06 March 2009 'Pub Team' Preview: Suffolk - Ampton
The East Anglian 'Pub Team' are back with the best bets and advice for Sunday's Suffolk Point-to-Point at Ampton.
1.30 p.m. Suffolk Hunt Members - 6 entries
The horses entered for the Hunt Members are as follows: Columba, who has been campaigned in Ireland; was a decent horse winning over Hurdles back in ‘04, but campaigned unsuccessfully in ‘06 and ‘07 in point-to-point and Novice Chases. Executive Mist ran in Maidens in ‘08 without much success and was beaten over 30 lengths when 3rd at Cottenham. Regal Ovation was campaigned on the flat in ‘07 and didn't run too badly on the all weather. Sirius Storm ran well when winning the Cottenham Members by 7 lengths when sent off at evens last month. Thoutmosis is a decent and genuine animal who normally competes in better races than this and won two Mens Opens in '08. Winapenny was campaigned heavily last year but is perhaps not as good as in past seasons.
Selection: Winnapenny (Columba)
2.05 p.m. Confined - 16 entries
16 entries for what could be a tightly contested race depending on who declares. In 2008 Thatmakestwoofus beat Mid Div and Creep by a short head in a High Easter Restricted - a 1st time winner for the promising Ben Rivett. Two successive wins in Hunt Club Members races at Horseheath this season gives Mid Div and Creep the edge. This progressive mare also beat Where's my Baby on the first occasion by 2 lengths but will be carrying penalties to even up the weights. An interesting contest is in prospect. Where's My Baby, with his best jumping performance to date, won the Restricted at Horseheath last month by a distance. Go North comes with a course win as favourite in January beating Mid Div and Creep by 7 lengths and Thatmakestwoofus by a further 7 lengths. Brown Teddy was 2nd to an un-extended Rydal Park in the Horseheath Open in February beating Ballyowen into 3rd place with Parkinson pulled up. Good Vintage with a string of 3rds to his name is probably best left alone - form for the 2009 season is beginning to show through and fitness is probably now a given.
Selection: Go North (Where's my Baby).
2.40 p.m. Ladies Open - 18 entries
It was good to see Bedtime Boys back to winning form at Tweseldown last month and he has a good chance of following up with another win here. Delightful Cliché was a modest chaser for Pam Sly but had a very encouraging ptp debut at Horseheath two weeks ago finishing 3rd behind Bravery Scotch and Brer Bear; he should come on for that run. Frosty Run ran very well in a Novices' last time he was here, just failing to catch the highly rated Tribal Venture by a head; he finished 8 lengths behind Delightful Cliché in the Horseheath race mentioned above. High Rank was the only other finisher behind Pongos Nephew in a slowly run Members' at Dunthrop last weekend. Inishturk is officially rated 108 under Rules but hasn't run since March 2007 so is best watched. Limerick Leader and Gemma Hutchinson form a partnership that is hard to beat - they triumphed 3 times last season at Clifton, Dingley and Northaw. Mid Div And Creep finished 3rd in an Intermediate here earlier this season and then picked up two wins in Members'; she will face stronger competition here. Petit Lord was impressive here first time out beating Madge Carroll fairly comfortably; he then didn't travel well next time out at Horseheath but still managed to finish 3rd a few lengths behind Sweet Citizen and Brer Bear. He probably has the potential to be the best horse in this race but his form is questionable - he tailed off in a similar way when he was in Paul Nicholls' yard. Roaringwater beat highly-rated Big Moment at Detling albeit in a slowish time, he should definitely have a chance here.
Selection: Bedtime Boys (Limerick Leader)
3.15 p.m. Men's Open - 11 entries
If Caveman turns up, he will be at prohibitive odds to complete a four timer this year, having already won the Mens' Opens at Ampton, Cottenham and Mark's Tey. Whilst Caveman has been in the best form of his life, the remaining entries have yet to find their form. Both Maestro Please and Round The Isles met at Ampton's first meeting in the Club Members Conditions race for horses 9 years old and above. Maestro Please, having his first run for two years, finished 2nd to Good Vintage, whilst Round The Isles finished 7 lengths behind in 4th. Maestro Please has followed this with another 2nd in the Hunt Race at Tweseldown. Round The Isles ran four times last year, three races at Mark's Tey and one at Ampton; his one win was accomplished in a Men's Open. Three of the entries provided their pilots with the first wins of their careers in 2008. Thoutmosis provided Ed Turner with a win in an Open at Parham, having previously won a three runner Open under James Owen at the corresponding meeting last year on his fifth start. High Rank provided Jack Watson with his initial win in a Novice Rider's race at Higham, and this was followed by an Open win at Paxford. High Rank has run twice this year finishing 2nd in his Member's race at Dunthrop last week. Dad Says Heazle won three races in the West Country last season, commencing with a Restricted at Buckfastleigh, his Members race, and then an Intermediate at Flete Park, but has yet to show any form in three runs this season; he has shown his best form on good ground or softer. Dead Man's Dante's only glimmer of form last year was in an Open at Fakenham, when he finished 3rd, only 1¾ lengths behind Caveman.
