News

The Pub Team are heading to Higham this Sunday for the North Norfolk Harriers meeting; once again they have provided us with an in-depth preview of each of the seven races.

12 noon. Open Maiden (Division 1) - 20 entries
The Maiden was divided on entry and with 20 entries in this division and the safety factor being 15, there's just the remotest chance of a further division on the day. Salsero was 4th in a Ladies Open at Cottenham earlier this month beaten 15½ lengths by Kicks For Free, he was he was 3rd at the same course in December 2010 in a Maiden when ridden by David Kemp beaten 28 lengths by Stress in a very quick time; a repetition of the form of his Ladies run should see him go close. Particular Man was placed in all four starts last season including two 2nds and two 3rds; on his final run at Northaw he was 3rd beaten just over 20 lengths by San Jose, he is to be ridden by the promising Tom Cannon which is a plus point. Katepast was 3rd on his final run last season at Garthorpe in May, beaten by Kingsmere in a very tight finish, two short heads separated the first three; the horse that finished 2nd that day was recent Ampton scorer Up And Away. Katepast is a half brother to the useful Katarino and was in the process of running a good race here in April 2010 until capsizing 3 out; the Turner horses usually come on from their first outing.

Anamcqueen was placed on all 5 starts last season and was 2nd on her final two outings; on her last start she was beaten 3½ lengths by Lady Chatelaine at Dingley after making much of the running and may appreciate this easy track. Verbury Star was placed 3 times from 5 starts in West Country Maidens in 2009, on his final run he was 2nd beaten 6 lengths by Flying Whale at Trebudannon; he was sold cheaply at Ascot Sales in Oct 2009 and missed all last season - probably best watched if turning out here. Free Speech was placed 2nd and 3rd last year in Chases on his final two outings for Sarah Humphrey; he was 2nd at Southwell beaten 6 lengths by Gabresalassie and then 3rd at Market Rasen beaten 21 lengths by Rokinhorsescience in early August. Tuscany Star has been placed 4 times from 30 starts under Rules both in the UK and Ireland; he was 2nd at Towcester in May 2010 beaten 7 lengths by Bushwacker. Florence Kate was placed once from 3 starts in bumpers for Paul Webber last year when 4th at Stratford beaten 15½ lengths by Silvers Spirit. Firmount Beech has been placed 4 times from 7 starts in Irish points and was 2nd on his final run at Inchydoney beaten 2 lengths by Courtyard Lad last May; the Kemp yard have a good record here with their maidens. Ashfordly Hall was placed once from 4 starts in Irish maidens when 3rd at Kirkistown beaten 16 lengths by Witness For Paddy.

In conclusion, a very trappy race to call. If Salsero repeats his Cottenham Ladies run he should go very close but there's no guarantee of that. Particular Man with Tom Cannon riding stands out as our main tip. Anamcqueen should like this easy track and Caroline Fryer's yard had a winner at Ampton recently so Free Speech can't be ruled out, but with the Kemp yard having a good record here we'll take Firmount Beech as our second choice.
Selection: Particular Man (Firmount Beech)

12.30 p.m. Open Maiden (Division 2) - 19 entries
This could be a competitive race with several showing bits and pieces of placed form albeit somewhat patchy. Most notable is Dalmatian, who ran some good races last season for the Ruth Pennock yard - a 3rd at Cottenham to the progressive Pocket Park and 2nd to the odds on Spotthestripe at Horseheath stand out. Red In Bed has run well many times and would deserve a victory, 2nd over 2m 4f at Cottenham last year shows she has speed but question marks still linger as to whether she does truly stay 3 miles, if this is the case Higham could be the course for her. The challenge from outside the area could be led by Search Me, although he is now a 9yo and beaten by 1½ fences when 2nd at Penshurst last year.

