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It's that time of the week again! And it's time for the Pub Team's Preview of this weekend's Puckeridge Meeting at Horseheath.

1.30 p.m. HEHC Club Members - 9 entries
The Club Members has attracted a small but decent field of nine runners. Bob Ar Aghaidh has run a couple of excellent races this year finishing 2nd to Lord N Master at Marks Tey with Mr Naborro 25 lengths behind and put in a great run when behind Bee And Bee in the 4 mile Open at Detling. Mid Div and Creep has won twice this season at Horseheath; last time beating Where's My Baby 4 lengths and easily has the beating of Good Vintage this year. Killeengh Lodge and Shilgrove Lad both look outclassed in this race. Monty's Tag is game and consistent but is likely to be found wanting against the best of these. Steak N Kidney has jumped poorly on the last two occasions and is likely to struggle again here.
Selection: Bob Ar Aghaidh (Mid Div and Creep)

2.05 p.m. Open Maiden - 27 entries
A modest entry of 27 for the final Maiden of the season at this venue, and with a safety factor of 18, there is just the remotest chance we may see a division on the day. Katy's Classic was 3rd at Cottenham two weeks ago beaten 6 lengths behind Mountain Emperor; prior to that his form under Rules was not much to shout about. Crooked Brook pulled up in this contest on his seasonal debut but should have come on for the run.; he was 3rd last season at High Easter beaten 1½ lengths behind Suir Castle and will appreciate this course where the emphasis is on stamina. Ahwaak was 2nd at Cottenham on the same day in a 2 ½ mile Maiden beaten 1 ½ lengths by Nothingtoloose giving the winner a lot of weight. Castleconner Lad finished 3rd in another division of that 2 ½ miler at Cottenham beaten 7 lengths behind Kings Rhythm, but the time was 4 seconds quicker than in Nothingtoloose's race. Croftburn finished 2nd at Brocklesby Park two weeks ago beaten 1 ½ lengths behind Accordion Roillet. Coleraine finished a head 2nd here to Single Player in early February but has disappointed on his two subsequent outings including a pulled up at Ampton; he could be given a chance if recapturing the form of his seasonal debut. Free From Magee was 2nd at the previous meeting here beaten 2 lengths behind Inchadoney Boy but pulled up on his next appearance at Garthorpe. Pilica De Thaix has been placed three times from all his runs in Irish points including a head 2nd to Lady All Stars at Dromahane in May 2007, but hasn't run since June of that year. Katepast is an interesting runner from the Turner stable and has had one run at Fontainebleu in France finishing 8th of 18.
Selection: Crooked Brook (Croftburn)

2.40 p.m. Ladies Open - 16 entries
Only sixteen entries but most have a similar rating, so with a decent declaration this could be an exciting race. The only horse entered that has won this season is Delightful Cliche; that was at the last Ampton meeting where Cosmic Sky was 2nd and Petite Lord 3rd in the same race, his only other run this year was on this course at the Thurlow meeting in February. Cosmic Sky showed tremendous form in 2006/7 but in recent times has not reproduced that form and is unlikely to win this, course winner 2006. Petite Lord pulled off a bit of a surprise when winning the Ladies Open at the first Ampton meeting beating Madge Carroll, the 11/10 favourite into 2nd place; has been placed three times since that victory. Free is hopefully making his seasonal debut here, enjoys Horseheath having won twice here; won the corresponding race here in 2007, won Ladies Open in 2008 and also finished 2nd in Novice Riders race; he has been a loyal servant to connections having won a total of six Ladies Opens. Jilted Lover won twice here last year, a Restricted and an Intermediate, the Restricted win was considered by the Pub Team as one of the best performances of the 2008 season in the area; again, first run of the season and may need the race. Mid Div and Creep is more likely to run in the Hunt race than trying to retain the Areas Mare Championship. The Turner family have three entered, the highest rated of which is Leatherback, he, however is unlikely to be good enough to win this and has never been placed at Horseheath. Frosty Run has shown decent form this year but again probably not quite good enough in this company
Selection: Delightful Cliché (Free)

