Essex & Suffolk
Higham
Saturday 12th April 2008
by "The Pub Team"

Advanced Going: - Good to Firm

144 horses entered for this meeting, which is tremendous for this time of the year. Looking at the entries for this weekend nationwide, they all seem to be very good as the season end draws nearer. Also encouraging is the number of runners in the Hunt Club race, seventeen, which must be the highest for this type of race in the East Anglian area. With 33 entered in the last, and probably a divided race, you could be a bit late home this week if you want to see the entire card. Looks to be a really good days racing and this meeting always draws a large crowd so we would suggest you arrive in good time. Don’t like to boast but we did tip four winners last week, sorry to miss Arctic Sun.

2.00p.m. Hunt Members – 17 entries
Alittlemorereaction won this race at the Granta Hunt meeting here in February, since when has been placed 5 th at Marks Tey when starting as favourite. Magic To Do has been placed on its last three races, the latest being 2 nd on that cold day at High Easter in the Novice riders race. Comeonourfella is highly thought of by connections but has had problems, run only once this season when pulling up at High Easter. Brown Teddy was 2 nd to Polar Scout in the Mens Open at Cottenham in March, previously unseated rider two out at this course. Nokimover has been placed six times this season and did win twice at this course in 2007, also entered in the Novice Riders race . Saafend Rocket 3 rd last time out but is probably not quite good enough to take this. Viciana been followed in the betting ring but still has to finish better than 4 th in Points. Serpentine Rock was under rules with Phillip Hobbs, did win a Chase and Hurdle, last win though was in 2005.

Selection: Alittlemorereaction (Brown Teddy)

2.50 p.m. Restricted - 25 entries
Cameroon was 2 nd last time out in a Restricted at Garthorpe in March, previous to that was 3 rd to The Camerengo at Weston Park but by a distance. The Abrey stable has been in good form this year and they will be hoping that their representative here, Epop, will continue in that vein. Epop has only run once this year pulling up at High Easter. Laharna started as favourite last time out at Cottenham but could only manage 4 th, before that was 2 nd to Forget the Ref at this course in early March. Lord of the Knar was 4 th at the Puckeridge meeting, started as favourite, did win a Confined Maiden at Brocklesbury Park on previous run. Lord Phillip won the Hunt race last time out at Charing, previously was 3 rd in the Restricted at Godstone. Lucent is from the Alan Hill stable and on only run this season was 4 th in an Intermediate at Kingston Blount. Prey Bird was 2 nd last time at Charing and has won, did win a Maiden at Cottenham earlier this year. Rear Gunner also won a Maiden at Cottenham this year but pulled up next time out when starting as favourite. Scattered Scarlet was 2 nd in the Hunt Members at Garthorpe, won Maiden last year and is from a good yard. The Right People pulled up last time but won an 8yr & over Maiden at Cottenham. Took My Eye was fancied last time out at Horseheath but failed to do better than 5 th. Top Bombing has been improving on each run and last time out was 3 rd in a similar race at Lockinge.

Selection: Took My Eye (Rear Gunner)

3.25 p.m. Volkswagen Touareg Mens Open – 20 entries
Another Dude fell at the last at High Easter when he would probably have won that race and has won the Mens Open at this course this year; this horse is one reason why Rupert Stearn is leading the Jockey Championship in the area. Bee an Bee form looks impressive, winning three Opens this year but hasn’t beaten much, last time won a two runner race at Charing. Bob Justice won the CA Club Members race here at Higham in March, Caveman was 2 nd. Brown Teddy, refer to the Club Members race. Hatsnall was 2 nd to Caveman at High Easter, same race as Another Dude, only four ran. Kadount from the Turner yard has shown some ability but the ground could prove to be too quick on this occasion. The course though could be ideal for Montys Island who is having his first run of the season; did run under rules last autumn without much success but did win the last Mens Open of 2007 at Umberleigh. Polar Scout won an Open at Cottenham this year but was then tried in a Hunter Chase at Kempton, unseated rider when last at the 6 th. Rooster been placed 3 rd twice this year but that could be his potential now. Walking Sunday finished 2 nd in an Open race here last year but is not one to trust, best left alone.

