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WHERE'S MY BABY: The Pub Team choice for the CA Club Members
photo: Jackie Oliver

The Pub Team have been casting their eyes over the Granta Harriers card ahead of Sunday's meeting.

12.30 noon. Higham Hunts Club Members - 11 entries
The Hunt Members race has 11 entries. Nokimover was beaten a long way when finishing third of four in the Mens Open at Horseheath. Itsallupintheair, Henrys Pride and Bob Justice met in the three-runner Club Members at Higham in Jan, with Henry's Pride falling when looking the winner three from home and Itsallupintheair easily beating Bob Justice by 10 lengths.

Scotland Yard was brought down at Cottenham in the Ladies open two weeks ago. Blue Hedges was capable enough to win over 1m4f on the flat and could surprise. Greek Star is an ex-Michael Stoute horse and could run well in this. Magic to Do is consistent but perhaps is a little one paced to win this. Mambo Des Mottes is ex-Venetia Williams horse and was being ridden by Sam Thomas under Rules less than two years ago. Pouilly would have a chance on his best form.
Selection: Scotland Yard (Henrys Pride)

1.00 p.m. Mens Open - 15 entries
Eight of the 15 entries are also in alternative races at this meeting, so this could end up with a small field. At the previous meeting at Higham, Another Dude, Bonne Noel's and Took My Eye participated in the Mens Open; all three ran below the form they showed last season, although since that was the first meeting following the bad weather they all will be expected to improve for the run. Three others also ran at this meeting; the Club Members race provided a win for Itsallupintheair, however his victory at Higham was fortuitous since Henry's Pride, with the race at his mercy, fell three out. The Accordion Man had his first run of the season in the PPORA Club Members Race, finishing second to Blue Hills, conceding 8lbs to the winner, however it was Pouilly who performed the best, failing by a neck to hold Big Moment in the Ladies Open having looked the likely winner jumping the last. Sirius Storm has twice finished second at Cottenham this season, the most recent outing being a close finish with Duke of Stradone in the Hunt Race. Where's My Baby has yet to finish outside the first two in Points and only just failed to peg back Start Royal at Cottenham when conceding weight. Freeze the Flame, a winning Chaser previously trained by C. Egerton, finished sixth in the Mens Open at Thorpe Lodge last week. Five-year-old Art Trend has previously been in the care of top trainers P. Chapple-Hyam (won a mile-and-a-half Maiden) and P. Nicholls (won 2m1f Maiden Hurdle). Kadount failed to sparkle last season and Turnstile is returning from an absence of two years.
Selection: The Accordion Man (Took My Eye)

1.50 p.m. Restricted - 7 entries
Highly fancied Captain Marshall we gather doesn't run. Delgany Run was the winner of an Open Maiden, comfortably beating the favourite Captain Marshall by 25 lengths, however, of five starts between the flags this was the only place attained, casting some uncertainty over the seven-year-old's consistency. Nowhips was a Maiden winner at Great Trethew back in 2006; after a third in the Restricted in the same month at Upton Cross he hasn't placed since, despite several attempts. Foulstons Ruler enters the Restricted class after a convincing win in the older horses Maiden at Cottenham earlier this season; he too has raced on the Higham course, with an impressive second in a Maiden last year, just one length behind favourite Royal Tender. Despite past performance being variable, the eight-year-old does look promising. After winning the two horse Maiden at Horseheath in his second race between the flags in the UK, Castledockrell steps up to the Restricted level but is as yet untested in this class.
Selection: Delgany Run (Castledockrell)

2.25 p.m. Ladies Open - 9 entries
A disappointingly small entry but the quality is good and if the leading contenders take part this should be a competitive race with several horses in with a chance. Scotland Yard has won all three points that he has finished and was travelling well when brought down by Big Moment at Cottenham two weeks ago; Fleur Hawes' horses are in great form we would expect him to be sent off favourite. It seemed to take Assassino a few runs to get used to Pointing but he finished last season strongly, picking up two wins and finishing only a head behind Scotland Yard in a slowly run race at Fakenham. Both he and the other Turner horse, Leatherback (3 wins last season), may need a run before reaching peak form. Delightful Cliche always performs well, winning or placing in all six runs last season; his only weakness seems to be a slight lack of speed which was most apparent in the Fakenham race mentioned above, when he was outpaced in a sprint finish by both Scotland Yard and Assassino. He should do better against them in a truly run race. Winning hurdler and chaser Inaro also has an excellent chance based on his Hunter Chase form but hasn't been seen since falling at Cottenham in early December. Winning Counsel obviously has talent, winning an Irish Maiden Hunter Chase and an Intermediate Hurdle at Perth last spring; she's an interesting new recruit to Pointing but connections may prefer to take up her engagement in the Hunter Chase at Fakenham on Friday. Hawaiian Son, Reymysterio and River Pirate are rated some way below the others and haven't been seen this season.
Selection: Scotland Yard (Delightful Cliche)

