REPORT OF THE WAVENEY AND NORFOLK HARRIERS MEETING HELD AT HIGHAM ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 9th

By Mike Ashby

Jockey Alex Chadwick was in unstoppable form at the Waveney and Norfolk Harrier’s meeting at Higham, landing a winning treble from his three rides, on the day. Chadwick’s successes came on The Yellow Mini, Allmankind and Graveside Lad to take his tally for the season to six.

The opening contest saw owner/trainer Brian Dowling’s The Yellow Mini go one better than last year after the small, but game mare, pressed on after the cross fence and was clear of her rivals from three fences out winning by a comfortable 4 lengths. Unsuccessful on the flat, she has been more competitive since switching to jumping winning a Fontwell hurdle in September 2021. Since her move to pointing with her new owner/trainer the mare has finished runner-up on three occasions and this was her first success.

THE YELLOW MINI and ALEX CHADWICK

Allmankind was impressive in the Mixed Open race and had already seen off his rivals before three of them exited at the last obstacle. Saint Calvados was tiring and refused with David Maxwell, hampering Drakes Well and Le Boulevardier, who both unseated. Owner Tim Gredley confirmed a lot of extra schooling had been undertaken which had improved Allmankind’s jumping performance since his recent Horseheath success. Jockey Chadwick was really pleased with trainer Jenny Owen’s runner echoing the improved jumping, together with “really motoring” from the front and now Cheltenham is on the radar, for this classy 9yo.

ALLMANKIND and ALEX CHADWICK

Graveside Lad had put in some disappointing displays for trainer Ed Turner but this was a  merited display in the Open Maiden to give Chadwick his first winner for the Turner family, in those famous colours. The favourite Shikantsen Enki, James King’s only mount of the day, sadly, broke down on the final turn into the straight, when about to make a forward move.

GRAVESIDE LAD and ALEX CHADWICK

The PPORA Conditions race saw Senior Citizen make a winning debut in GB points under Izzie Hill when passing the only other finisher, Rhythm Is A Dancer, before three out and storming ahead, finishing 12 lengths clear. Senior Citizen was bought about 18 months ago with the intention to qualify for Aintree and that is still very much the plan going forward, carrying the Myddelton colours.

SENIOR CITIZEN and IZZIE HILL (farside)

Shentri, a Higham course winner last season, was an unlucky loser in the PPORA Novice Rider’s contest when falling, when clear, at the second last fence. Shentri’s jockey, Poppy Shaw was having her first ride and looked as though they had seen off the favourite and eventual winner, Kayf Hernando, but crashed out. Poppy suffered a mouth injury as well as being badly concussed but thankfully a resultant CT scan was clear. Tom Hutsby was the fortunate, winning jockey and this was his 9th career win and puts him right in the mix for the Novice Championship.

KAYF HERNANDO and TOM HUTSBY (centre)

The closing Restricted race went to the Shropshire-trained, Great Valley, ridden by Guy Sankey who made all to defeat their only two rivals. Another traveller from Shropshire, Tango Arumba, kept on but was still 3 ½ lengths behind her tough opponent, at the finish whilst some indifferent jumping from Ed Vaughan’s mount Shanes Passion resulted in Ed pulling up the Andrew Pennock runner.

GREAT VALLEY and GUY SANKEY

A good day of entertaining and competitive racing with 29 runners from the 41 individual horses entered.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GRAHAM BISHOP PHOTOGRAPHY 

www.gdbphotography.co.uk