THE THURLOW HUNT – HORSEHEATH
Sunday December 31st 2023
11.00 Conditions (Level 3) – 16 entries
This opening Conditions (Level 3) contest looks tasty with All Is True looking to supplement his win at the corresponding meeting last year which saw his trainer, Tom Ellis, amass six winners from the seven races. All Is True’s record stands at 3 wins from 3, in points and he won’t be far away. Go Go Geronimo has tackled the Horseheath undulations on three previous occasions, all in Maiden events, before finally getting off the mark and has currently 5 career wins to his name. One for Rosie has alternative entries, on the card, but boasts 3 wins from 4 races with his only defeat coming on his seasonal debut at Chaddesley Corbett Mixed Open so he will have fitness on his side, but has 6lb more to carry than Kelly Morgan’s runner, Go Go Geronimo. The New Kid has two victories to his name but has also been runner-up on seven occasions. Dale Peters mount will not be fazed by the soft ground conditions. The game, Clondaw Westie, will run his normal game race for the Fun Partnership but is still looking for his first point success whilst Kilbrew Boy’s only career victory came at Horseheath in February, last season, when the ground conditions were Good to Firm and Firm in places.
Selection: Go Go Gerronimo Alternative: One For Rosie
11.35 Maiden – 18 entries
The all-conquering stable of Tom Ellis holds a strong hand with two new recruits both owned by Keith Loads & Mrs K Bowling. First up is Artiste D’Ainay who is a maiden after 8 runs but has been placed six times in Hurdle races over different trips and different ground conditions. He comes here with a rating of 109 so he holds a strong chance, he still has to prove that he will stay three miles and it’s his first start over fences so there are questions marks to answer. Rushmount Boys the second of The Tom Ellis entrants ran once in an Irish point to point and was beaten twelve lengths in a moderate race where nothing has franked the form. He has to be respected from the connections and being an expensive purchase, but we think he could be one for the future. Driveondonnhas run twice in Irish points and improved from his first start to finish 2nd he looks sure to improve and holds every chance.Bless The Moon has run once in an Irish hurdle. It was a moderate performance but is reported to have strengthen up and a much better performance is expected on her British pointing debut. Should be respected coming from the Jennifer Owen stable with a particularly good jockey booking in Alex Chadwick who most recently has been riding winners against the professionals under rules. Paul Manate made a very pleasing debut at the back end of last season at Edgecote over what looked an inadequate trip of 2m 5f. He jumped and travelled well before getting outpaced by more experienced horses as the race turned in to a bit of a sprint. With normal improvement he holds a strong chance, and the partnership of Alan Hill and Dale Peters has to be feared when they team up.
Selection: Paul Manate Alternative Bless The Moon
12.10 Conditions (Novice Riders) – 14 entries
A reasonable field of 14 for this novice riders contest but several of these hold entries in other races on the card and a few are also entered at other meetings. One For Rosie is trained by Grand National winning jockey Jason Maguire. He’s one of the few horses in the race to have run this season when he was 3rd at Chaddesley Corbett earlier this month going down by 10 ½L to Hung Jury in a mixed open. This is a drop in grade but he will have to give weight to all his rivals if running. He holds entries in two other races on the card and there is no jockey booking. Imperial Esprit has run twice already this season and on his latest outing was 3rd to Shantou Flyer in a Larkhill conditions race beaten 9 ¾L. Jockey Keagan Kirby is very experienced for a novice rider having had 4 wins from 68 rides. Step Back was 2nd on his latest start at Larkhill when beaten 25 L by Grace A Vous Enki earlier this month. Rider Lexie New boasts a very good strike rate registering 3 wins from her 7 rides so far. Stacks Mountain was 4thand last on his first run this season at Chaddesley Corbett when finishing 52L behind the winner Everything Now. Owner rider Grace Knowles has 1 win from 5 rides and it was on this horse at Cocklebarrow in January 2022. Killinkere represents the Tom Ellis yard in this race. He was 3rd on his final three starts last season. Rider Molly Legg is yet to register a win from 7 rides so far. Steady The Ship won his final start last season to give rider William Badlan his first winner at Andoversford when beating The Composeur by 4 1/2L. The rider now has two wins from 13 rides as he rode another winner earlier this season. Knight Bachelor is into the veteran stage now. He was 2nd on his final start last season when going down by 12L to Walkonthewildside at Kingston Blount in May. It would appear to be rider Harriet Beeby Wynn’s first ride. Ex rules horse Ajay’s Way could have his first his UK pointing start here. He was a winner on his final rules run at Fakenham in May 2022 for Feargal O’Brien when winning a 2 mile, 5f chase under Kielan Woods beating Dubai Guestby 12L. Rider Ollie Watson has yet to register a win from 7 starts. One For Rosie is top rated but would have to give weight to all his rivals and also there is no rider up so that makes selection difficult so we will side with Imperial Esprit as our selection with veteran Step Back as our next choice.
Selection: Imperial Esprit Alternative: Step Back
12.45 Mixed Open – 13 entries
One of the Tom Ellis trained “Famous Six” from the corresponding meeting last season appears amongst the entries for this year’s renewal of the mixed open race. Fairly Famous progressed through the grades last season having won one of the maiden races at this fixture, culminated with a victory by 15 lengths over Marcle Ridgein a hunter chase at Cheltenham in May. Tom Ellis also has Captain Biggles entered, another inmate of the stable that progressed throughout the year. With wins in a maiden at Garthorpe, restricted at Brafield and a conditions race at Fakenham, Captain Biggleswent on to win the “Restricted hunter chase” at Stratford beating Raleagh Flora by a head. Forest Chimes won his last four races last season, three of which were conditions’ races.His recent outing at Chaddesley Corbett was his first venture into open company, where he was the last of the four to complete behind Hung Jury. One For Rosie who holds an entry in two of the earlier races finished ahead of Forest Chimes in the Chaddesley Corbett race, had a good time last season winning three points.Ragnar Lodbrok proved to be a model of consistency winning five races last season and was placed in the other two. Trappist Monk won four races last season plus a walkover. Amongst those four wins was a victory in a hunter chase at Fontwell where he beat Back Bar. A recent outing at Badbury Rings saw him finish fourth, 17 lengths behind Captain Woodie.