3.00 p.m. Countryside Alliance Club Members - 14 entries
This is an interesting little race with a number of likely contenders. Kadount has an outstanding NH record having won just shy of £100,000 under Rules; he is now in the Turner yard, which appears to be running into form. Blue Hills won impressively at Higham last month but subsequently disappointed at Cottenham in a quality race - back amongst his peers he may run well. Bob Justice and Mambo des Mottes are both out of the Stearn yard. The former disappointed in a three-runner Members at Higham in January where Mambo des Mottes also ran, falling at the last in the PPORA Club Members race and; whilst on their best behaviour both could feature on this occasion, others are preferred. The Accordion Man was 12 lengths second to Blue Hills in the same race but is likely to reverse the placings this time if running into last season's Pointing form. The lightly-raced Peppershot, in the capable hands of Phillip York, could feature if fit but has not raced for over 12 months. Finally, the selection, Where's my Baby; a very creditable effort first time out when a close second giving weight to Start Royal at Cottenham. Connections were delighted with his performance but it was only a four-runner race and almost two months ago, so there are question marks. On balance this one gets the vote but, dependant on who turns up this could be a very exciting event.
Selection: Where's My Baby (The Accordion Man)

3.35. p.m. Open Maiden - 26 entries
There are just 26 entered for this race but with the safety factor being 15, there is still a good possibility of a division on the day. Castleconner Lad is a model of consistency, having been placed on his last eight outings. He certainly deserves to reward his connections with a win; on his last run he finished second at Cottenham, beaten 20 lengths by Mad Jack Duncan. Gerald Bailey has his string in fine form at present and runs Kandelin here. On his seasonal debut he was third at North Carlton, beaten 11½ lengths by Harlaxton; that was his second placing at the Lincolnshire course. He began last season with a placing, but then his form tailed off and although the stable are going well, he maybe one to have reservations about.

Greek Star was fourth at Cottenham, beaten over a distance by Goscar Rock in December, but he was only 8½ lengths behind last week's Marks Tey winner Bynack Mhor; he pulled up at Cottenham on his next appearance earlier this month but would have a chance in this contest. Redskyatnight has been placed four times but was disqualified from a third at Paxford in April 09 when the rider failed to weigh in after finishing just over 15 lengths behind the winner Lord Norman; he slipped up on the bend when beaten at Cottenham earlier this month and pulled up at the same course on his seasonal reappearance in December 09.

Katepast was half-a-length second to Castledockrell in a match run at a funereal pace at Horseheath in January; the Turner horses are running into form and he is a half brother to Katarino so cannot be dismissed in this contest. The Turner yard also have Native Bob entered, a son of Bob Back formerly trained by Henrietta Knight; his form under Rules was nothing special, his final run at Bangor in April last year when he finished 9¾ lengths 5th to Sir Ian being his best performance from six outings.

Tabloid was sent off favourite at Marks Tey last week but was pulled up in the race won by Broken Beau; he had been placed second at Whitwell, six lengths behind Totally Beat and third, beaten just over two-and-a-half lengths, behind Napalm at Easingwold in April 09 for previous connections. However, he has now failed to complete the course in his last five races.

San Jose was third in his one outing in an Irish Point, when beaten 11 lengths at Tinahely in March 08, but has been pulled up in his two subsequent starts this side of the Irish Sea. Crosby has been fourth on both outings this season; he was beaten 25 lengths by Whistle Blowing at Horseheath in January, then finished 40 lengths behind Foulstons Ruler at Cottenham earlier this month.

Twilight Eagle was second here behind the ultra-impressive Three Chords last month, beaten 25 lengths; he had been placed second in a Leicester Handicap Chase, beaten four-and-a-half lengths by Zacharova, under AP McCoy in December 2008 when with Jonjo O'Neill, but he did pull up at Whitfield earlier this month.

It's Basil was placed once, second at Lingfield in a 12f race; all his other form, including three hurdling outings, is very mediocre.

A trappy contest to find a winner but Castleconner Lad's consistency stands out and Greek Star just gets the nod for our next best choice.
Selection: Castleconner Lad (Greek Star)

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