THE PUCKERIDGE & ESSEX HUNTS – HORSEHEATH
Saturday February 17th 2024
12.00 Conditions – 15 entries
Mitchouka was a more than useful performer under rules in Ireland, and after a spell in the doldrums he bounced back with a victory here on New Year’s Eve (Clondaw Westie and Calin Du Brizais behind). He bettered that when third behind Tigerbythetail (runs at Fakenham on Friday) at the Open here last month. With the abandonment of Askham Bryan, Kelly Morgan may be forced to run both Blazing Tom and Go Geronimo. The former, a prolific winner, will certainly come on for his Ampton run last month. Go Go Geronimo was runner up in the Men’s Open on the same day. Both would be serious contenders. Knight in Dubai a winning Chaser and Hurdler for Dan Skelton, was an extremely popular winner when comfortably beating Grand Roi (dead-heated for second and runs at Fakenham on Friday) here at the last meeting. A line through Grand Roi suggests he and Go Go Geronimo are closely matched. Ryan’s Fancy is now trained by Max Comley, who is enjoying a fabulous season so far. He ended a losing sequence with a win at Larkhill last month, this looks tougher, however. Thunderstruck a dual winner last season, pulled up on seasonal debut he will find it tough under his penalty. Good Source also pulled up on his seasonal debut, he won at Chaddesley last season, but this looks a hotter contest. Chabichou Dupoitou (named after a French cheese) may find this track stretching her stamina.
Selection: Mitchouka Alternative: Knight in Dubai
12.35 Maiden – 21 entries
An extremely competitive looking Maiden with a big field of 21 entries. Bless The Moon was travelling just as well as the winner at the last Horseheath meeting when rider/horse could not see a stride and fell. Providing the mare has recovered from the fall she stands a good chance as she most probably would have won that day. Largy Pearl is another with course form. He finished a well beaten third at the New Year’s Eve meeting. He went off a well backed favourite that day. The form of that race has been franked as the winner looks to be a decent horse winning easily next time out in a higher grade. Phil the Sock wins the best named horse in the race. Hailing from the Phil York yard he has shown potential on the racecourse also. On his first start for Phil York, he finished third in a Point To Point over 2M 5f. His pedigree shows the step up to three miles should play to his strengths. If he is ready after his break he holds every chance but best watched on this occasion. The Borobudur is starting to look exposed as he has raced at both Horseheath meetings so far this year falling when in contention and then finishing second. He might have to settle for minor honours once again. Connections may resort to headgear to eke out some more improvement. For One Night Only has his first start for Tom Ellis after running three times in Irish point to points. He last ran only 3 weeks ago and finished second in a three runner race. It is a very quick turnaround for a young horse to be fully acclimatised to new surroundings and we think he should be best watched on this occasion.
Selection: The Borobudur (with headgear) Alternative: Largy Pearl
1.10 Ladies Open – 10 entries
An excellent quality of entries with some very capable horses with creditable form which could make this a classic contest. Not wanting to do any of the possible declarations down but there are 5 to 6 standout performers who could take the prize on offer. Tom and Gina will choose between Bawnmore, twice a course winner and Captain Biggles with the latter also entered in the Mens equivalent race. Tullys Touch and Precious Bounty both finished extremely close to Captain Biggles in the Ladies Open at Ampton, last month and connections would not be afraid of renewing acquaintances here. Ludlow hunter ‘chase winner, Captain Tommy, is more likely to contest the Mens Open whilst Blazing Tom is now at the veteran stage but is still honest. No Hassle Hoff led until two out, before being pulled up, on his seasonal debut at Garthorpe recently and will benefit from that outing and he and Kate Gowing could lead their rivals a merry dance, from the off.
Selection: Captain Biggles/Bawnmore Alternative: Precious Bounty
1.45 Mens Open – 11 entries
At the time of writing plans will remain fluid regarding the likely participants in this contest, with the continued rainfall waterlogging the ground around the country. The entries for this race includes the 1st and 2nd from the Ladies Open race at Ampton in early January,namely Captain Biggles and Tullys Touch, whilst the 2nd and 3rd from the Men’s Open race that day were Go Go Geronimo and Loughan. Whilst Captain Biggles, Go Go Geronimo and Loughan have yet to run since, Tullys Touch ran in the Mixed Open race at the Horseheath January fixture but was well beaten in 6th place. Ahead of him in the Horseheath race were Law Of Gold (seasonal reappearance) and Mitchouka (the winner of a Conditions race at Horseheath on New Year’s Eve) in 2nd and 3rd respectively. Ragnar Lodbrok who had won the Mixed Open on New Year’s Eve was possibly inconvenienced by the quicker ground and could only finish 5th. Both Ragnar Lodbrok and The Whistle Blower were due to run in a Hunter Chase at Leicester on Thursday but could now be re-routed to Horseheath following the abandonment of the Leicester card. Another with a Hunter Chase entry is Captain Biggles who could venture to Haydock on Saturday for the“Walrus” Hunter Chase. The rejuvenated Deise Aba is shining a light for the stable of Francesca Poste this season winning two of his point to points since switching from rules, winning at Larkhill and Alnwick. Drop Him In has run twice this season finishing 2nd on both occasions, 30 lengths behind Grace A Vous Enki at Larkhill on New Year’s Eve and then 22 lengths behind Oscar Montel in the Lord Ashton of Hyde’s Cup at Cocklebarrow. Captain Tommy’s entry comes quite soon after winning a Hunter Chase last week at Ludlow by 3 lengths ahead of Shang Tang but would hold a strong chance if he has recovered from those exertions.