Selection: Caveman (Maestro Please)
3.50 p.m. Restricted - 16 entries
The sixteen entries in the race look set to provide some exciting racing. Those battling at the front are likely to include Sideline Critic who is no stranger to the Restricted race; he has been placed four times at this level. He certainly has the ability to do well. The grey Grey Shark won the Maiden at Ampton in January beating the 2-1 favourite Bridgeham by two lengths after a couple of 2nd places at Cottenham earlier on in the season. The Kemp family is having a good season so far both training and riding. Comeonourfella is their entry for this race; he won the Maiden at Ampton back in 2006, but more recently came 3rd in the South East Hunt Club Members race last month. The pocket-sized Mai Cure was 2nd (of two finishers) in the Ladies Open at Higham, and with a 4th place last time out, seems to struggling this season. Not Another Barney looked promising after winning the Open Maiden at Higham in January, although relatively inexperienced, he does have the potential to do well. Thenford Ryde, who won the Open Maiden at Guilsborough last year and was 3rd in the Melton Hunt Club Members (Novice Riders) at Garthorpe, could be one to watch. Reymysterio was 3rd in a Restricted at Godstone this season; finishing two lengths behind 5-4 favourite Gulabill. Killeengh Lodge has pulled up both times he has run this year; last time placed between the flags was a 2nd in the Restricted at Ampton in 2007. Inchadoney Boy finally ended a string of 2nd places by winning the first division of the Open Maiden at Horseheath a few weeks ago. This gave Tony Williams his first win in several years and no doubt contributed to him becoming Jockey of the month. However, now that he has moved up a level, he may find the competition tough and may take some time before he gets placed in a Restricted race. The second division of the Open Maiden at Horseheath went to the very lucky Lucky Mojo who despite fumbling the final fence and coming to an almost complete standstill, managed to hold on to first place by a neck. Minehill Lad is also worthy of a mention after winning the second division of the Open Maiden at High Easter last season, although he has yet to race this side of the new year, he could be worth keeping an eye on.
Selections: Sideline Critic (Comeonourfella)
4.25 p.m. Open Maiden 5yo+ - 23 entries
Only a small entry of 23 compared to recent Maiden races in the area, but still with a safety factor of 15 a division is an outside possibility. Unusually for a Maiden, all the runners have had at least one race under any code. Captain's Legacy looks a lively contender; he was beaten a head at Charing by Mooresini after being in front for most of the contest. He should go well here and is likely to be ridden by top South Eastern rider Peter Bull. Whosethatfor has been consistent this season, he was 3rd last week at Marks Tey beaten 4 ½ lengths behind Olympe De Farges and prior to that he finished 4th at Horseheath. He was placed three times under Rules when with Jim Old including a 5 length 2nd to Inaro in an Exeter Novice Hurdle. Coleraine finished in front of Whosethatfor at Horseheath when going down by a head to Single Player; he disappointed on his next run when well beaten behind Our Whiz at Cottenham but may appreciate this more testing course. Cavanquarter was 3rd at Horseheath three weeks ago behind Inchadoney Boy beaten by 3½ lengths; he could well get placed here. Toe To Hand was 4th in Inchadoney Boy's race, beaten by a distance; he had previously been well beaten at North Carlton when 4th behind The Snurglar. On the balance of that form a placing might be the best he can hope for. Rockfield ran a promising race when he finished 40 lengths 3rd to Hemington in a 2 ½ mile Maiden at Cottenham last month. Notabaday was once owned by Paul Nicholls and finished 3rd in a Larkhill Maiden, 4 lengths behind Earth Works in January 2007. When he was sold later that year he failed to complete in two outings for his new connections. Kilmuir Fair finished 2nd on her only run to date in a Whitwick Manor Mares Maiden in February 2007, beaten 12 lengths behind The Risen Lark; if fit after her lengthy layoff she could give a bold show. A trappy contest to find a winner but Captain's Legacy's run at Charing puts him firmly in the mix. Whosethatfor ran last week and so he may not appear here. We'll take a chance that Coleraine will appreciate this track and put his Cottenham running behind him.
Selection: Captain's Legacy (Coleraine).