THE PUCKERIDGE – HORSEHEATH
Saturday February 18th 2023
12.00 Conditions – 11 entries
Only four of these don’t have alternative engagements elsewhere on this card. The Tom Ellis yard has a remarkable record of nine winners from ten Horseheath runners so far this season and, with a choice of two entries, we can expect more of the same here. Master Templar has won four of his last five, including at Charing a fortnight ago, and may be marginally the better of the pair ahead of Loughan, who suffered a half-length reverse on his Revesby Park reappearance last month and must shoulder a 3lb penalty. Kilbrew Boy made a perfectly acceptable comeback over this course and distance a couple of weeks ago and is probably their biggest danger. Princeton Royale won seven times under rules for Neil King and ran reasonably well at Cocklebarrow recently so could be a factor despite his advancing years. Soldier At War and Sum It Up both finished second in recent small field East Anglian points so neither can be discounted. Mossy Be Lucky regressed last time after breaking his duck at the sixth attempt at Ampton. The veteran More Bucks will be novice ridden and cannot be expected to reproduce his best form on his first run for 15 months. Farrants Way was best suited by plenty of cut in the ground when with Venetia Williams in the professional ranks so is unlikely to relish the prevailing fast conditions.
Selection: Tom Ellis’s runner (Master Templar or Loughan) Alternative: Kilbrew Boy
12.35 Maiden – 9 entries
Not many entries for the Maiden, we think that’s due to the lack of rain and the quicker ground as the Maidens have been high on entries throughout the season so far. Dash Full Of Cash has been placed in his last 4 races, he was a non-runner at Higham due to the quick ground last weekend but if the rain comes in time he holds a strong chance.
I’m Spellbound was favourite for his first run over fences and his pointing debut. He was making headway before falling 4 fences from home, he holds a chance if he can get round this time but maybe best watched on this occasion. In Our Dreams was a short price favourite for a 5 runner race on his pointing debut. He was in front with 2 fences to go but just weakened in the last 100 yards and finished 4th. With normal improvement he looks to run a strong race and holds a strong chance. The Pier Field failed to finish a race in Ireland but on his first start in England at Ampton he finished 2nd only being beaten a length, the form has be let down by the 1st and the 3rd that day. With normal improvement he shouldn’t be far away, Andrew Pennock has his team in great order the only question mark is the ground if it stays quick.
Selection: The Pier Field Alternative In Our Dreams.
1.10 Ladies Conditions – 11 entries
Fairly Famous has proved a a superb purchase for the Marriage and Signy Families, winning his Maiden here in December and then landing a Restricted at Charing, two weeks ago. Loughan could represent the Ellis team as an alternative to Fairly Famous and was just headed by Castle Trump at Revesby Park, at the end of January but there are question marks of his liking for the undulations of Horseheath and the prevailing ground conditions. Hawkhurst’s winning chance can never be discounted but he did lose out in a match race against Twilight Girl at the last Horseheath fixture and would shoulder 10lb more than Fairly Famous. Another set to carry 11st10lb is Jaisalmer who has been giving connections some fun including a win at Chaddesley Corbett but was 25 lengths adrift of the useful Debece at Cocklebarrow, on latest outing. Princetown Royale will always race prominently for Kate Gowing and even at the age of 14, shouldn’t be disregarded by his opponents, who will need to keep the pairing in their sights.
Selection: Fairly Famous / Loughan Alternative: Princetown Royale
1.45 Mixed Open – 9 entries
The New Year’s Eve fixture at Horseheath provides a few clues to solving the outcome of this race. Ragnar Lodbrok and Just Your Type met in the Men’s Open race finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively to Fumet D’Oudairies. Benefitting from their seasonal reappearances they both stepped up on their next runs, with Just Your Type winning the Lord Ashton Of Hyde’s Cup at Cocklebarrow over 3 ¾ miles, beating Cheltenham de Vaige by 1 ½ lengths whilst Ragnar Lodbrok won a two runner Men’s Open race at this track two weeks ago, beating Kilbrew Boy by 5l, who was having his first outing of the season. Twilight Girl, a stable companion of Ragnar Lodbrok finished 2nd to Bawnmore in the Novice Rider’s race, going down by a neck. Two weeks later at Ampton Twilight Girl won the 9 year olds and over Conditions race by 5 lengths from One For Billy. Clearly in good form she then returned to Horseheath to win a match with Hawkhurst by 25 lengths. Last seasons form figures show that Tullys Touch and Dundrum Wood both had four victories to their names whilst Just Cause had three, however both Dundrum Wood’s and Just Cause’s include a walkover. Regardless of this both Dundrum Wood and Tullys Touch have had an outing, Dundrum Wood being comprehensively beaten by Fier Jaguen at Revesby Park whereas Tullys Touch could never get into contention finishing 5th and last at Ampton, 18 lengths behind the winner, Midnight Cowboy. The form of this race has been given a boost with both Wagner and Rock On Rocco who finished in 2nd and 4th winning at Higham on Sunday.
