An enormous crowd flocked to Higham in wonderful spring sunshine on Easter Saturday to enjoy the point-to-point racing which provided some exciting action despite the small fields owing to the fast ground.
The day was a clean sweep for East Anglian trainers with lead plaudits going to the Turner Family from Ampton who enjoyed a double on the day. Not only did Ed Turner train both winners, he shared a famous day with his wife Rosie as they rode one winner apiece. Rosie guided odds-on favourite Sa Kaldoun to the horse’s third victory at this fixture in the Mixed Open, following his Ladies Open win last season and success in the Restricted back in 2012.
Sa Kaldoun (checked cap) en route to victory
Husband Ed saved himself from any teasing over the Easter Weekend with victory in the East Anglian Club Members Race on his family’s Kriss William.
Kriss William proved too strong for the improving seven year-old Royal Chieftain from the Timworth near Bury St Edmunds yard of the area’s leading trainer Andrew Pennock. However no East Anglian meeting this season would be complete without a winner for the unstoppable combination of Andrew Pennock and jockey Evan David and it came this time in the shape of We’ve Got Company in the Open Maiden who was finally breaking his duck at the 17th attempt, meaning Andrew Pennock has now reached a notable milestone of twenty winners this season.
We’ve Got Company (black star) alongside Iwillifiwant in the early stages
“The best spin I’ve had in a long time” is how jockey Dicky Collinson described his ride aboard Legend To Be, winner of the Maiden for four to seven year-olds. The electric round of jumping from Sarah Humphrey’s charge was too much to handle for odds-on favourite Kev The Car whose jumping technique fell to pieces causing him to trail in a well beaten second.
The West Wratting trainer said that Legend To Be was primarily used as her husband’s hunter hence why his jumping is so spectacular.
Jumping had been a problem for Beat The Index when he refused at the last fence at Ampton in March, but an aggressive ride from the improving Kate Gowing was rewarded with victory in the Restricted contest for Wretham trainer Robert Abrey.
Part-owner Stephen Howlett paid tribute to the trainer’s skills when adding, “Robert has done a fantastic job with the horse as he is a difficult type mentally and Kate has given him a wonderful ride”.
Another improving young lady jockey registered a win in the Novice Rider’s race. Harriet Bryce enjoyed her seventh career success on her father Tim’s Limpopo Tom, a recent recruit from Ireland who had run so well at Fakenham on his debut for the yard. Tim Bryce is based in Newmarket but Harriet had travelled from her base in Kelso in the Scottish Borders to partner her father’s two runners on the card.
Results
GOING: GOOD TO FIRM
Restricted
1st Beat The Index Kate Gowing 5/4
2nd Muchadoboutnothing Dicky Collinson 5/2
3rd Condorman William Marshall Ev’s f
Time 6-01 Dists: 10L, 2L 3 ran
Mixed Open
1st Sa Kaldoun Rosie Turner 1/2f
2nd Boxer Beat Harriet Bryce 3/1
3rd Nightscape Charlie Buckle 7/4
Time 5-54 Dists: 1L, Dist 5 ran
also Caulkin (UR) Valid Point (F)
PPORA Novice Riders
1st Limpopo Tom Harriet Bryce 2/1
2nd Abbey Lane Seb Burnett-Wells Ev’s f
3rd Weather Warning Henrietta Cranfield 6/4
Time 5-55 Dists: 1/2L, 20L 3 ran
4,5,6 and 7YO Maiden
1st Legend To Be Dicky Collinson 7/2
2nd Kev The Car Rupert Stearn 1/3f
3rd Barrymore Legal Charlie Buckle 3/1
Time 5-54 Dists: Dist, 1/2L 3 ran
Open Maiden
1st We’ve Got Company Evan David 1/2f
2nd On The Tangle Hamish Golding 4/1
Time 6-01 Dists: Dist 3 ran
also Iwillifiwant (F)
EA Area Club Members
1st Kriss William Ed Turner 6/4
2nd Royal Chieftain Evan David Ev’s f
Time 5-55 Dists: 6L 4 ran
also Road To Freedom (PU) Santa’s Secret (Ref)