Pingpong did not run last year but was 3rd twice in 2009 and could be interesting. Elvis The King, No Mans Green and Free From Magee have the benefit of a run this season, the latter is now 11, he was 2nd last season at Kingston Blount although beaten 25 lengths. Elvis the King was very green at Ampton but should come on for the experience. An ex-rules horse to keep an eye on could be Don't Think Twice, Caroline Fryer showed at Ampton that she is a trainer to keep an eye on and this ex Michael Hourigan 8yo has plenty of experience and some form including 2nd in a Maiden Hurdle at Listowel in June.
Selection: Dalmatian (Don't Think Twice)

1.00 p.m. PPORA Club Members (Novice Riders) - 13 entries
Three of the thirteen horses entered for the race have already won this season and of those the one that stands out is Stroom Bank. Ably handled by Freddie Mitchell, son of former Epsom Trainer Phillip Mitchell, the partnership had a number of useful horses behind them including Posh Dude who won the Men's Open at Cottenham three weeks later. Mister Kay Bee won a similar race at the Harkaway, but this was under the guidance of Dave Mansell who gets on well with the horse and it may just prove to be a difficult ride for a Novice. Sykee Savage won a weak Novice Riders' contest at Cottenham and victory was made easier when the favourite tipped up five from home when in the lead. Of the remaining runners Rare Gold and Killard Point are probably the most interesting.

Rare Gold has been off the track for twelve months and it will be interesting to see how he performs as he had some good form winning a couple of times between the flags two years ago; if still in the Mick Peters yard he will probably be ridden by the under rated Dale Peters who had two good rides at Ampton a fortnight ago including the newcomer African Flora. 12 year old Killard Point was chasing out of the Caroline Bailey yard up to April last year with some success, if still a Bailey connection this could well be worth considering in the mix. Overall with the winning partnership of Freddie Mitchell and Stroom Bank seemed destined to continue their success with a strong show expected from Killard Point.
Selection: Stroom Bank (Killard Point)

1.30 p.m. Intermediate - 13 entries
A rather meagre entry of 13 with probably the 96 rated Pocket Park the pick of the bunch - form on good to soft going with 3 wins on the bounce last season and a 4 length 2nd carrying 12st5lb.to Divine Intavention at Ampton 2 weeks ago on good ground. Commander Kev could be in the frame with a 3 length 2nd to Different Trades on dead ground in the Chaddesley Corbet Intermediate in early Jan, following an easy 12 length Restricted win at Guilsborough in April 2010. Law Court is following on from a 4 length Restricted win at Cottenham on dead ground in early Jan. and has come on well after winning a rather poor Higham Maiden in March 2010. From the South East comes the rather unreliable Little Legend running out at Godstone last season and wearing cheek pieces a 30 length 3rd to Damman in a Club Members Conditions race at Larkhill in early Jan.

The Nuns Legacy was not disgraced in his last run of 2010 with a 6 length 2nd in the May Kingston Blount Intermediate to the impressive Peadar. The interesting and one to watch Timeshift comes from pointing in Ireland in 2008, to a single 2009 U.K. PtP run and an easy 20 length win in a Jan. Larkhill short Maiden, followed by a return to Rules from Feb. ‘09 to April '10 with a couple of 2nds in 2 mile Bumpers but no real success in Hurdles or Chases - so back to Black Forest Lodge and a 5 length Restricted (fastest time of the day) win in November beating the improving Red Watch who went on to win the Restricted at Wadebridge in Dec.
Selection: Pocket Park (Timeshift)

2.00 p.m. Mens Open - 21 entries
Ten of these horses ran at Higham last year of which those successful were; Basic Fact, Blue Hills, Pouilly, Star Double, Start Royal and Took My Eye. Start Royal has progressed since his win in an Intermediate at Higham last year; he won the Mens Open at Cottenham in early December, but his unbeaten run in points came to an end last time at Cottenham, where he failed to run his race and was beaten into second by Posh Dude when an odds on favourite. Cork All Star also ran at Cottenham's last meeting where he showed he retains some ability in winning the Club Members race, from Forget the Ref. This was his first run since November 2008, but he was a horse of immense ability having won his first four runs in Bumpers, which included the Cheltenham Bumper at the festival in '07; his Hurdles form was also at the highest level in most of the top novice races. Mister Kay Bee has also found his way into the winner's enclosure this year, having triumphed in a Club Members Conditions Race at Chaddesley Corbett.

