THE HIGH EASTER RACING CLUB – HIGH EASTER
Saturday March 7th 2026
1.00 Conditions (Novice Riders) – 11 entries
A decent entry of 11 for this opening novice rider’s contest. Toss Again was the winner of a similar contest at Horseheath in late January. He beat Clashhill by 3 ¾L with two possible rivals today behind. Master Malcolm was 3rd a further 8L behind and Another Mystery a further 8 ½ L back in 5th. Master Malcolm has been consistent and has been placed on his last four starts including a second and third this season, he could reward each way backers. The Nick Wright stable have made a sluggish start to the season by their usual standards and have yet to register a winner. He runs Red Maple in this. He unseated when beaten on his seasonal reappearance at Horseheath in January. He’s a previous course winner, that win coming in April 2025 when he beat Radnar Lodbrok by 9L in a 3 mile 6 furlong conditions race. Major Dundee hails from the Fran Poste yard. He was second on both his starts this season including at Revesby when going down by 6L to Coeur Serein in January. He pulled up on his latest start in a Fakenham hunter chase won by Statler when appearing to rather spit the dummy out. Now back in calmer waters, he could be given a chance today. Grange Island pulled up in the race won by Toss Again in January but won next time out when scoring at Charing a week later, beating Laggan Valley by 9L. Carrolls Cottage pulled up in this race. Commander Of Ten was 3rd last weekend at Kingston Blount, going down by 4 ½L to Entity Of Substanz so may not run here so soon after. Young Rich won at this meeting last season but others hold stronger claims today. Although no jockey is booked we will side with Toss Again as our selection with Major Dundee, who needs to bounce back from a moody run at Fakenham as our alternative.
Selection: Toss Again Alternative: Major Dundee
1.35 Restricted – 9 entries
A respectable 9 entries with hopefully a high % of runners. 3rd. run of the season for 8yr Artiste D’Ainay from the Pennock yard rated 101 but pu when weakening in the Jan Charing Restricted where 8yr Creapapy also pu and indifferent form on 2 previous Restricted runs this season does not inspire confidence. Easy Rider from the Bealby yard is another rated over 100 – Carrying a 5lb penalty for an unchallenged 12l Restricted win at Alnwick in Jan but left with too much to do in the Feb Friars Haugh Restricted failing to 4th by 7l so will need his Alnwick form to score here. Graveside Lad from the Turner yard pu in the Jan. but was 2nd in 3 Restricted runs following a Maiden win at Higham last season and if he can regain that form a place could be on. 12 yr. Jasmin Des Bordes from the Frogley yard ran out at the last when in contention at Ampton last week but maybe this race is coming too soon. A comfortable win for 6 yr. Reel Much Fun from the Hill yard in the Feb Higham 10 runner Maiden now up a grade and a stiffer course will be a challenge but should progress here if the course suits. 7yr. Seek Him There from the Case yard took the Jan Horseheath Maiden by a useful 15l and is another up for the course and grade challenge but a close 2nd to Easy Rider in the Dec Chaddesley Corbett Maiden augers well. 7 yr. Time to Upgrade from the Phelan yard won his Maiden last season but is another to find the up grade challenging finishing a distant 3rd and 20l behind Validation in a short Charing Restricted in Dec and again 3rd. in last weekend’s Ampton Restricted.
Selection: Easy Rider Alternative: Seek Him There
2.10 Mixed Open – 6 entries
Fairly Famous, who does hold an entry in the Hunter Chase at Cheltenham next week, heads the entries for the Mixed Open race. Fairly Famous has run twice this season, winning a three runner Ladies Open race at Horseheath on New Year’s Eve, and then finishing 2nd to Kansas du Berlais at Charing. Aramax has yet to win this season, but has been placed on all three starts. A third place at Horseheath, 14 lengths behind Givega on New Year’s Eve, in which Larry was a further 6 lengths adrift, was followed with a 3 ½ length defeat by Designed To Win around the same course, where Good Source was pulled up. His most recent outing saw him finish a staying on 2nd to Fier Jaguen around Higham, a course that would not suit his attributes. Red Maple has run once this season, unseating his rider at the last fence when tiring, having tried to keep tabs on the winner Myth Buster, in a Conditions race at Horseheath.
The ex Ben Pauling trained Slipway, who ran in some prestigious races over fences such as the Kim Muir at Cheltenham, reverted to hurdles to win a novice at Kempton last year. This year he has run once, finishing 5th to Golden Son in a Hunter Chase at Warwick and following that run has changed hands.