3.25 p.m. Mens Open- 19 entries
Gaelsbob is the most interesting horse to feature amongst the entries for the Men's Open. Although his last run was disappointing, it was at the very highest level in the Cheltenham Foxhunter, on his first run of the season he was victorious in the Men's Open at Larkhill where he beat Distant Thunder and Kingscliff. Unlike Gaelsbob, Deckie was denied a run in the 2007 Cheltenham Foxhunter by the balloting system despite winning a Hunter Chase at Fontwell; off the course in 2008, he had his first run for almost two years in the Confined at Mark's Tey, where he finished 3rd to Forget The Ref. Deckie bypassed an opportunity earlier this week, to win the same Towcester Hunter Chase that he also won back in 2007. Whilst one should never take anything for granted, Caveman took part in this Hunter Chase so his participation here would be surprising. Forget The Ref, having her first run of the season when defeating Deckie at Mark's Tey, has since finished 5th to Dellover in a Hunter Chase at Fakenham, where the drop in trip was probably against her; back at a staying track, she should be seen in a better light. Bob Ar Aghaidh, Took My Eye and Where's My Baby all hold alternative engagements. Whilst Took My Eye and Where's My Baby have yet to run in Opens and are likely to run elsewhere, Bob Ar Aghaidh ran in the "Kent Grand National" over 4 miles at Detling on his latest outing. Although beaten 3 lengths into 2nd place, it was by the prolific S.E. pointer Bee An Bee who was winning his 8th point in succession; he won twice at Horseheath last year, and although these runs were both in Members' races, they were both achieved with the minimum of fuss in a quick time, despite carrying hefty penalties on each occasion. Parkinson was showing the first glimpses of form when he finished half a length behind Where's My Baby in the Confined at Ampton when both were beaten by the improving Go North. Feathered Storm who carried a 5lb penalty also showed improved form finishing 4th, just behind Parkinson with Duke of Stradone further back in 6th. Nykel started the season with a promising run in one of the best "Opens" seen in East Anglia for a long time. Finishing 5th on his first run for his connections behind Cappa Bleu may have been a disappointment, but subsequent events have shown otherwise; however, whilst Cappa Bleu has gone on to greater achievements, none of the horses behind him have franked the form. Like the others, Nykel has not yet threatened the judge, and may need softer ground than encountered so far, to resume winning ways. Ronan The Warrior ran on the card at Horseheath, finishing 2nd in the Novice Riders race to My Best Buddy, before beating Top Boots in an Intermediate at Cottenham. His two subsequent runs in Confined races show that he is not up to the standard required to win a competitive Open race. Finally the connections of Arctic Double may finally have their patience rewarded if he runs; he has not run since easily winning an Intermediate at Horseheath In 2006. He only ran once in 2006, and had only two runs in 2005, both of which were wins, a Maiden and Restricted.; who knows what he might have achieved if he could have raced.
Selection: Gaelsbob (Bob Ar Aghaidh)

