THE HIGH EASTER RACING CLUB – HIGH EASTER
Saturday March 18th 2023
1.00 Conditions (Novice Riders) – 12 entries
A decent entry of 12 for this novice riders contest. Twilight Girl completed a hattrick last time out when beating Heaven Scent by 10 L at Horseheath last month despite carrying 12st 3lbs. She’s only got the burden of 11st 12lbs to carry today if turning out. Koyote has won twice this season, both at Horseheath and would be a fitting winner as she’s part owned by High Easter course owner Simon Marriage. She defeated Champon Chase by 1 ¼ L with a possible rival Groundunderrepair a further 19 L behind in 4th early in February. Buachail Dana won the novice rider’s race at Ampton in January by 2 L from Sum It Up with two possible rivals, Monkey Puzzle and Perpignan behind in 4th and 5th place respectively. He was 4th at Charing on his most recent run when beaten just over 2 L behind Master Templar last month. Monkey Puzzle was 2nd last Sunday at Penshurst beaten 24 L behind Thegallantway so may not turn out here so soon. Veteran More Buck’s made his seasonal appearance at Garthorpe last month but finished a well beaten 6th behind Champagne Noir and others make more appeal. Railway Muice is a six time rules winner and he ran last week at Penshurst in the men’s open but was a well beaten 3rd behind Definite Dilemna. Perpignan finished a well beaten 5th behind Clara Sorrento at Garthorpe last month and others are preferred. It’s quite hard to get away from Twilight Girl and she’s our selection today. Koyote would be a popular winner for the Marriage family and she’ll be receiving 5lbs from Twilight Girl so she’s our alternative ahead of Buachail Dana.
Selection: Twilight Girl Alternative: Koyote
1.35 Restricted (2m 4f)– 12 entries
Great to see a respectable 12 entries – the highest in EA this season for an usual short race. Access Granted pu when well behind in the Feb. Larkhill Restricted but was placed on 2 late season Restricted runs last season and will have come on for the run. Initially outpaced Classic Ruler was driven out to win the Horseheath Maiden in Feb on firm ground but rather indifferent form last season so best watched especially as the ground will be a deal softer. 5yr. D’Last Spez from the Ellis yard won his Maiden in Ireland on good ground in May following 2 pu and then pu in the Dec. Horseheath Maiden, the shorter distance may favour but probably best watched. 6yr. Doctor Tom ran a distant 3rd. at Charm Park earlier this month leading but then weakening 3 out so the shorter distance may suit. 7yr. I’m Spellbound from the Ellis yard won a competitive Garthorpe Maiden in Feb. and could claim a place here. Mossy Be Lucky stayed on well to take Div. 2 of the Ampton Maiden but 2 rather undistinguished places at Horseheath followed so this company may be too strong – even Biddick and Gina couldn’t get a win on him. Le Pogues Storm weakened and pu in the Dec. Chaddesley Corbett Restricted and was a distance last in the Feb. Higham Restricted so this will be a real step up. Another 5yr. Penniless from the Padfield yard was ridden out well and won the short Charing Maiden on firm ground in Feb. and ignoring last seasons rather indifferent form could find a place here as distance suits but ground may be an issue. Ex. Skelton yard 6yr. Runwiththetide with only a hurdling record goes first time into jumps and PtP racing so an unknown quantity but was only 20l 3rd to Love Envoi (2nd. to Honeysuckle this week) under Harry back in Dec. 2021 so there is real form there and if he takes to jumps could walk this – an interesting addition to the PtP world at Restricted level. Serenisa from the Hill yard took the short Maiden at Ffos Las on heavy ground in Nov. but was beaten 5l., but with every chance, in the recent Kinston Blount short Maiden by Tigerbythetail so a place is very possible. Comfortable winner in the firm ground Didmarton Maiden 6yr. Urban Grit another from the Hill yard has place possibilities.
Selection: Runwiththetide Alternative: I’m Spellbound
2.10 Mixed Open – 15 entries
Leading Hunter Chaser Law Of Gold features amongst the entries for the Mixed Open race. Campaigned solely in hunter chases last season, Law Of Gold won once, beating sole rival Adrien du Pont at Ascot. Three runner-up spots followed, at Fakenham, Cheltenham and Stratford, beaten by Not That Fuisse, Coup de Pinceau and Vaucelet respectively. Two outings this season in points at Garthorpe have yielded a second to Premier Magic and then benefitting from the outing won next time, beating Precious Bounty by 5 lengths whilst in receipt of 5lbs. This was Precious Bounty’s third appearance this season having stepped up to open company, winning two Ladies Open races, one at Ampton in January beating Getting Closer and one at Garthorpe in early February defeating No Hassle Hoff, with Take To Heart further behind in fourth. Tullys Touch showed improved form to win on his second outing, in a close fought three runner Mixed Open at Horseheath defeating Just Your Type by a head, with Ragnar Lodbrok 10 lengths behind in third. Santon has progressed from winning maiden and restricted races last season to compete in two hunter chases at Leicester this season, finishing second to Time Leader in the first and then winning the second. Reikers Island won a conditions race at Kingston Blount on his first start this season, defeating Ask Nile by ¾ length. Dundrum Wood, a stablemate of Precious Bounty, won on his second start, beating Torygraph by ¾ length in a Ladies Open race at Alnwick. How To Get Away a stablemate of Law Of Gold, is stepping into open company for the first time, was just denied by The Whistle Blower at Brocklesby Park in a conditions race, however neither of his previous outings at High Easter are inspiring.