Selection: Montys Island (Another Dude)

4.00 p.m. Ladies Open - 26 entries
Beet de Bob has already won twice here this season in two Ladies Opens; did have a few problems when running under rules but rated quite highly as a pointer. Bering Gifts has also run twice winning on both occasions, firstly at Cottenham and then at Kingston Blount. On two wins also is Find Me Another who last won on Easter Monday at Marks Tey and previous to that, Ampton, has now won thirteen races for connections in points. Frosty Run sprang a surprise when winning convincingly at Horseheath at 20/1, placed two previous appearances. The Turners have Full Irish and Leatherback entered; Full Irish was 2 nd last time out to Find Me Another at Ampton; Leatherback was 2 nd last time out to Persian King at Peper Harow. Persian King’s most recent run was to finish 3 rd at Charing. Gregory Peckory had won three Opens on the trot until the last race when finishing 3 rd at Paxford. Scare Lotte is also entered in the Novice Riders and with all due respect would probably stand a better chance there.

Selection: Beet de Bob (Bering Gifts )

4.35 p.m. PPORA Club Members (Nov Rid) – 20 entries
Birdwatch was 2 nd in a Novice Riders race at Flagg Moor in March, somewhat different countryside between there and here. El Viejo won a Mens Confined at Detling this season and has been placed twice at this course in similar races. Gunther McBride pulled up last time out but previous to that did finish 3 rd in Mens Open at Tweseldown. Hi Tech Man last ran at Hackwood Park on Easter Monday, started as favourite but finished 2 nd, rather an unpredictable sort. Moving Earth gave Georgina Andrews her first win on her first ride and she followed this up by winning next time out at Godstone. Last time out she tried to make all at High Easter and ended up finishing 4 th, all part of the learning curve. Georgina also has the possibility of riding Montys Tag, who has been entered several times this season but yet to appear. Nokimover has had six runs in this type of race this season and has been placed on all occasions; given the Vaughan Jones brothers a considerable amount of fun this horse. Likewise Scare Lotte has given the Hobson family a lot of fun and would not be without a good chance here if the early season form could be recaptured. Another family enjoying some success are the Wards whose Magic To Do has been placed on the last three outings. Rockley Beach won a Restricted at Cottenham at 16/1 last time out, may not be quite up to winning this. Winsley has won on his last two outings, the most recent a Novice riders race at Larkhill. It would be great if one of the stalwarts of East Anglian racing in recent times, Village Copper could recapture some of his old form but that is unlikely.

Selection: Winsley (Moving Earth)

5.10 p.m. Open Maiden 5yo+ - 33 entries
This race could well be divided, the safety factor here is fifteen. Because of connections I think we would have expected Basiliko to have lost its Maiden status by now, has been placed three times so far, maybe today will be the day. Bridgham was quite fancied in the betting ring at Horseheath but did not quite stay; this is a much easier course. Camisky is quite highly rated but has pulled up twice this year, missed last year, is from the Alan Hill yard that is in fine form. It was hoped that Crosby would follow his mother’s winning ways but has still to show any sign of troubling the judge. Frozen Assets has been placed but is eleven and does not sound very competitive. Like to Go finished 3 rd to Rydal Park here earlier in the season, look how far Rydal Park has progressed in such a short time, winning Hunter Chase this week. That great supporter of Point to Pointing, Patrick Millington, has Mirage Prince, finished 2 nd last time out at this course and would not be without a chance of going one better here. Nigel Padfield loves to raid the SE and his Mountain Emperor failed on it’s last attempt and pulled up at Parham; previous to that finished 4 th on two occasions, at Parham and Cottenham. At that same Cottenham meeting Siam de Baune finished 3 rd in a short Maiden. Steak and Kidney unseated last time out but was with the winner until three out; before that was 2 nd at Cottenham with Basiliko in 3 rd. Although good entries nothing really stands out here.

Selection: Siam de Baune (Camisky)

Enjoy some great racing