4.00 p.m. Intermediate- 12 entries
With 3 of the main players Marble Leader, Mid Div and Creep and Where's my Baby entered in other races and in the case of the first 2 at Garthorpe as well, forecasting who will run where will be the trick here. Ground conditions will be critical and with current rain forecast both tracks will probably run on the good side. Will Mid Div and Creep take on Where's my Baby in the Members at almost even weights or go for the Ladies / Intermediate with a 7lb. advantage? Change the Plan was 17 lengths 6th behind the very progressive Go North at Charing in a Club Members Conditions race in February but was always behind following an unseated rider at the 12th a week earlier, in the Tweseldown Ladies Open while lying 4th to the winner, Bedtime Boys. Marble Leader pulled up on his last 2 runs in '08 and is quoted as one paced, but was a Restricted winner by a distance at this track in January, followed again at Horseheath by a strong 2nd in the Intermediate, while keeping on, to Pipers Son (3 lengths); pulled up in a 3 horse Members at Dunthrop on 1st March. Mid Div and Creep had 8 runs in '08 with a 2nd to Hatsnall in an Open at Northaw following a Restricted win on good ground at Fakenham: has come on this season, with initially a creditable 7 length 3rd to Go North in an Ampton Restricted with the Camarengo 2nd followed by two successive Club Members wins at this track, the first a tough contest on 31st January with Where's My Baby, followed by an easier 20 length win in February. Unfortunately unseated rider on her latest run in the Ladies at Ampton while leading (loss of confidence?), will come close if run in this race. The Camarengo faded badly when 2nd to Viceroy Close in the Brocklesby Park Intermediate two weeks ago, following a distant 3rd to Fox John in a Tweseldown Intermediate on 15th February but beat Mid Div and Creep in the early season Restricted at Ampton. Took my Eye fell at the 5th with Rockley Beach 3rd. in the Intermediate at the recent Cottenham meet following an unseated rider while in touch in the Club Members at Higham on 1st March and a 7 length 3rd to Pouilly in the Intermediate at Higham in January - could be in the frame. Thenford Ryde a 10 length winner of the Ampton Restricted two weeks ago but never on terms when dead heating 4th, a distance away in the Restricted at Tweseldown on 15th February.
Selection: Mid Div and Creep (Took my Eye)

4.35 p.m. Restricted - 11 entries
Only eleven entries in this race and given that not all will declare, it might not turn out to be the most interesting race on the card. However, it may give the opportunity to some horses that would otherwise struggle to move up a rank. Arctic Summer's last place was 3rd in the Restricted at this meet last year behind Sweet Citizen and Northsider; unusually for a Restricted runner, he has also been placed in an Intermediate race finishing 3rd at Kingston Blount last year (six ran), however, has yet to race this year. The Kemp's Comeonourfella won his Maiden a few years ago, winning the Maiden at Ampton back in 2006; however, more recently he came 3rd in the South East Hunt Club Members race at Charing last month and was just outside getting a place last time out. Sam Loggin trained Gleeson showed promise after winning the Open Maiden here at the Horseheath course in January at a price of 12-1; despite pulling up in the last race, could be one to keep an eye on. Henry Hill trained and part owned Inchadoney Boy has had an inconsistent season so far; despite winning the first division of the Open Maiden at the Horseheath course in February, giving Tony Williams his first win in several years, he has failed to be placed in subsequent starts, including 6th place at High Easter last week; he may struggle to keep up. Another entry from the Kemp yard, Lucky Mojo, also won a Maiden at Horseheath this year, this time in the second division of the Open Maiden in February, completing David Kemp's hat trick for the day; he then went on to have an impressive debut in the Restricted at Ampton a few weeks later, going off favourite but losing by 10 lengths to Thenford Ryde. Grey Shark was the Open Maiden winner at Ampton after a couple of places in Maidens early in the season at Cottenham; a return was made to Ampton in March for the Restricted where he finished half a length behind the favourite Lucky Mojo. Minehill Lad was the Open Maiden winner at High Easter in March last year where he managed to beat evens favourite The Factor to the post on the Essex course; since that win he has failed to pass the winning post between the flags after pulling up and unseating in the last two races. Another promising Maiden winner is Rock Charlie who won the Open Maiden at Dingley in May last year; last time out he only managed 6th place but is another one to watch for the future. Sideline Critic, despite having the ability, has failed to progress through the Restricted barrier. This year he was 2nd to Sweden at Ampton in January but has just failed to make the top three in his other runs; last year managed two 2nds and a 3rd place outside the Eastern Area, however, given the level of competition, he may be in which a chance this time round.
Selection: Lucky Mojo (Sideline Critic)

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