Monday 22 February 2016

HIGHAM HIGH FOR RICH AT THE WAVENY HARRIERS

Good racing ground greeted the 56 declared runners for the days Point to Point at Higham. That coupled with a flat galloping track, and some some very competitive racing.


Good sized fields, without being overcrowded, saw top quality pointers try their luck as most yards know are rise to their crescendo for the season.
 Horses that have already have caught the pointing officialdoms eye on display to continue, or not their continuum.

None so could be so true for the winner of the first of the seven race card. 
The Hunt members race, Six runners to post which included Carlanstown, returning to racing after a gusty second place to Court Red Handed at Ampton. 
And Nightscape, a winner only seven days previous at a fast paced Cottenham track.

Nightscape
Charlie Buckle on the horse rode him with every confidence.,the horse seeming to thrive in being pushed to the limits. The time for the race average at 6m 11 secs, saw the rest of the field finish quite tired, Carlanstown and Weather Warning, horses with runs under their belts this season picking up the minor places.
 This new addiction to the Cundy yard, must be enjoying his new regime, though the generous 20-1 odds placed at Cottenham, not on offer from the rails today. It would be interested to see if the owner/Trainer places this one in hotter contests to see what they have on their hands Or, hunt for races where the chances are tipped in the favour of the horse.
 But the way he won today, may just answer those questions.

Basic Fact, Nightscape


The PPORA member’s race saw ten to post. Andrew Pennock sending Play the Ace to post, with the talented Richard Collinson on board. This one also running on to win a members race seven days back at Cottenham, beating Picaroon by five lengths. 





This week though, a placed horse at the meeting here at Higham last month, Susquehanna River making it a win for Play The Ace by the shortest of margins, a head. 
Play the Ace’s jumping was no more than conservative most of the way round, but Dickie Collinson mentioned ‘We were flat out, he a gusty type, but will only give what he has to do, and no more. If it had been further we would have got beat for sure, but luckily these races at three miles and no more. 
He’s certainly had a hard race today, last week he wasn't meant to run in the member’s race he won, but it paid off nicely,today though was the plan for him.’ 
Collinson not the full 100% himself, suffering with a cold, mentioned the horse did better that the jockey for sure.


Asked if he still gets a buzz out of his racing the jockey in need of a good vapour rub himself said ‘yeah I love it, I have nice horses to ride and it’s nice to have the family involved.’ Richard clutching his young daughter, as she was part of the races presentation.

Play The Ace

Broken Eagle, Owners Mr J Exelby, Jockey Joe Hill
The men’s open was all really about one horse. 
Tipsters well punted that the Alan hill trained Broken Eagle, was a class act. Running and winning twice already, albeit in Members conditions races, the eight year old took his step up to open events in mighty fashion.
According to the trainer as being not the easiest at home, Broken Eagle made most of the running, and with still a circuit to go showed his class by pulling away from his field. 
A rocket of a pace was set, recording the fastest of the day at 5 min 57 secs, which took the trainer a little by surprise.


Jockey Joe Hill seemed very enthused by this son of Broken Vow, and seemed to want to tell the world and his wife about how easy he found it.
A smart future me thinks’ for the charge from the Hill dynasty. But possibly would not get an easier race than this one for the rest of the season. We wait with baited breath his return. 
Certainly the Hill Family deserve no better after losing their talented horse, Harbour court at the track on the last meeting.
Broken Eagle

The ladies open saw eight go off at the start. Another race that saw only a small handful of horses showing any sort of class.

Owners of Top Smart Mrs Susan E. Busby, Jockey Kelly Morgan

Sharp Suit, who has had six wins out from ten starts, and placed behind the talented Berties Dream and Gina Andrews at Ampton,and Top Smart ridden by stand in jockey Kelly Morgan.

Top Smart seemed to have run the race as well as could be expected for the replacement pilot, and though going through the last fence, went on well to take the race for Sharp Suit and Gina Andrews in second. Gina stepping off the winner in order to ride the Alan Hill runner. ‘We’ve done that well, he travelled nicely and jumped well for me,' mentioned the winning jockey,’ It’s nice to get rides like that, it’s not that often you get a chance.’  But chance she did and took it well.

Top Smart

The open maiden saw twelve to post, the biggest field of the day. 
Richard Collinson again on form, despite the cold, bringing home Counting stars by fifteen lengths from Verdasco. 
This horse second to Emperor Arcadius at Ampton a few weeks back seemed to relish a more galloping track. Ampton on that day showing that staying power rather than speed was needed.







Counting Stars








Though making untidy work of the last, the momentum was kept going forward, giving the jockey a brace of winner for the day. With the talented Galros Lady to come for him in the last.
Not a race to be fair to set the world alight, and certainly a lot of runners behind would be ones to monitor for the present. The winner though should progress and with good placement, should visit the winner’s enclosure a few more times, until the season closes out.

Counting Stars, Jockey Richard Collinson

The Restricted race, as most this season, showed a mix bag on entrants.
The Ellis establishment saddling Sea Current to improve on his poor run from about three weeks back at Milbourne St Andrews.
It was fair to say at that meeting in the West country, a lot of races were run at a false pace, which saw a few of the horses that will win this season not get home. 

Owner of Sea Current Mrs Shona Westrope
An honest pace on a galloping track, as was it at Cottenham on Sea Currents first win of the season, saw the Gina Andrews mount show it’s true potential, beating The Master remover by five lengths. 
You could almost see the look of relive on the trainer Tom Ellis’s face for the son of Pilsudski, who you would know hope develop further. 
With decent ground and conditions, the horse could now take on more serious races.
Sea Current


The final race of the day, (bar two pony races in the failing light) saw the return of the talented mare Galros Lady. Top of the points in the Subaru Restricted Championships, and top horse in the Point to Point Owners and riders Awards for young horses.













Galros Lady











The mare not seen on track for about a month, was just asked enough from the jockey of the day Richard Collinson with a treble for his efforts to beat Watneys Way by four lengths.
 ‘This is a really nice horse,’ mentioned the delighted jockey.’ She would win a nice Hunter chase in time,’ the mare who would be entitled to a mares allowance in weights, maybe would be one to look at if placed well. Certainly at the end of the season will be a horse on most point to point follower’s lips. And only at six years old, has plenty of scope to improve for the following season.








Galros Lady













Victoria Pendleton, who this week has had plenty of media coverage, on her quest for Cheltenham, kept her promise at Fakenham this week by getting straight back on the with the racing.
Finishing unplaced this time in Ladies Open, the Olympian did not have no hesitation in leading the field, until about four out. And seemed in good spirits  throughout the day.