Penshurst see the first of their two fixtures take place on Sunday where the going is currently good to soft, soft in the dip. Racing starts at 13:30 with the restricted race which includes Monrocco Moonlight, trained by Joe Hill in the entries who won a maiden race at Charing on February 2nd last time out and will be looking to follow up with victory here if he starts. D’Last Spez, owned and trained by Phil York, won a restricted at Chaddesley Corbett in May 2023, and then finished seventh in a hurdle race at Southwell in June 2023. He missed 2024 but finished second in a restricted race at Charing on February 23rd and should benefit from that run so could be a danger. William Rekert trained and ridden Bolberry Down also ran in that race on February 23rd and finished fourth so will need to find a significant improvement to be in with a chance.
Mister Splash owned by the Turner Family won a maiden at High Easter in March 2023, and has been placed in four of five starts in restricted company including finishing second most recently at Ampton on March 2nd and he should definitely be added to the short-list if he starts. Tim Underwood trained La Vega Moon is entered, who was fourth in his latest start at Larkhill on March 2nd in a restricted having finished third at Chipley Park on February 8th and has the ability to get involved. Can Daddy Dance from Nigel Padfield’s stable 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 again should have gained a lot of experience from that run.
Joe Kidd trained by Fred Hutsby won a maiden in April 2023 but since then has had mixed form and has pulled up in his two most recent starts which includes the restricted at Charing on February 2nd where La Vega Moon finished fifth. The final three entries for this race are Barry Logan trained Intricate Pillar, Elizabeth Feakes trained Highway Hero and Jemima Taylor trained Ballybit. Intricate Pillar has previously raced on the flat and won a seven furlong race in December 2022. Highway Hero 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. Ballybit has had eight starts in Irish point-to-points but has to date failed to win a race and may also find this a challenge.
Intricate Pillar is also entered in the following level two conditions race. Fred Hutsby has Zee Man entered who has been placed in five of his eight starts in point-to-points and in two of his four starts in Hunter Chases. He was second to Viroflay in a mixed open at Larkhill on February 16th and was fourth in his latest start in a mixed open at Didmarton. Definite Dilemma trained by Ella Gillings 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. Rob Varnham trained Trappist Monk was fifth in the mixed open won by Definite Dilemma, however, that was his first start of the season so he cannot be ruled out if he lines up for the starter. Alan Hill trained Getting Closer was a two and half length winner of the level two conditions race at Charing on February 23rd where he beat Trappist Monk’s stable mate Count Simon and he has been placed in fifteen of his sixteen starts with ten victories to his name so he would be the one to beat if he starts.
Wireless Operator finished second in his previous run at Penshurst in 2023, trained by Hannah Clarke, he won on two occasions in 2023 and won a novice rider’s race in 2024 so has the ability to get involved. He pulled up on his only start to date this season at Milborne St Andrew on February 2nd, but is likely to benefit from that run. Southfield Royale trained by Suzanne Cox was sixteen lengths third in a conditions race for novice riders at Higham on February 9th but has not really shown his promise after winning a ladies open in May 2021 and will probably find one or two too good here. Gardie Grissell has Goudhurst Star entered who 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 on February 2nd to finish third in the level three conditions race for grassroots riders having been prominent until the fifteenth fence. He was sixth on his latest start at Charing on February 23rd in a level three conditions race again having been prominent until the fifteenth fence.
The other two entries are James Luck trained Aikenbreakinheart and Harriet Etheridge trained Mister Tickle. Aikenbreakinheart has failed to complete in both starts in point-to-points having previously run under rules over hurdles. Mister Tickle has also previously raced under rules when trained by Gary Moore. He won three chases in 2021 but struggled in 2023 and missed 2024, but may well benefit from the drop back to point-to-points.