Selection: Twilight Girl Alternative: Just Your Type
2.20 Intermediate – 6 entries
With what will be firm ground an entry of only 6 is probably to be expected but nevertheless rather sad. 6yr. All is True from the Ellis yard looks to be the form horse with 2 course and distance wins this season the latter being on good to firm ground but stiff competition could come from fellow yard inmate Fairly Famous also with 2 comfortable wins at Charing and on this track in the Dec. Maiden. With the Andrews siblings up an interesting contest is in prospect as neither horse or rider will lack for fitness. The Stearn’s Cereal Killer with no PtP form and long layoffs makes little appeal and is probably best watched. Magnetic Zero from the Padfield yard is one to possibly spoil the Ellis party but his back to back Maiden and Restricted wins came at the end of last season so he may need the run. Meetuatnine ran 3rd. in the recent Ampton Restricted and weakened 2 out so may fine this company a little too strong. Sum It Up from the Pennock yard pu here in the Dec. Conditions race when weakening and well behind. With a 5lb. penalty a massive improvement will be need to score here but a 2nd in the Ampton Conditions for Novice riders shows there is something there as 3 back to back wins through Maiden, Restricted and Intermediate last season indicates.
Selection: All is True Alternative: Fairly Famous / Magnetic Zero
2.55 PPORA Club Members Conditions (Novice Riders) – 9 entries
This race has garnered 9 entries and one horse stands out and this is Twilight Girl. She won a Conditions race at Ampton last month for today’s booked rider Jamie Gambin when beating One For Billy by 5 L before winning a match here in the ladies open under Gina Andrews when she defeated Hawkhurst by 25 L earlier this month. However she has to shoulder a lot more weight today if running in this and also holds an entry in the earlier Mixed Open. The Tom Ellis yard are in fine form at present and it would be unwise to ignore any runners from the stable. Champagne Noir is their entry here. He unseated his owner/rider Ellie Holder early on whilst leading at Revesby Park last month on his pointing debut. He boasts one win under rules for Charlie Longsdon which came at Huntingdon in a Novices Handicap Chase in October 2020 when ridden by Brian Hughes when he beat Belargus by 2 ½ L. Veteran Roc d’Apsis pulled up in the race at Revesby on his seasonal debut but did win last season for her rider today, Victoria Sollitt when scoring at Trebudanon by 20 L from Blue N Yellow in March. Monkey Puzzle was sent off favourite for the Novice Rider’s race at Ampton last month but finished 4th that day, 4 L behind the winner Buchail Dana but 10 L ahead of Perpignan who reopposes today. Perpignan was 3rd on his latest start at Larkhill earlier this month when going down by 15 L to Montanna. Groundunderrepair is a previous course winner but that win was three years ago and his form has been rather inconsistent. He was 4th here at the previous meeting going down by just over 20 L to Koyote. More Bucks is in the veteran stage now but he’s a three time pointing winner, his last win was in May 2021 when he beat Yeat’s Ace by 30 L in a Holnicote Mixed Open. This could be his seasonal debut. Heaven Scent won on her final start last season when beating West Lake by 5 L at Godstone in May. Twilight Girl may swerve this and contest the mixed open where she won’t have to carry so much weight. If she does turn out here we will make her our selection. Monkey Puzzle should improve for his seasonal debut at Ampton but with the Ellis yard in such good form we will make Champagne Noir our alternative.
Selection: Twilight Girl Alternative: Champagne Noir
3.30 Mares Maiden – 3 entries
Chabichou Dupoitou is named after a French cheese made from unpasteurised goats milk, and is a name that rolls off the tongue. She’s out of a Grade 1 winning mare in France, and has been placed in two Hurdle races at 2 miles at Wincanton and Chepstow. Hooded on her final start last season, when 6th at Exeter over a slightly longer trip, she shaped well again, suggesting she’ll stay 3 miles while continuing to settle better. Silvetta Schwarz is still looking for her maiden success after 24 starts under all codes. Her best effort in 8 runs in Chases was when a 3 lengths 3rd in a 2m4f Handicap Chase at Stratford in July 2021 from 6lbs out of the handicap. However she was well beaten in all 3 starts last summer. Flashy Kate has finished in the first four in 6 of her 7 starts in points on this side of the Irish Sea, the only exception being at this meeting last season. Having said that she was a very close 2nd at another meeting here last season, and a repeat of that effort would make her hard to beat.
Selection: Chabichou Dupoitou Alternative: Flashy Kate
Overview:
Race 1: Tom Ellis’s runner (Master Templar or Loughan) / Kilbrew Boy
Race 2: The Pier Field / In Our Dreams
Race 3: Fairly Famous or Loughan / Princetown Royale
Race 4: Twilight Girl / Just Your Type
Race 5: All is True / Fairly Famous or Magnetic Zero
Race 6: Monkey Puzzle / Champagne Noir
Race 7: Chabichou Dupoitou / Flashy Kate