Selection: Fairly Famous Alternative: Ragnar Lodbrok
1.20 Ladies Conditions (Level 2) – 12 entries
9 of the runners rated in excess of 100 so a very competitive race in prospect. Ground conditions will be critical with rain forecast in the coming week look for soft ground specialists. Veteran and very experienced Back Bar from the Hill yard ran 8 times last year mainly in Open company but only 1 win, a 3l soft ground 2nd at Cothelstone in May indicates a place finish is possible. Note that he beat Latenightpass in the Ladies Open here in 2020 on soft ground but has not run on this track since. Count Simon has already run twice this season but outpaced on both occasions and his best performances have been on good ground so a big ask with 10lb. overweight. Another prolific winning veteran from the Hill yard Hawkhurst ran 1l. 2nd to Singapore Saga earlier this month on very soft ground so the ground may not be an issue and he will have come on for the run. Hidor De Bersy has never run over 2m. 4f. under rules and although his unchallenged 12l. win over Williwonga at Chaddesley Corbett earlier this month was on soft to heavy ground it was again over 2m. 4f. and a soft ground 3m. at a testing Horseheath with a 3lb. penalty may well find him out. Myth Buster from the Bradstock yard comes off a close 2nd. to the experienced veteran Shantou Flyer at Larkhill in November and a 2nd on this track to Hawkhurst in 2022 is another with place prospects. Ryans Fancy pu on his only Horseheath run in 2021 and pu on his last 2 runs in 2023 so perhaps best watched. Another serious veteran and PtP legend Southfield Theatre from the Bradstock yard ran 18l. 3rd to the highly rated Time Leaderin the Nov. Bradbury Rings Mixed Open, 29 runs with 18 wins (no pu) but he has never run here so the track and ground may be an issue, stays forever – note his 4m. win at Cheltenham in 2019 but age might be catching him up. The youthful 7yr. Tigerbythetail from the Ellis yard has the form to take this race with 6 consecutive wins last season including the 6 runner Maiden here on good to firm ground in Feb.last season but fell on his last run when clear in the May Kingston Blount Mens Open but ground and a 6lb. penalty may mean he will struggle.
Selection: Hawkhurst Alternative: Tigerbythetail (Hoping Southfield Theatre runs well!)
1.55 Restricted – 9 entries
A single figure entry here and a couple have alternative engagements. Weatherbys ratings suggest that this should be a straight shootout between the brilliant but fragile course and distance winner Coolagh Park and the ex Gordon Elliott-trained Happy Victory, who made a winning British debut over 2m 4f at Chaddesley four weeks ago. Preference is for Coolagh Park, who also began his career with Elliott and has raced only three times since joining his current handler, Alan Hill, over two years ago. He was deeply impressive when running away with a maiden at this very fixture in 2021 but endured a 15-month lay-off thereafter. He was well clear of the remainder when 10 lengths third at Larkhill last month and should be all the fitter for that outing. A £9,000 acquisition into the Dale Peters yard back in May, Happy Victory is a dual winner over this trip between the flags in Ireland. He will surely be the one to take advantage should Coolagh Park underperform. Milanford would have a massive chance if reproducing the form which saw him finish second in a weak Grade 2 novice chase at Doncaster three years ago but has regressed significantly since then. Lunar Contact is a £19,000 recruit to the Tom Ellis yard who was disappointing for Alan King under rules but has potential, while Iskandar Pecos has four lengths to find on Happy Victory from their recent Chaddesley clash.
Selection: Coolagh Park Alternative: Happy Victory
2.30 Maiden Conditions – 13 entries
A few of these have the option to run in the earlier Maiden on the card. Of the three most experienced entries, The Borobudur has the best form, placed on his last four outings last season, the pick of which was his third placing in his Members at Edgcote on his penultimate outing. Glimpse of Glady has the benefit of a run, but apart from her third in a bumper on debut she’s been well beaten when placed subsequently. Diamon des Flos was placed on three occasions in 2022, but missed last season, and could need the run. Largy Pearl had I Like Oats behind when finishing third at Chaddesley in testing conditions earlier this month. Placed in his only Irish point Largy Pearl has scope to improve. Top Man Tom cut little ice in his three Irish points, but shaped promisingly in a 2m4f Maiden at Chaddesley earlier this month, a race in which the first three home sold for an aggregate of approximately £300,000 at Cheltenham recently. The pick of the ex Irish pointers are Driveondonn, runner up on his second outing at Ballingarry, and bought for £37,000 in the summer. Main Stage, placed in two of her three outings, and bought for £20,000 in May. As a 4 year old filly, she is receiving all the allowances. Trojan du Berlais, placed third on his second outing at Moira, a race in which the subsequent winner went on to win a Hereford bumper earlier this month.
Selection: Largy Pearl Alternative: Trojan du Berlais
OVERVIEW
Race 1: Go Go Gerronimo / One For Rosie
Race 2: Paul Manate / Bless The Moon
Race 3: Imperial Esprit / Step Back
Race 4: Fairly Famous / Ragnar Lodbrok
Race 5: Hawkhurst / Tigerbythetail
Race 6: Coolagh Park / Happy Victory
Race 7: Largy Pearl / Trojan du Berlais
