03 March 2010 Preview: East Anglian Area
by James Crispe
East Anglia plays host to two Point-to-Points this coming weekend, March 6th & 7th, following the rearrangement of the Granta Harriers meeting at Higham, which was lost to frost a fortnight ago. Saturday is the new date for that fixture, while on Sunday the spotlight moves to Ampton for the Suffolk meeting.
Fleur Hawes, whose Bressingham yard almost landed a famous Open Race double at the latest Higham meeting, could be the trainer to follow at that venue as her horses are in fine form.
A total of 82 entries have been received for this six-race fixture, which begins at 12.30pm with an 11-entry Hunts Club Members and runs through until 3.35pm, although the closing Open Maiden may have to be divided as it has 26 entries and a maximum field size of 15.
Hawes, who saddled Star Double to win and Pouilly to finish a neck second at this course six weeks ago, has since won a hunter chase with Bantry Bere and gone close in another with Va Vavoom.
Pouilly is among the 15 entries for the Mens Open while stablemate Scotland Yard, who was travelling sweetly when brought down at Cottenham last time out, is one of nine possibles for the Ladies Open. Both have an alternative engagement in the Hunts Club Members.
Only seven are entered in the Restricted Race, although the septet include recent scorers Castledockerell and Foulstons Ruler, not to mention Captain Marshall, from the in-form David Kemp yard, who chased home a useful sort in Goscar Rock at Cottenham on his latest outing.
Another Kemp inmate worth keeping a close eye on is Where's My Baby, who has never finished out of the first two in points and is set to run in either the Mens Open or the 14-entry Countryside Alliance Club Members.
Moving on to Sunday, Ampton has received 70 entries for a six-race card which commences at 1.30pm with seven engaged in the Hunt Race and runs through until 4.20pm when there are 15 possible participants in the Open Maiden.
Joe Turner, who trains just a stone's throw from the course, usually makes his mark at his home meeting and is responsible for two of the Hunt Race septet, most notably Broken Beau, who finished a fine second in a competitive event at Horseheath last Saturday.
The Mens Open has just ten entered but they include three of East Anglia's most prolific winners in this grade over the past couple of years in Rydal Park and the stablemates Caveman and Go North. Go North has an alternative target in the shape of the 11-entry Ladies Open, where the two Turner representatives, Full Irish and Leatheback, both boast strong form credentials but may lack fitness on the first outings of the season.
Higham is just to the west of the A12 between Colchester and Ipswich, post code CO7 6LE. Ampton is 4 miles north of Bury St Edmunds just off the main road to Thetford, the A134, post code IP31 1NS. Approaching from Bury, follow the signs for Thetford from junction 43 of the A14 then turn right at the pub in the village of Ingham. The course entrance is barely 100 yards down this road.
Admission at both meetings will be charged at £10 per head with under 17s free.
