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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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