Blue Hills was the winner of a Club Members race at the corresponding meeting here last season and finished 3rd behind Kicks For Free in the Ladies Open at Cottenham. Star Double won first time out in the Mens Open at the same meeting and on the same day Pouilly was beaten a neck in the Ladies Open, before returning to win a Club Members race. Took My Eye won a Mens Open from The Accordion Man, whilst Basic Fact won a Novice Riders Race. Another horse to have won around Higham, although it was a year earlier, is Needs Time, but he is returning from a year on the sidelines as is Tribal Venture. Rakalackey, formerly trained by Henry Daly, is the winner of six races under Rules on good ground, the latest being a Handicap Chase over 3 miles furlong at Fakenham in May 2009. Caulkin also ran under Rules, where he managed to win a Maiden Hurdle, but he was well beaten in two subsequent runs.
Selection: Cork All Star (Start Royal)

2.30 p.m. Ladies Open - 20 entries
A very high quality entry, with at least ten horses in with a chance. Of the new NH recruits, the ex-Sue Smith Description has already established himself in points with a win over the highly-rated Theatre Diva at Larkhill and Double Mead was only 6 lengths behind the even more highly-rated Sericina at Wadebridge. The course should be fine for both of them but they both hold other entries. Rakalackey has been a good servant for Henry Daly but is a real stayer and at 13 may find this too sharp. Cool Roxy has racked up 12 wins from his 76 runs under rules - 11 of them at Fakenham; he's one of the toughest horses around but at 14 may no longer have the speed to win this. It will be interesting to see how Killard Point handles his return to points; a stalwart of Caroline & Gerald Bailey's yard, his form held up well last season and he certainly has a chance. Silly Wupple would probably prefer a stronger test of stamina.

Of the pointers, Scotland Yard put in a series of disappointing runs in Hunter Chases at the end of last season but certainly shouldn't be written off as he has bags of speed and this course is ideal for him. The course should also be ideal for Robin De Sherwood who won a 2m5f Hunter Chase last season for the Moscrop yard; it will be interesting to see whether he can build on this now he has moved to Simon Andrews' yard. Big Moment won here last season and was a respectable 2nd to Kicks For Free at Cottenham. King Du Berlais was very consistent last season but may find others have too much speed. Roaring Water has plenty of ability but is an unreliable betting proposition. Beet De Bob has plenty of speed but is likely to find the others too good.
Selection: Description (Scotland Yard)

3.00 p.m. Restricted - 23 entries
Arbour Hill ran another solid effort in this grade on his seasonal debut at Ampton a fortnight ago, he had fellow entries, Cameroon, O'Gara and The Rodeo Clown all behind (all non finishers); he lacks a change of gear and Higham maybe not the track for him. Bendecido comfortably took a weak 3 runner short Maiden at the first Cottenham, he has plenty of potential but may need more experience before taking a further step up the ladder. His stable mate The Rodeo Clown has been expensive to follow, having been well backed on both starts. This course looks more suitable than the stayers track at Ampton last time; even so he needs to show more than his well beaten 4th when favourite at the first Cottenham. Blue Dark won a short Maiden at Cottenham and still looked to have stamina issues when 3rd in a Restricted at Detling. Cash Crisis took an Irish Maiden on firm ground in May last year, pulled up when making a debut under Rules at Fontwell in June, now returns to pointing. Lan Na Lamh failed to reproduce her good 3rd at the first Cottenham on a return trip there in early January (probably due to softer ground), she runs the odd good race, but is hardly in the first flush of youth. Latenightdip has failed to build on her Maiden success (probably due to physical issues), not without hope if coming here fit and well.

Course winner Lord Prunus showed battling qualities to win Maiden, after a bad blunder early in the race, he needs to iron mistakes before upgrading. Mambo Ruler landed a punt when taking a short Maiden last year and wasn't disgraced in a Restricted here. He exited at the first on his seasonal debut before Christmas; he still remains a horse of some potential. Saddler's Melody has nothing to recommend him on the form he has shown on this side of the Irish Sea, but Alan Hill's East Anglian raids often bear fruit - definitely one to note in the market. Stress recorded a very fast time when scoring at the first Cottenham; he had most recently, prior to that victory, been competing under Rules in Ireland. A very similar profile to stable mate Silver Lily, whose Irish Maiden win was in 07, and has been placed in a 2 mile Hurdle and Bumpers since - on the downside has been lightly raced in the last 18 months. Vote For Doodle stayed on well to take much the fastest of the Maidens at Ampton, he will have plenty of supporters if crossing the Thames to run here.
Selection: Stress or Silver Lily (Arbour Hill)

Back to Top