REPORT:
CAMBRIDGESHIRE WITH ENFIELD CHACE MEETING
HORSEHEATH on SATURDAY JANUARY 24th
Author : Mike Ashby
Photos : Graham Bishop Photography
Racing action returned to Horseheath for their final meeting of the season and it was a memorable day for jockey Boris Ball, who rode his first winner, on Toss Again, in the opening PPORA Club Members Conditions race for novice riders.
“ It was the best feeling in the world” twenty-five year old Ball enthused after his success on his fifth ride in points. He was particularly grateful to Newmarket trainers Jenny and James Owen, as well as the owner John Morrey, to afford him the opportunity to the ride Toss Again, Having been left in the lead, when Molly Legg had saddle issues on Young Rich, the winning partnership saw off all challenges, including the favourite Clashhill over the last two fences, to win by 3½ lengths. Ball works for the Owens and is regularly riding Toss Again on the gallops and reports the horse “ loves his work “, so the win was a perfect reflection on the association between horse and rider. Previously racing in Ireland, Toss Again won four races for trainer Henry De Bromhead and will give his enthusiastic owner plenty of fun, over the coming months.
TOSS AGAIN and BORIS BALL (farside)
The Bradley Gibbs-trained mare, Ask Elli, improved, as expected, from her recent outing at Ampton to win the Restricted race with Ed Vaughan taking the ride. They powered clear up the Horseheath finishing straight with Cash Or Card the only rival to offer any challenge. There’s surely more to come from Ask Elli, after this performance, and all future appearances will be worth noting.
ASK ELLI and ED VAUGHAN
The outcome of the Mixed Open was marred by the fatal injury to the favourite Givega and the prize went to Cian Murphy riding the aptly named Designed To Win, for part owner/trainer David Kemp from Kilverstone, near Thetford. With the field reduced Murphy, who took the ride as Dale Peters was unable to do the weight, took over after the final open ditch and the winning pairing were never in danger of being overtaken by course specialist Aramax. Now unbeaten in four points, the lightly raced Designed To Win was running in Open company, for the first time. Another horse worth following, at least, until the winning sequence is interrupted.
DESIGNED TO WIN and CIAN MURPHY
There could have been concern that the two Maiden races, one an Open event and the other a Conditions contest, might produce a minimal amount of runners, due to double entries, Fortunately, all twelve individual horses entered were declared over the two races with the Open Maiden won in convincing style by Seek Him There with jockey Charlie Case riding for his father owner/trainer Ben Case. An ex-hurdler, winless under rules for Case senior, has shown more potential since switching to pointing and his initial defeat by only 2½ lengths to Entity Of Substance at Chaddesley Corbett in early December now seems commendable, as that winner has gone on to win two Restricted races since. In the race, the field were tightly packed going downhill for the final time and turning for home Reel Much Fun had a narrow lead from Seek Him There with Rounditoff, also in the mix. Case junior had his mount in front at the last and they outstayed their rivals to the winning line. “He’s lazy but I knew he would stay plus he kept guessing in the shadows” was the jockey’s debrief to the owner/trainer.
SEEK HIM THERE and CHARLIE CASE (farside)
The Maiden Conditions race was for horses which had run in at least two points, including flat races, Jasmin Des Bins for the Poste’s was made odds-on favourite but only jumped two fences before unseating Sam Lee at the third obstacle. This left Secret Plan and Charlotte Butler to head the remaining runners, a lead they maintained until three fences from home. Master Force and Ed Vaughan took over and looked the likely winners, even after jumping the last, but Secret Plan rallied, under a strong ride from Butler, to retake the initiative and win by 2¼ lengths. Miss Butler had flown in from Ireland, to take all three rides on trainer Ed Turner’s first runners of the campaign and she has tasted success across the Irish Sea, most notably when winning the Ladies Grand National at Fairyhouse in March 2024, aboard So Des Flos, for trainer Gordon Elliott. This was her 5th success in GB points, four of which have been for the Turner Family.
SECRET PLAN and CHARLOTTE BUTLER
The concluding Condition ( Level 2 ) race went to Lily Bradstock riding “he’s such a dude” Myth Buster to an all-the-way success. A veteran at 13 years of age, Myth.Buster, “ threw himself and flew the final fence“ said Lily afterwards, as the pairing sealed a comfortable 3 lengths victory over All the Ammunition who ran lazily in the early stages of the race. “ He stays forever” said Lily who also trains him and was on horsebox driving commitments as mum Sara, although in attendance, was recovering from a broken rib. The ground was probably softer than Myth Buster prefers but it didn’t stop him giving 10lb to the runner-up. It was Lily’s first Horseheath riding success and the 4th time she has partnered him to victory in points.
MYTH BUSTER and LILY BRADSTOCK
A really well supported card by owners and trainers with 38 runners from the 46 individual horses entered and all 17 entrants in the two pony races faced the starter, Sir Mark Prescott.
