The next fixture in the South East area takes place on Saturday at Parham, where race goers can enjoy two pony races starting at 12:15pm before the point-to-point races start at 1:45pm.
The first race of the day is the level one conditions race and has seven entries, but each and every entry has a strong chance if they line up for the starter. Movethechains owned by the Coveney Carrington Family won the men’s open race at Penshurst two weeks ago and in doing so had two of the other entries for this race finish behind him in second and third so he will be looking for a second successive victory. Rob Varnham trained Imperial Esprit finished second in that race, he finished second behind Famous Clermont in a hunter chase at Stratford in May 2024 having won his two prior starts in point-to-points, and if he can find that form would be a danger in this race. Varnham also has Trappist Monk entered who won a hunter chase at Fontwell in February 2023 and was the winner of the men’s open at Peper Harow in May 2024, but has finished fifth on both starts to date this season, most recently in a level two conditions race at Penshurst on March 16th. He is however, a course winner having won the men’s open here in April 2023.
Hannah Hickman-Jones trained Joy of Life finished third behind Movethechains and Imperial Esprit, but was a winner of a men’s open at Charing at the end of February and is capable of another victory. Sarah Ashby owned and trained Monkey Puzzle won a ladies open race at Charing on February 23rd beating Back Bar but finished second in the ladies open at Penshurst two weeks ago, getting headed at the final fence by Dundrum Wood having led from the drop of the starter’s flag, but again has the capability to secure another success for his connections.
George Gorman owned and trained Larry was previously with Gary Moore and has won eight of his thirty six starts under rules. He has had one start in point-to-points finishing a length second in a mixed open behind Viva Lavilla having looked like the winner until the final strides of the race. The final entry in this race is Southfield Royale trained by Suzanne Cox and was sixteen lengths third in a conditions race for novice riders at Higham on February 9th and was fourth in the level two conditions race at Penshurst. He may struggle, although in the race at Penshurst he did finish twenty lengths in front of Trappist Monk and is the previous winner of a ladies open race in 2021.
The mixed open is the second race on the card and is an option for Movethechains, Monkey Puzzle, Joy of Life, Larry and Imperial Esprit. The Coveney Carrington Family also have Ella Gillings trained Definite Dilemma entered, he won the men’s open at Charing on February 2nd and was second to Joy of Life in the men’s open at Charing on February 23rd before returning to the winners’ enclosure at Penshurst where he comfortably won the level two conditions race by twenty nine lengths, and appears to be in fantastic form this season. Gina Andrews trained Dundrum Wood has finished in the first two in all four of his starts this season winning on two occasions and only being narrowly beaten on the other two. He won the ladies open at Penshurst stealing victory from Monkey Puzzle at the final fence.
Anthony Ward-Thomas has two entries, Doctor Foley and Viva Lavilla. The former has previously raced under rules for trainer Anthony Honeyball and has won three of his nine starts in national hunt chases including a three-mile two furlong chase at Fontwell Park in May 2024. He has had one start to date in point-to-points at Larkhill in February where he pulled up in a novice rider’s conditions race. Viva Lavilla finished third in a level two conditions race at Larkhill on January 18th. His next race was a hunter chase at Wincanton on January 30th where he was hampered and pulled up but then he won a mixed open at Larkhill on March 2nd beating Larry, but he pulled up again at Penshurst two weeks ago in the men’s open, so his form is a mixed bag. The final entry is Hannah Clarke trained Jeremy Pass who has also stepped down from racing under rules where he won two national hunt chases and one hurdle race. He won a point-to-point at Ballindenisk in May 2024 and was a seven-length winner on his debut race in England in a Hunt member’s race at Milborne St Andrew in February, but he pulled up in his most recent start in a men’s open at Badbury Rings on February 23rd.
The level two conditions race follows and is another option for both Joy of Life and Trappist Monk. Phil York has Happy Larry entered, he won an intermediate race at Penshurst in March 2023 and has finished second on all three subsequent starts including the level three conditions race at Charing on February 23rd where he was fifteen lengths behind Empire de Maulde. David Phelan trained Carrolls Cottage finished fourth in this race but was only two lengths behind Happy Larry and more recently he has finished third in a level three conditions race for grassroots riders at Ampton.
Gardie Grissell trained Goudhurst Star missed 2024 and much of 2023. He raced under rules at Plumpton in February 2023 where he was fourth, fifteen lengths behind the winner, and he ran well at Charing in early February to finish third in the level three conditions race for grassroots riders having been prominent for much of the race. He finished fifteen lengths ahead of Carrolls Cottage on that occasion but in the level three conditions race at Charing on February 23rd he finished sixth and was fifteen lengths behind Carrolls Cottage, so will need to be at his best to get involved here. Hannah Clarke trained Right Hand of God is a course winner having won a maiden race at Parham in 2023 before winning a restricted race at Charing in February 2024. He was fourth in a ladies open race at Parham on his last start in April 2024 and was third on his first start of this season in a level three conditions race at Badbury Rings on February 23rd. Harriet Etheridge trained Mister Tickle has previously raced under rules when trained by Gary Moore. He won three chases in 2021 but struggled in 2023 and missed 2024. He had his first start in a point-to-point for his sixteen-year-old jockey Jack Etheridge at Penshurst two weeks ago and was in touch until the fourteenth fence and eventually finished fourth behind Movethechains, Imperial Esprit and Joy of Life.