Selection: Aramax Alternative: Fairly Famous
2.45 Ladies Conditions (level 2) – 7 entries
I’m Spellbound has amassed 10 wins from 16 outings and is a three-time course winner including beating Shentri by 2½ lengths at last season’s equivalent meeting. He won at Garthorpe in November, his only outing this season and would be another popular winner for the Signy and Marriage Families. Shentri could follow up his Ampton victory here and has raced twice before at High Easter but has yet to register a win at the Essex course. Padjoes Legacy was in a good mood to win the Veterans’ race at Ampton last Sunday and had 2 ½ lengths to spare over Mylestown Upper at the corresponding meeting last season. This was the latter’s last appearance but Ellie Holder gets on well with him and they were successful at Garthorpe, previous to the High Easter outing. Good Source would strip fitter for his two runs to-date and has Hunter Chase winning form at Fakenham last season. Slipway would be making his pointing debut and has an interesting jockey booking with Molly Armytage taking the ride.
Selection: I’m Spellbound Alternative: Mylestown Upper
3.20 Conditions (level 2) – 9 entries
Padjoes Legacy won this race last season, beating Mylestown Upper. The Nigel Padfield owned gelding made a winning return at Ampton last weekend, but in doing so incurs an extra 5lb penalty meaning Mylestown Upper will be 8lbs better off this year and should reverse the form on those revised weights. However, this will be Mylestown Upper’s seasonal debut and first run since then so it is not going to be as clear cut as the formbook would suggest. Padjoes Legacy’s regular rider (Gina Andrews) also has two entries that she trains herself. No Risk Des Flos finished alone when winning a Point-to-Point at Fakenham last season, then beaten in a match at Dingley, he may find High Easter stretching his stamina too far. Arctic Osler is lightly raced and has only managed three runs since winning at Garthorpe in March 2024. She will need to have come on for her seasonal debut at Charing, where she finished over 20 lengths behind Grange Island, and only gets a 5lb turnaround in the weights. Grange Island appreciated the softer surface at Charing, having pulled up at Horseheath the previous weekend in a race in which Clashhill finished in 2nd place. He followed that run with another 2nd placing at the Brocklesby. His 4 victories last season including one over the C&D.
Commander of Ten won three last season and ran his best race this season when 3rd at Kingston Blount last weekend. A repeat of that would certainly put him in the mix if turning out again. Grand Soir landed a hat-trick over Hurdles in Ireland, culminating with a win at Thurles over just shy of 3 miles in December 2022. He has been lightly raced but is winless since then, and his form over fences is unconvincing.
Selection: Clashhill Alternative: Gina Andrews’ ride
3.55 Open Maiden – 11 entries
Cafe Whispers is an interesting contender making her racecourse debut; she’s related to a couple of winners and receives a handy 21lb allowance, so there’s at least a flicker of intrigue about her. Corra Bheinn was placed in a bumper under Rules but then managed to disappoint spectacularly on his stable debut in a point-to-point, where he was pulled up despite starting as one of the favourites — connections can hardly have been thrilled with that effort. The Poste Yard look to hold a stronger hand with Guseakie, who finished second last time out and, with any normal improvement, sets a solid standard here. Diamon des Flos is a ten-year-old maiden who is regressing at an alarming rate and, on current evidence, is impossible to recommend. Fear The Deere has racked up 16 runs over hurdles and in Irish points; he starts out for new connections and would have a squeak if he could rediscover the pointing form he showed three years ago, but that feels optimistic — he’s probably one to watch rather than trust on this occasion. Fortuneville also debuts for new connections, and the trainer–jockey combination commands respect given their excellent strike rate together; he’s been placed once from four Irish points and has enough ability to warrant serious consideration. Harpers Creek produced his best effort only last weekend and, if turning out again in the same vein, could sneak into the frame. Lily My Girl has had four starts in points and looks decidedly one-paced and unprogressive; this seasonal reappearance doesn’t scream improvement, and others arrive with far stronger profiles. Passing Secrets is yet another ten-year-old maiden — 18 runs under Rules for a lowly rating tell their own bleak story; this is his first start in a point and his first since May, and he’s very hard to fancy. Prince In The Park represents shrewd connections who know exactly what they’re doing; he was third, beaten only three lengths last time, and with natural progression he holds a solid chance. Wiseman Said finished sixth on his seasonal return, which, depressingly, was still an improvement on last year’s efforts when he failed to complete — hardly inspiring, but at least it was a step in the right direction.
Selection: Guseakie Alternative: Fortuneville
Overview
Race 1: Toss Again / Major Dundee
Race 2: Easy Rider / Seek Him There
Race 3: Aramax / Fairly Famous
Race 4: I’m Spellbound / Mylestown Upper
Race 5: Clashhill / Gina Andrews’ ride
Race 6: Guseakie / Fortuneville
