THE CAMBRIDGESHIRE WITH ENFIELD CHACE – HORSEHEATH
Saturday February 29th 2020
1.00 Intermediate – 23 entries
This should be a cracking race to start the days racing with 23 entries and several horses with very similar ratings. Several of the horses entered in this race competed against each other in a fantastic finish in a Conditions race at the Thurlow meeting. The winner of that race was Fumet d’Oudairies who came to the last with Harmony Row but just managed to get up by 2 lengths. Fumet d’Oudairies has won three races on the trot this season having won a Maiden and Restricted at Cottenham. Anyone that saw the feature on Racing UK last week on the G & T setup will have seen the Jack Andrews interview and his comments on this horse. Hopefully David Kemp will run Harmony Row again in this race as it would be interesting to see if the result were the same. Alan Hill has three entered, Captiva Island, Normofthemonth and Getting Closer. Normofthemonth looks one with potential having won a Maiden at Kimble last April and more recently a Restricted at Higham last month. Getting Closer had a hard race here last month when taking it up at the last fence and winning the Restricted by 2 lengths from Rebel Dawn Rising. Hadmeathello won its Maiden and Restricted last season and was 2nd in an Intermediate at Garthorpe in March when beaten by 6 lengths by Tullys Touch. One worth mentioning is Rob The Getaway from the Crow yard in North Shropshire. The Crows may not be the power they were in days gone by, but they travel a long way to get to this course and don’t come just for a day out.
Selection: Fumet d’Oudairies Alternative: Harmony Row
1.35 Club Members Conditions (Novice Riders) – 15 entries
Summer Sounds won a similar contest at the previous meeting here when he held off Back Bar by ½L with Amigo a further 7L back in 3rd place. He must have a strong chance of following up here especially if the capable Luke Scott is aboard. The admirably consistent Amigo deserves a win and could run into a place today. Ballykan has been placed 2nd on both starts this season and must figure high on the shortlist. On his latest start at Cottenham in late December he was beaten 3L by Call Me Vic in the novice rider’s race. Double Whammy finished 2nd last season in a Perth hunter chase, beaten 2 ½L by Mr Mercurial in April. He changed hands after that and unseated at the final fence at Charing last weekend when behind on his seasonal debut for new connections. A watching brief is advised if turning out here. Groundunderrepair, a winning hurdler for Warren Greatrex was 4th here at the previous meeting beaten 12 ½L by Summer Sounds and 5L behind Amigo but that was jockey Charlotte Butler’s first ride so that was a creditable debut and they could certainly run into a place today. Way Back Then won two races under rules for Ben Pauling. He finished 4th at Larkhill on his UK pointing debut in January, beaten just over 30L by Chameron before unseating at Badbury Rings last Sunday. Mahlers Star was 3rd at Cottenham earlier this month in the men’s open, beaten 13L behind the useful Just Cause with Bi Quini Tiep pulling up in this race. Like Summer Sounds, Susquehana River is trained by Francesca Nimmo. He’s a previous course winner, that win came in 2017. His last win was in April 2019 when he beat Stage One by 20L in an Edgcote novice rider’s race but he refused four out at Cocklebarrow on his seasonal reappearance and may have other ideas about the game now. Trojan Star was sent off favourite for the novice riders race at Ampton last month but finished 8L 3rd to After Aspen after previously winning at Barbury Castle in December when beating Little Windmill by 3 ½L. Gingili has not finished out of the first two on his eight completed starts and could make his seasonal debut here today. On his final outing last season he was 2nd to Prouts Pub, beaten 2 ¾L in the novice rider’s race at Edgcote in May. Summer Sounds goes well at this venue and he is our selection with dual runner up Ballykan as our alternative.
Selection: Summer Sounds Alternative: Ballykan
2.10 Mens Open – 14 entries
This race last season was won by Zeroeshadesofgrey, in a match race against After Aspen. His subsequent performances have been let down by his jumping, although he put up a much better effort at Cottenham last time. The most interesting of the entries is the 7 year old Wick Green, who progressed through the divisions last season, culminating with a victory in a conditions race at Mollington. This season Wick Green’s season started well, with victory in a conditions race at Larkhill, beating Captain Buck’s by a head, with Marten 20 lengths back in third. Marten had also started his season with a victory in a conditions race at Dunsmore, however following his defeat to Wick Green he was then pulled up in the 3 ¾ mile Lord Ashton Of Hyde’s Cup at Cocklebarrow. On his first run for Dale Peters at Revesby Park, Newsworthy won one of the Jockey Club and Retraining of Racehorses veteran conditions races for 9-year-olds and over, beating Multimedia by a head. Thetalkinghorse started his season around this course at the beginning of the month, finishing a distant 3rd to Law Of Gold having challenged for the lead on the run to the third last fence. A winner around this course last season, defeating Ardkilly Witness in the process, Thetalkinghorse will be seeking a 15th victory in this race. Last year the ladies race on this card was won by Proximo on his seasonal reappearance, and he features once again amongst the entries for this year’s meeting, although the softer ground may not be to his liking.