The final entry is Elizabeth Feakes owned and trained Highway Hero who finished sixth in the owner – trainer conditions race at Higham in February, but he struggled in 2024 and may find some of these too good.
The level three conditions race for novice riders is the fourth race of the day. This is an option for Carrolls Cottage, Southfield Royale, Goudhurst Star and Mister Tickle. Alan Hill has Highland Glory entered, he beat Happy Larry in a veteran and novice riders race at Peper Harow in May 2024, but was fourth in his first start of this season in the intermediate race at Dunsmore in November and has pulled up on both subsequent starts at Chipley Park and Kingston Blount in February. Francesca Poste has Westhill entered, he finished four lengths behind Largy Mountain in a level three conditions race for grassroots riders at Revesby Park on January 18th but unseated his jockey at Charing on February 2nd when his saddle slipped and has subsequently pulled up in the closing stages of a level three conditions race at Badbury Rings.
Louise Dace trained Premier d’Troice showed consistent form at the end of the 2023 - 2024 season and after pulling up in two starts in December and January this season has gone on to finish third on his two most recent starts which were both at Larkhill. Connor Baker trained Soldier At War finished six lengths second behind The Yellow Mini in the owner-trainer conditions race at Higham in February and was then only a length second behind Jersey Fromentin in a level three conditions race at Ampton on March 2nd, so both could be challengers if they start here. The final entry is Katie Featherstone’s Commander of Ten who has been racing in Irish point-to-points without success until the early December 2024, but has yet to race in England, but also cannot be discounted.
The maiden race has twelve entries, William Rekert has both Bolberry Down and Wait At The Gate entered, the latter pulled up in two starts in Irish point-to-points in 2023, but then finished ninth and fourth in two starts in Irish point-to-points in 2024. He has had three starts in point-to-points in England and has finished third on both of his first two starts but unseated most recently in a two-mile four furlong race at Charing. Bolberry Down ran under rules during 2024 and only completed on one of his three starts, he lined up in the two-mile four furlong distance maiden at Charing on February 2nd and finished third but was never really involved in the race. He was then fourth in restricted company at Charing at the end of February and was gifted second in the maiden at Penshurst two weeks ago when Who’s Houdini unseated at the penultimate fence, but was still fifteen lengths behind the winner. Gardie Grissell trained Gold Bandit was placed in maiden races throughout 2024 including a second at Peper Harow in May 2024 but he was pulled up in the maiden at Penshurst in which Bolberry Down finished second. Crookbarrow owned and trained by Katie Featherstone finished third in the maiden over the shorter two-mile four furlong distance at Charing at the end of February and was also third in a three mile maiden at High Easter on March 8th. Del Amitir owned by the Tetley’s finished sixth in this race having lost touch in the closing stages of the race but was third in the maiden at Horseheath in January so has the potential to get involved. Alan Hill trained Oka Tsuki pulled up in the maiden at High Easter, but prior to this finished third in the maiden at Higham on February 9th.
Francesca Poste trained Japon de Carjac pulled upon his first start at Horseheath in December, but was then fifth at Ampton on March 2nd and will have benefited from that race. Julie Wadland trained Yakaleo had seven starts under rules for Nicky Richards without being placed. His most recent start was at Perth in September 2024 in a hurdle race where he was fifth, so if he lines up this would be his first experience in a point-to-point. Hannah Clarke trained Impact d’Authie would also be making his racecourse debut if he makes the journey to Parham. Lily Bradstock trained Kalipso His has only had one start in a point-to-point at Horseheath in January where he pulled up and prior to this had only had one start in a national hunt bumper.
Local trainers David Phelan and Sarah Ashby have the other two entries. Phelan has Time To Upgrade entered, Time To Upgrade pulled up in the three mile maiden at Charing on February 2nd, but finished twelve lengths third at Horseheath two weeks later and was then fifth in a two mile four furlong maiden at Charing a week later. Elder Statesman trained by Ashby had three starts in 2024. He pulled up on his first two starts but was third on his final start of 2024 at Parham, he pulled up in the maiden conditions race at Charing on his first start of this season after making a mistake and losing touch on his rivals.
The fixture concludes with the restricted race which has eleven entries including Wait At The Gate, Right Hand of God, Highway Hero and Commander of Ten, although Katie Featherstone also has Petite Mike entered who has been placed on his three starts in restricted company this season at Charing and High Easter. Hannah Hickman-Jones trained Creapapy won the maiden at Penshurst two weeks ago having finished second in two previous starts this season at Charing. On the first occasion he was beaten by Joe Hill trained Monrocco Moonlight who also has an entry here. He was third in the restricted race at Penshurst on March 16th having weakened at the penultimate fence but has a lively chance.
Nigel Padfield’s Can Daddy Dance won an Irish point-to-point maiden in March 2024 and was second in an Irish point-to-point for horses who had won one race in May 2024. He has had one start in England at Garthorpe on February 23rd where he finished third and was twenty-five lengths behind the second but should have gained a lot of experience from that run.
Jasmin des Bordes was previously trained in the southeast before moving to Andrew Pennock’s stable, he won a maiden race at Ampton on March 2nd at his twentieth attempt, but he has come close to winning before and has been in great form this season so could run well if he starts. David Phelan trains McMurroughs Court who won a maiden race at Parham in April 2022 and followed this up with a second place in restricted company at Dingley in May 2022, however, he has not raced since then and may need the run. The final entry for this race is Tour de Pub who also has not raced since 2022 where he pulled up in the restricted race at Cocklebarrow and may also benefit from a return to the racecourse.