padfield yard and pu in the March Ampton Restricted but a positive is the 12l Restricted win over Serenisa at Aldington in May on soft/heavy ground but a 5lb. penalty won’t help his cause. 8yr. Serenisa from the Hill yard has a 7lb. allowance but was a weakening distant 4th. behind Mister Splash in the March Ampton Restricted and may struggle here. First run since 2021 for 11yr. Tiger’s Song from the Ellis yard with very little form but won the short Restricted on this track in 2020 – one to just watch. 9yr. Young Rich ( I wish !) another from the Ellis yard was a distant weakening 3rd. in the Feb. Larkhill Restricted and may struggle again on this testing track.
Selection: Designed to Win Alternative: Padjoes Legacy
2.10 Mixed Open – 14 entries
The Mixed Open Race has entries for many horses we have seen running at some time in East Anglia this season.
Captain Biggles won the Ladies Open race at Ampton in January, beating Tullys Touch by 3 lengths. This was followed by a trip to Haydock to run in the “Walrus” hunter chase, but he could not cope with the atrocious weather and was eventually pulled up. Law Of Gold’s sole outing this season was in the Mixed Open at Horseheath in January, where he finished 2nd to Tigerbythetail, with Mitchouka behind in 3rd, Ragnar Lodbrok in 5th and Tullys Touch in 6th.
Ragnar Lodbrok has since won the Men’s Open race at Horseheath’s February fixture and last week’s three runner Mixed Open at Guilsborough in which Salty Boy made a clumsy mistake and unseated his rider. Tullys Touch followed his poor run at Horseheath with victory in the Men’s Open at Ampton earlier this month, defeating Red Maple by 5 lengths. Deise Aba has not been seen in East Anglia, was pulled up on his most recent start but had previously won at Larkhill and Alnwick. One yet to run this season is Clara Sorrento who ran up a sequence of four victories in points last season which included one at this meeting and to close his campaign ran in the Champion Hunter Chase at Stratford where he finished a distant 3rd to Secret Investor.
Selection: Law Of Gold Alternative: Captain Biggles
2.45 Conditions (level 2) 3m 6f – 11 entries
This race is run over the extended distance of 3 ¾ miles and is testing enough, under normal conditions around High Easter but with the prevailing state of the going, bounds of stamina will be required to see out the marathon trip. Myth Buster has recorded form in extended distance races, winning a 4 mile Mixed Open at Kingston Blount in February 2023 on good ground, which is the 11yo’s only point success. Muckamore and Mitchouka have other entries on the card with the latter having won on soft ground over the Horseheath undulations in December. Muckamore and his novice rider, Harry Arkwright, are more likely to be declared for the opening race, of the afternoon. Koyote hasn’t been showing anywhere near last season’s form in her two outings this season and prefers better ground than she is likely to encounter on race day. All The Ammunition is workmanlike in his performances and consistent, having never been out of the first two placings in all seven of his races. At the age of 7 is still improving and any stamina doubts will have been considered by his trainer David Kemp, before submitting his entry.
Selection: All The Ammunition Alternative: Mitchouka
3.20 Conditions (level 2) – 12 entries
Red Maple is the obvious choice on recent form here. He is a solid consistent performer and has been placed twice in Open company since winning a Novice Riders contest under Cian Murphy on seasonal debut at Ampton. On the downside he does have alternative engagements on this card and elsewhere over the weekend and shoulders a hefty penalty. Padjoes Legacy was not suited by Ampton last time and is better judged on his previous runner up placing at Horseheath. He races lazily but will appreciate a testing surface. Pym is an interesting contender. He was rated 150 when winning at Sandown in November 2020, having contested the previous seasons RSA novice at the Cheltenham festival when trained by Nicky Henderson. It has been downhill since, and he was well beaten off a mark of 127 when last seen on a racecourse at Uttoxeter last May from Nigel Twiston-Davies’s yard. Now with Claire Sherriff a betting market watch is imperative. Some Operator is an Irish point winner, he did not cut much ice under rules for Ian Williams but won two Cross Country races in France when trained by Louisa Carbery. Vanago de Vaige won at Maisemore last season for owner/rider Joe Neal.
Selection: Red Maple Alternative: Pym
3.55 Open Maiden – 11 entries
A competitive race as regards entries. For One Night Only finished second on his first start for Tom Ellis. we think the winner was idling that day and it was not as close as the official distances. Nevertheless, he stayed on all the way to the line and the staying nature of the High Easter course should play to his strengths. Atlantic Fleet brings the best form into the race, he was an excellent second against a high class pointer in a match race at Ampton last time out. He had to give weight away and was having his first run over fences, travelled and jumped very nicely and was only beaten by three lengths. With normal improvement he holds a strong chance as the calibre of the opposition in this race is not daunting. Ffree Pedro is an interesting contender having his first start for Bradley Gibbs. He is an 8 year old now and has performed well in Hurdle races under rules. He looks like he will stay the trip and we are sure the yard will have him well schooled so he should not be underestimated.
Selection: Atlantic Fleet Alternative: Ffree Pedro
Overview
Race 1: Muckamore / Young Rich
Race 2: Designed to Win / Padjoes Legacy
Race 3: Law Of Gold / Captain Biggles
Race 4: All The Ammunition / Mitchouka
Race 5: Red Maple / Pym
Race 6: Atlantic Fleet / Ffree Pedro