Selection: Wick Green Alternative: Thetalkinghorse
2.45 Ladies Open – 11 entries
This looks to be a straight choice between the Tom Ellis/ Gina Andrews chosen representative and the Alan Hill/ Izzie Marshall selected runner. Haymount and Latenightpass are the entries for the first-named duo and with Latenightpass having won here very comfortably, a month ago, that might sway their decision. Changeofluck for the Alan Hill team finished 2nd, beaten three lengths, on that occasion whilst the stable’s Back Bar finished a respectable 2nd in the Novice Riders’ race, at the same meeting. Izzie Marshall has a two from two win record on this genuine 8yo and could test the Ellis/Andrews’ choice. Darius des Bois won on stable debut for new connections, at Charing last weekend and therefore might not turn out again this week. Chosen Rose jumped brilliantly up front in the Mens Open race, here, at the last meeting but the tank emptied completely, three fences out. The mare has suffered no ill-effects post-race and will try and make all under Alice Stevens, whilst appreciating carrying only 10-12 on her back.
Selection: Tom Ellis selected runner Alternative: Alan Hill selected runner
3.20 Restricted – 18 entries
Another excellent 18 entries and some evenly matched horses. 6yr Bawnmore from the inform Ellis yard with Gina up won the Maiden on this track earlier in the month and could feature again. A few years off but another to win at the same meeting was Big Dawg in the over 7yr Maiden but in a slightly slower time – a possible place? Another from the Ellis yard Black Jasper held on well to take the Alnwick Maiden earlier this month, which will they run as both have the form? Fab Vinnie is yet to run this season and was 4L 3rd to Teeton Turnip in the May Dingley Restricted and may struggle in this company. Goldenbrave from the Rowley yard stayed on well in heavy ground at Bangor-on-Dee to win the Maiden and should be in the shakeup. An unchallenged 30L win in a fairly weak Ampton Maiden recently for Cantillon’s Huntsmans Jog following an ur at the last at Cottenham in Dec.- this company will see if he’s that good. 5yr Minella Wizard took the Thorpe Lodge Maiden by 4L but this track is more testing and he may struggle. Panic and Run looks promising following an unchallenged win at Cocklebarrow in soft ground. The progressive 7yr Voie dans Voie ran 2nd in sticky ground in the Wadebridge Restricted in Jan following a Maiden win on the same track in December.
Selection: Bawnmore / Black Jasper Alternative: Huntsmans Jog
3.55 Open Maiden – 27 entries
A large number of entries for the Maiden race of the day. Top stables have multiple entries, Sophie Lacey, Phillip Rowley and Tom Ellis with some purchased at considerable amounts, well bred and interesting newcomers. TIkitov and San Augustin both receive a 21lb 4-year-old allowance they should both know their jobs being prepared by top trainers Philip Rowley and Sophie Lacey. On to the horses that have shown form, Go Go Geronimo was a well fancied favourite on his first run but could only manage 3rd. He bettered that form on his second start at this course but does however hit a flat spot in his races. However, he did run on well to finish 2nd to a Tom Ellis trained winner Bawnmoor. Mammoth is our selection in this race, she ran with a lot of promise on debut at Thorpe Lodge in late January on very soft ground. Beaten by Minella Wizard she was a little bit awkward and jumped out to her left but Horseheath should suit and with normal improvement will be hard to beat. A mention for a possible Trevor Hemmings runner here, Glen Mooar was well beaten in a bumper and it’s interesting that he is sent Pointing, has a very impressive pedigree and could be anything.
Selection: Mammoth Alternative: Go Go Geronimo
Overview:
Race 1: Fumet d’Oudairies / Harmony Row
Race 2: Summer Sounds / Ballykan
Race 3: Wick Green / Thetalkinghorse
Race 4: Tom Ellis selected runner / Alan Hill selected runner
Race 5: Bawnmore / Black Jasper /Huntsmans Jog
Race 6: Mammoth / Go Go Geronimo
