14 April 2011 Pub Team Preview: Essex - High Easter
by The East Anglian Pub Team
1.30pm Hunt Members (with Easton Harriers and E.A. Bloodhounds) - 11 entries
Quel Ferbet fell on his last appearance at Horseheath at the 14th fence whilst in 2nd place. Prior to this he left all his previous form behind when 2nd at Ampton last month, beaten a length by Dalmatian. Flying Change won last season but has also refused before and is a quirky character. Hansom Prophet has not been at his best this season. Killeengh Lodge makes mistakes and is difficult to fancy. King's Chase has been in good form this season and has a good chance in this. The Architect ran at Penshurst, finishing in second and is open to improvement. Thoutmosis is a decent horse but prefers good or good to soft so may find this ground a little bit too firm. Timmies Gone has been in good form this season without winning and may come close. Top Boots has not run for a significant period of time since finishing second (in 2009), but is a class act. Verbury Star is difficult to fancy on all current form.
Selection: Top Boots
2.05pm Restricted - 17 entries
It is seldom that a horse will follow up its Maiden win with a victory in a Restricted race on its next run. Those that do are often horses that can continue to progress up the ladder. Three horses come into the race with wins on their last outing. Flying Change won at the end of last season at Umberleigh, whilst Karintino and Sud Nivernais have won in recent weeks. Karintino, a half sister to Pennytino, won her maiden at Brafield by eight lengths, following a 2nd at Garthorpe on her previous outing. Sud Nivernais won his Maiden at Horseheath's last meeting from Can't Touch This. On his previous outing at Ampton he got no further than the 3rd fence. The Restricted at Marks Tey in early March had several of these competing against each other. Dusky Lory finished a close 3rd behind Mill Five Acre and Humphrey Bee, The Legal Limit was 5th, Broken Beau unseated his rider and Caged Tiger, Punjabi Army and The Architect all pulled up. Dusky Lory won her Maiden last season and has been most consistent this season, having been placed in all her completions, the most recent of which was a 3rd placing to Timarello at Whitfield. Both Broken Beau and The Legal Limit ran last week at Fakenham. Broken Beau ran well in the Conditions race finishing 2nd to Carapuce. The Legal Limit finished 3rd to Bavard Court in the Restricted. Caged Tiger won his Maiden on this course last year. On his most recent outing he finished 2nd to King's Chase at Brafield. Punjabi Army won his Maiden at Horseheath at the end of February where he beat Bishops Gate and Sud Nivernais. His latest run on unsuitable ground saw his finish a distant 4th to Gleeson. Since running at Marks Tey, The Architect has run once, at Penshurst, finishing 2nd to Kingsun. Shannina lost his maiden tag in a Member's race at Cottenham. On his last run he finished 5th in a Restricted at Welbeck. Timmies Gone, in the same ownership as Flying Change, won his Maiden on his last run in Ireland last season. So far this season he has finished 3rd at Higham, 4th at Godstone and last week finished 2nd to Oscarsfriend at Catsfield.
Selection: Sud Nivernais Alternative: Karintino
2.40pm CA Club Members - 12 entries
Although the best rated in the race Foulston's Ruler hasn't beaten much and could well struggle to get the better of a couple in this race. Ide No Idea on the other hand has been impressive throughout the season and while he could not get the better of Forget the Ref in the Confined at Marks Tey last time out it was the fastest time of the day; Forget the Ref needed all of her mare's allowance to keep Ide No Idea at bay. Parkinson ran his best race of the season last time out at Marks Tey after a lacklustre performance at Horseheath the previous week. This horse has the ability to win but does not always put his best foot forward and it remains to be seen what mood he will be in on Saturday. Thatmakestwoofus ran disappointingly at Fakenham last Sunday. This one was off the track for some while until last season but only managed four runs and one wonders whether all is well with this talented 11 year old. Some cut is probably needed in the ground in order to get the best out of him. Menalaus ran encouragingly at the Oakley but may have more to do to trouble the judge in this race. Sorry Al got the better of Parkinson at Horseheath having been firmly put in his place by the latter named at Ampton earlier in the season. The mystery runner is Marcus who last ran under rules in April 2010. This one managed to fall when in the hands of Timmy Murphy so there may be question marks over the present owner's likelihood to succeed in the plate.
Overall the key to this race may be Rupert Stearn's selection. From information currently available Ide No Idea takes the vote with Parkinson as the reserve.