Selection: Law Of Gold Alternative: Precious Bounty
2.45 Veteran Conditions – 9 entries
Clara Sorrento looks a level above the other entrants having won a similar contest at Garthorpe, at the end of last month. Myplaceatmidnight finished 4th on that occasion, 30 lengths adrift of the winner so it seems unlikely that form will be reversed. Dickie Diver has been pulled up on both starts for owner John Whyte which leaves the way for Diplomate Sivola to represent the possible danger, if fully recapturing the form when winning four races partnered by Ben Sutton. They have been beaten on both outings this season but could be staying on at the finish to trouble Simon Stearn’s grey Clara Sorrento.
Selection: Clara Sorrento Alternative: Diplomate Sivola
3.20 Club Members Conditions – 9 entries
This race sets a tricky puzzle for punters, with question marks of varying degrees against all of the entries. Also a few have alternatives here, and at other pointing venues over the weekend. Killinkere boasts the best pointing form, and claimed the notable scalp of Famous Clermont when claiming the second of two victories at Kimble in 2020/21. He finished runner up in four of his five outings last season, and at first look it looks a disappointing season. However he came up against some more than useful rivals, and as previously mentioned he has the best pointing form. Morning Vicar was a winning chaser for Nicky Henderson, and improved on his seasonal debut run at Brocklesby with a 12 length second to Ballinagore at Garthorpe. He had Neumond 11 lengths back in third on that occasion, but this more testing course may not suit as well, as his wins under rules were below 3 miles. Neumond has won 6 points, but it’s approaching 4 years since he lasted visited the winners enclosure. Thunderstruck was in front when getting rid of Dale Peters at the 6th fence from home in that Garthorpe contest. A winning hurdler when trained by Emma Lavelle he has yet to convince with his jumping in 2 starts over fences under rules, and both his pointing starts this season. Dickie Diver is another ex Nicky Henderson inmate. He’s won an Irish point and has landed a Chepstow novice hurdle besides finishing 4th at two Cheltenham festival in 2019 and 2021. Lightly raced in recent times he’ll come on for his two runs this season, very well backed in a hunter chase last time, but he still has to prove how much of that undoubted ability remains. Oldgrangewood won 6 chases under rules for Dan Skelton, and was rated in the 140’s. He’s won an Irish point, and although running his final race for those connections in the 2021 Scottish Grand National (pulled up), his wins under rules were not beyond 2m4f. He only managed the one outing in a Doncaster hunter chase for new connections last season, and was pulled up. Imperial Acolyte finished runner up to Tullys Touch at this meeting last year, and will improve for his staying on 3rd at Garthorpe last time out, having ducked out after a circuit on his seasonal debut at Charing. Broadwater landed a late season double in 2019, but returning after a lengthy absence he failed to complete in 3 outings last season.
Selection: Killinkere Alternative: Imperial Acolyte
3.55 Open Maiden – 10 entries
All The Ammunition has finished 2nd in both his starts this year, he looks a big strong galloping type and should be more suited to this staying track. With the uphill finish we think it will play to his strengths, with plenty improvement in him he looks the horse to beat. Mount Pleasant showed ability when trained under rules He unseated on his first pointing start and then ran a huge race to finish only a length behind All The Ammunition at Garthorpe finishing 3rd. If he can improve again there shouldn’t be much between them this time but he has to prove that the more galloping track will play to his strengths. Call Colman hasn’t run for over 14 months but could be a big danger. He has run twice in English points and has really solid form finishing 4th in a really hot Maiden at Garthorpe. Followed up by finishing 2nd at Horseheath only being beaten by 1/2 a length, if fully tuned up he could go close. Ilhela D Engilbert won a PtP bumper and then finished a beaten favourite into 2nd on his first start over fences, that was over a shorter trip. It’s interesting that he steps up in trip as he weakened in the last furlong and may find this stiff course a problem.
Selection: All The Ammunition Alternative: Call Colman
Overview
Race 1: Twilight Girl / Koyote
Race 2: Runwiththetide / I’m Spellbound
Race 3: Law Of Gold / Precious Bounty
Race 4: Clara Sorrento / Diplomate Sivola
Race 5: Killinkere / Imperial Acolyte
Race 6: All The Ammunition / Call Colman