Selection: Law Of Gold Alternative: Ragnar Lodbrok
2.20 Intermediate – 11 entries
A number of entries ran here in the Jan. Restricted and form from that race may well prevail. All The Ammunition from local trainer/owner David Kemp looks to hold all the aces, never out of the first 2 in 6 runs and will have come on from his Restricted race 2nd on this track in Jan. when beating Coolagh Park by a nk. and with even weights an exciting race is on. 10yr. Coolagh Park from the Hill yard placed in his 2 Restricted runs on this track this season has track and soft ground experience on his side. 8yr. Harbour Queen from the Biddick yard pu on his Jan. Ampton Restricted run but may struggle in this company even with a 7lb. allowance. 8yr. In Our Dreams from the Poste yard was a distant 16L. behind All the Ammunition and Coolagh Park on this track in the Jan. Restricted so again may struggle. 8yr. Padjoes Legacy from the Padfield yard is another from the Jan. Restricted race on this track but again well behind All The Ammunition and Coolagh Park so a lot of ground to make up. 5yr. Paul Manate the other Hill entry raced prominently to win the Maiden here in Dec. but this a serious rise in grade plus now carrying 12st. so may struggle. Interesting form for the Stearns veteran 10yr. September Fields – 2019 with 2 wins and 2 pu’s then a gap of 4yrs. and last season a further 2 pu’s – when he finishes he wins but maybe one to watch this time. 7yr. Tango Pete from the Comley yard was behind all the other 4 entries who ran in the Jan. Restricted on this track so can he reverse the form. 5 horses entered who contested the Restricted here a few weeks ago and difficult to see the order changing but ground conditions may see alter the outcome.
Selection: All the Ammunition Alternative: Coolagh Park
2.55 PPORA Club Members Conditions (Novice Riders) – 9 entries
Again a rather disappointing entry of only 9 for this novice rider’s contest. Are there too many of these types of this race now with not enough horses? Jonjoella has been a marvellous servant this season to her connections. She’s been second twice and won at the previous meeting here when beating Imperial Esprit by 2L. A Toi Phil was 4th in this race, 25L behind Jonjoella. A Toi Phil ran last week at Higham but unseated early on. Monkey Puzzle finished 3L behind Jonjoella when these two met at Ampton last month in the race won by Red Maple and we would expect Monkey Puzzle to improve for that outing. Port Of Mars was 4th this day 3L behind Monkey Puzzle and now has new connections having moved from Myles Osborne’s yard to Dale Peters Stilton yard. This would appear to be jockey Ethan Dawes first ride. State Of Fame represents the Tim Vaughan yard. He won on his seasonal debut at Great Trethew in November when beating Templier d’Habert by 12L but pulled up on his next outing at Ampton last month. Muckamore was 6th on his seasonal reappearance at Cocklebarrow, beaten just over 30L by The Composeur, He’s another who should come on from his first run. Padjoes Legacy was 4th here at the last meeting beaten just over 16L by Trojan Du Berlais in the restricted. Neumond could make his seasonal reappearance here. Now in the veteran stage, he’s 6 time pointing winner but hasn’t won for almost 5 years but 4 of those wins were achieved at this course. He finished 2nd at High Easter last season on his final start when going down by 4L to Thunderstruck when ridden by Alex Chadwick. He’s due to be ridden by Tom Hutsby who is yet to ride a winner from 15 rides. It’s hard to get away from Jonjoella who is having a great season although she has more weight to shoulder here, she’s our selection to give rider Josh Parker another winner. Monkey Puzzle should come on for his Ampton run but has to give weight to all his rivals today so we will side with State Of Fame to bounce back from his poor Ampton run as our alternative.
Selection: Jonjoella Alternative: State Of Fame
Overview:
Race 1: Mitchouka / Knight in Dubai
Race 2: The Borobudur (with headgear) / Largy Pearl
Race 3: Captain Biggles/Bawnmore / Precious Bounty
Race 4: Law Of Gold / Ragnar Lodbrok
Race 5: All the Ammunition / Coolagh Park
Race 6: Jonjoella / State Of Fame