Selection: Ide No Idea Alternative: Parkinson
3.15pm Ladies Open - 11 entries
The three top-rated horses all come from Joe Turner's yard and whichever one runs is likely to be sent off favourite. King Du Berlais has won his last three starts and even though these were against fairly mediocre opposition he should have little to fear from the others here. Champtho showed a lot of promise on his single pointing start at Horseheath falling three out when in a chance; he's a nice prospect and we doubt whether he will be risked on the likely fast ground. Parrain hasn't really impressed this season; his win coming in a weak Ladies' at Cottenham, however, he should be good enough to see off the rest. Valerius had a pretty decent career with Gordon Elliott winning two of his five chase starts as well as three hurdles; he's only seven and runs off an official mark of 127 so, on paper, he should have every chance. However, he hasn't impressed on his two pointing starts finishing a well-beaten 5th in a Novices at Barbury and then unseating when looking vulnerable in a Ladies at Brocklesby. Ski Dazzle won a Restricted impressively here two years ago and wasn't far behind Parrain at Cottenham; he shouldn't be too far away. Maranach won the Members' at Marks Tey beating Foulstons Ruler but not too much should be read into that form as the race was run at a slow pace and was decided by a sprint finish from the last; King Du Berlais beat Maranach fairly easily when they met at Horseheath. Inishturk was never going well on his only start this season pulling-up at Godstone. Paktol Des Brosses was a moderate performer under rules for David Rees but did win a hurdle over 3m 3f at Fontwell; he really needs soft ground.
Selection: King Du Berlais/Champtho/Parrain Alternative: Ski Dazzle
3.50pm Intermediate - 8 entries
Yet another EA Intermediate with only 8 entries but again hopefully a high percentage will declare as everyone appreciates just how much work Simon Marriage puts into the track. The following 2 ran at Fakenham last weekend so will they run here? Tipped to win but probably not suited by the ground, Thatmakestwoofus disappointed with an outpaced 3rd behind Carapuce (best time of the day) and was a weakening 4th in the Members Conditions race for Novice Riders at Ampton in January but followed this with a head 2nd to the progressive Ide No Idea and beating an outpaced Halcyon Times in the February Horseheath Intermediate on good to soft ground, so ground condition may be an issue. Toe To Hand ran ½l 2nd to Rockfield in the Members and could struggle in this company as seems rather one paced. Gleeson's single run this season, an easy 10l win in the Horseheath March Restricted certainly should ensure a place in the frame and the ground will suit him. Evening Echo is possibly off the boil following a 25l 5th to Timeshift in the March Kingston Blount Intermediate - he's better than this and could run into a place. Native Bob as yet is not running to his 2010 potential; he was 35l 2nd to Forget the Ref in the 2 runner Members at Ampton in March but in 2010 won his Maiden easily at Ampton and a Restricted at this track so may run to a place here but form this season says otherwise. Not sure why Top Boots carries an 81 rating as he's not run since 2009 when 2nd to Ronan the Warrior in the February Cottenham Intermediate but it's his home track and although age is probably not on his side he will carry the local hopes.
Selection: Gleeson Alternative: Evening Echo
4.25pm Open Maiden - 16 entries
Another rather disappointing entry for an EA maiden of 16; just one above the safety factor so a division would be a major surprise. Course supremo Simon Marriage loves to have winners here and he has a strong chance with Quel Ferbet. He fell on his last appearance at Horseheath at the 14th fence whilst in 2nd place. Prior to this he left all his previous form behind when 2nd at Ampton beaten a length by Dalmatian last month. If running to that form he must have good claims here and the transfer to Lauren Braithwaite's yard seems to have been a good one. Mister Tibus was 2nd at Higham in January when beaten 8 lengths by Pingpong but has failed to get round on his three subsequent appearances, however on his last two outings he has been leading when departing and unseated his rider last week at Fakenham at the eighth fence and fell three out at Cottenham last month in the race won by Rockfield. He must go close if he can sort out his jumping problems. Mister Tibus's trainer Martin Ward also has Princess Yasmin entered and she also has a chance on her last run when 3rd at Marks Tey beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Katepast. Abbey St Bathans trained by Stuart Morris makes her belated seasonal debut, last season she was 2nd on her first appearance when beaten 6 lengths by her stablemate Tinker's Burrow at Clifton On Dunsmore. However she failed to finish on her two subsequent outings and disappointed at Garthorpe when sent off the odds on favourite pulling up 2 fences out. Ballymager has been placed 4th twice this season. On her first run she was 14 lengths adrift of Argentato at Marks Tey. She was sent of favourite for her members at Cottenham last month but finished a remote last of four runners. The trainer put that down to the ground and she's capable of better than that having been placed 2nd on her final start in Irish points beaten 2 lengths by Present Promise at Kinsale in May 2009. Last season Jonlahy was placed in 5 starts from 7 outings including 4 second placings. He has switched yards this season from Joanna Quinlan to John Ferguson, he fell on his seasonal debut at Marks Tey at the 14th fence in the same race as Ballymager. He was 4th at Marks Tey earlier this month but 15 lengths behind Princess Yasmin and pulled up last week at Tabley so his participation here must be a doubt. Satisfied was placed 3rd beaten 2 lengths behind Snope in the first race of the new season at Black Forest Lodge in November but then pulled up on his next run at Chaddesley Corbett in early January and hasn't been out since. He's probably best watched on his comeback run. It all points to a win for the course owner as the change of stables seems to have revitalised Quel Ferbet and he gets our nod as first choice with Mister Tibus if he can sort out his leaping problems, our second best just ahead of stablemate Princess Yasmin. The one bit of caution is that both our choices failed to complete the course on their previous runs.
Selection: Quel Ferbet Alternative: Mister Tibus
