11 February 2009 Preview: East Essex - Marks Tey
CAPPA BLEU: an impressive winner at Horseheath recently is entered in the Mens Open
Marks Tey, near Colchester, is scheduled to stage racing for the first time this season when it plays host to the East Essex meeting, weather permitting.
189 entries have been received for a seven-race card, commencing at noon. The course was raceable on Sunday 8th but is susceptible to waterlogging, so officials are wary of the recent heavy rain.
The Mens Open is a strong affair, the impressive recent Horseheath scorer Cappa Bleu heading the 24 entries. Honourable Spider, his nearest pursuer that day, could take him on afresh while other notable entries are Caveman, who was an easy winner in this grade at Ampton last month, and a classy pair from the powerful Julie Houldey yard, We're Confused and Bowdens Lane.
The Ladies equivalent does not look quite as talent-laden, although Cappa Bleu's useful stablemate, Pirate Flagship, leads a list of 28 possibles. Roaringwater, who got his pointing career off to the perfect start at Detling three weeks ago, may try to follow up here while the confirmed mudlark, Bedtime Boys, should find conditions in his favour.
Course winner The Piper's Son is entered in both the 31-entry Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate and the 29-entry Confined and should go close in either. The action commences with a Hunt Race where the seven entries including the standing dish, Baron Bernard, already twice a winner of this event and runner-up on another occasion.
Marks Tey is west of the village of the same name and the junction of the A12 and the A120. It needs to be approached using the London-bound carriageway of the A12 then taking the left turn signposted for Easthorpe. Admission will be charged at £10 per head with under 17s free.
