28 March 2008 'Pub Team' Preview - Puckeridge at Horseheath
It's that time of the week again, and the 'Pub Team' have filed their preview for the Puckeridge meeting at Horseheath tomorrow.
1.00p.m. Horseheath Hunts Club Members - 13 entries
The Andrews yard is well represented here with three entries. Briars Mist won the Novice Riders race at Marks Tey last weekend and is a course winner. Monty's Tag has been a top class pointer and decent Hunter Chaser, also a course winner. Good Vintage was 2nd in the Confined last week, also at Marks Tey and the Confined course winner here last season. Briars Mist also entered in the Mens Open. Frosty Run finished 3rd in the Ladies Open last Saturday at High Easter but was behind two good horses and this is not quite the same class race. Lightningconductor has been placed a few times this season and on occasions has looked a bit fat, however he is a plodder and this course will take some getting, could be his day. Derek Harding Jones has three entered here also. Mid Div and Creep was making ground in the Restricted last week at High Easter when falling at the fifteenth. Rathnally Park is quite highly rated but has shown no form this year. Very Presentable has been pulled up on last two outings. Mr Naborro won the Novice Riders last week at High Easter and has been placed on a couple of previous outings this season. Kicasso has finished 4th on last three runs. Steak N Kidney was going well until three out last week when unseating Clare Hobson. Selection: The Andrews Runner (Frosty Run)
1.35 p.m. Open Maiden 5yo+ - 27 entries
Edgar Wilde was 2nd at High Easter last week and in the same race Jerry'n See More, Marine Gunner, Nomadic Dancer and Steak N Kidney were all behind. Huron took a tumble when holding every chance at the same meeting but may need the mud to be at his best, only likely to get this on parts of the course this weekend. Mountain of Dreams ran his best race when 2nd in testing ground at Parham, a race that Mountain Emperor was pulled up. The latter has failed to produce a good run since his 2nd at Cottenham. Smart Mistress was well beaten at Thorpe on Monday but is lightly raced and can improve. Solana was 2nd in a weak race at a previous meeting. Iphar has been a beaten favourite on numerous occasions and needs to settle better. Draconian has made the frame on several occasions but at this stage would appear unlikely ever to head the frame. Maybe the same could be said about Shilgrove Lad, had top jockeys last season and no less an able jockey this year but doesn't seem able to progress. Selection: Mountain of Dreams (Edgar Wilde)
2.10 p.m. Ladies Open - 21 entries
Blue Business was pulled up last time out but did win a Ladies Open at the Heythrop in January and was 2nd since that win and also before. Carryonharry was beaten into 2nd at the High Easter last week by Bedtime Boys when starting as favourite; won six races last year and again on his first run at Godstone this season,; entered also at Penshurst. Also entered at Penshurst are the Turners, they have Full Irish who has been 2nd on last two outings and Leatherback who was 2nd at the last Cottenham meeting. Both have run at this course this season; Full Irish would be our choice of the two on this course. Find me Another was rerouted from the cancelled Fakenham Hunter Chase last Monday to Marks Tey where it won the Ladies Open and would stand a good chance here. Free was 4th last time out at Welbeck but previous to that won the Ladies Open at this course in February, has also won here on other previous occasions. Madge Carroll won at this course last year and was 2nd here at the last meeting in the corresponding race. The Hobson family would love to win this race which is their own Hunt meeting with Scare Lotte, been very successful this season, did win the Novice Riders Race here at the February meeting and the Hunt race here last season. Tooley Park has had two runs, at Dingley and Garthorpe and was 2nd twice. Strong Tartan hasn't run for two years but did show form in the 2005 and 6 seasons. This could be a really hot race. Selection: Madge Carroll (Scare Lotte)
2.45 p.m. Mens Open - 18 entries
This also could be a good race with some top class pointers entered. The Hookie Bookie stands out as he's won his four outings this year including the Mens Open at the Cambridgeshire meeting, if he runs he will be difficult to oppose. However, there are several other possibilities including My Best Buddy who is a course winner and did win at Marks Tey at the February meeting, been a very consistent horse, finished 2nd twice since then. Carthago was previously trained by Francois Douman in France, last season was second on four occasions, been placed this year but always seems to find one better including Irilut in a two runner Hunter Chase at Warwick in early March. Noakarad de Verzee has won an Open this season at Godstone and has been placed on two other starts. Northall Lad won the corresponding race here at the Thurlow meeting and prior to that won an Intermediate race at Thorpe Lodge; last run was in a Hunter Chase at Stratford, finished 6th. Rydal Park's finished 3rd on his last run in a Hunter Chase at Leicester (The Hookie Bookie pulled up); before that he won his Maiden at Higham in January and a Confined at Marks Tey in February, will be interesting to see how he runs in this race which is a step up again in class. The Turners have two entries Kadount and Thoutmosis but neither would be expected to take the spoils. Selection: The Hookie Bookie (Northall Lad)
3.20 p.m. Intermediate - 13 entries
Balau won a Confined in January at Detling, pulled up next time, ran last week and finished 6th in an Intermediate race. Ballyowen finished 6th in a Hunter Chase last time out and previous to that won the Restricted race at this course at the Thurlow meeting. Bobbies Ryde has won on his last two outings, most recently at Dingley last weekend in a Restricted; before that he was the winner of the Hunt race at Cottenham. Celestial Dragon also won a Restricted last time out at Didmartin earlier this month. Jilted Lover was 3rd last week at High Easter, previous to that won a Restricted at this course in February, came from nowhere on that occasion. Rocja's only run this season was to finish 3rd at Cottenham in an Intermediate race. The Camerengo has shown some form and Andrew Corbett has had much success on his family's charges, won a Restricted at Weston Park two weeks ago, possibly better going left handed. Selection: Celestial Dragon (The Camerengo)
3.55 p.m. Restricted - 19 entries
Alliance Man unseated last week at Kimble, previous to that started as favourite at this course in February and finished 3rd. Artic Summer was 2nd in that race and since then has finished 3rd in an Intermediate, slightly higher class. Halcyon Times was surprisingly beaten into 2nd in the Hunt Race at Marks Tey in February. Lord of The Knar won his Maiden at Brocklesby two weeks ago, probably has a bit more to find to win here. Mid Div and Creep has been entered in the Hunt race again would need to find more to win this. New Street Express has been placed three times this year in the SE. Sweet Citizen has been runner up in three races in this country, altogether finished 26 of 27 races, missed last season but is from a successful yard and in spite of recent handicaps would be fancied. The Right People has progressed from being 2nd at Ampton to winning at Cottenham a week later at the last meeting there. It would be a great success if the Greens could follow up last weeks win with Minehill Lad but that's probably expecting a bit much. Selection: Sweet Citizen (The Right People)
