21 April 2011 Preview: East Anglian Easter meetings
by James Crispe
Higham and Marks Tey, two courses that are just off the A12 within little more than ten miles of each other, play host to East Anglia's two Easter Point-to-Point fixtures.
On Saturday April 23rd, 53 horses have been entered for the six race Essex & Suffolk meeting at Higham.
Ten are engaged in the curtain-raising Hunts Club Members Race, which gets under way at 2.00pm, but an earlier arrival will be needed in order to catch the two children's pony races which take place at 1.00pm.
Pony racing also features at the Essex Farmers & Union fixture at Marks Tey on Easter Monday, again with a 1pm start time. 63 horses have been entered for the six races here, with ten entered for the Open Maiden to get the jumping action under way at 2.00pm, with 12 engaged in the Restricted Race to end the card at 4.55pm.
At Higham the highlight could be a Ladies Open rematch between Scotland Yard and Assassino, who filled the first two places, separated by five lengths, in the corresponding race at Fakenham two weeks ago.
At Marks Tey, Heydon handler Tina Hayward could be the trainer to follow, just as she was at the fixture at this venue on March 6th when saddling both The Piper's Son and Mill Five Acre to return victorious.
The Piper's Son has ten potential rivals in the Club Members Novice Riders Race, while Mill Five Acre will have a maximum on nine to beat in the Intermediate Race.
Higham is just to the west of the A12 between Colchester and Ipswich using the B1068 turn-off towards Stoke-by-Nayland, postcode CO7 6LE.
Marks Tey is west of the village of the same name and the junction of the A12 and A120, postcode CO5 9EZ. It needs to be approached using the London-bound carriageway of the A12, then taking the left turn signposted for Easthorpe.
Both courses have made Herculean efforts with comprehensive programmes of watering to ensure that the ground is riding no worse than ‘good to firm', despite the unprecedented recent dry spell and hot weather.
Entrance will be charged at £10 per head at both venues with under 17s admitted free.