The ladies open follows and is an option for Getting Closer, although Alan Hill also has Learntalot entered. Learntalot like his stablemate, has impressive form, having been placed in all seven point-to-point starts to date with two wins, three seconds and two thirds to his name. He also gained a win in his only hunter chase at Stratford-on-Avon in May 2024. He was a winner of a three mile four furlong mixed open at Friars Haugh on January 19th and two lengths second in a ladies open on his most recent start at Ampton on March 2nd. Anthony Ward-Thomas trained 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 since then he has won a mixed open at Larkhill on March 2nd and has the ability to get involved.
Gina Andrews trained Dundrum Wood won a ladies open at Alnwick at the end of January, and finished a neck second in a mixed open at Alnwick on February 23rd so poses a threat if he makes the journey to Kent. Sarah Ashby’s Monkey Puzzle, has been placed on fifteen of his nineteen starts. He was second behind Southfield Lily at Charing on February 2nd and then finished second in a level two conditions race for novice riders at Horseheath on February 16th before beating Back Bar to win the ladies open at Charing on February 23rd. Rob Varnham trained Count Simon finished second behind Getting Closer at Charing on February 2nd on his first start of the season, so will be looking to reverse the placings if both line up for this race.
Belinda Rose owned and trained Jack’s Touch has had six starts this season and has finished third on two occasions but may struggle here. The final entry is Philippa Taylor’s Rizzardo who failed to complete in his three starts in 2024 and pulled upon his only start in 2025, so he may also find this a tough task.
The men’s open follows, and is an option for Viva Lavilla, Mister Tickle and Definite Dilemma. However, all eight entries have a chance in this race. Definite Dilemma beat Hannah Hickman-Jones trained Joy of Life at Charing on February 2nd, but Joy of Life reversed the placings at Charing on February 23rd and this could see a third battle between the duo. Rob Varnham trained Imperial Esprit finished second behind Famous Clermont in a hunter chase at Stratford in May 2024 having won his two prior starts in point-to-points. He was fifth on his most recent start at Cocklebarrow on January 26th finishing twenty five lengths behind the winner.
Heidi Brookshaw trained Movethechains has been placed in two of his three starts this season, however, he pulled up in his most recent start at Kingston Blount, but this was in a four mile mixed open so he could also get involved here. David Kemp trained Our Jet was previously with Dan Skelton and won a national hunt chase in November 2023. His form tailed off in 2024 but he was second in his first point-to-point start at Garthorpe at the end of February, and again may appreciate the drop back in class. The final entry in this race is Elen Wylie trained Boss Man Fred who won a men’s open at Cocklebarrow in January and then won a hunt members race by over twenty lengths at Brocklesby Park on February 8th and would be looking for a third successive victory if he starts.
The intermediate race is the fifth race on the card and has seven entries. La Vega Moon is entered here as well as the restricted race. Nigel Padfield has Padjoes Legacy entered who was second behind Learntalot in the hunter chase at Stratford-on-Avon in May 2024 and he won a level two conditions race at High Easter last Saturday beating Mylestown Upper by three lengths. Alan Hill trained Coolagh Park has been placed in all seven of his point-to-point starts including three victories but is yet to race this season, but should not be discounted.
Phil York trained Touch Tight is a course winner having won the restricted race here in March 2023, he was consistently placed in 2024 and was third in a restricted on March 2nd at Ampton. Francesca Poste has two entries, Kilfilum Woods and Ping Pong Paddy. Kilfilum Woods won a maiden at Knightwick in November and then won a restricted race at Larkhill in December. He was placed in an intermediate race at Revesby Park in January but he ran out in the closing stages of a novice rider’s race at High Easter in his most recent start when still in contention. Ping Pong Paddy won a maiden and a restricted race in April 2023 but then missed the 2024 season. He has had one start this season at Cocklebarrow in January where he finished fourth. The final entry is Hannah Clarke trained Right Hand of God who won a maiden race at Parham in 2023, he finished third most recently at Badbury Rings in February but was over twenty lengths behind the winner, Southfield Lily.
The meeting concludes with the maiden race which has the largest entry of the fixture. This race is an option for William Rekert’s Bolberry Down. Hannah Clarke has two entries, Mo Chairde and Impact d’Authie. Mo Chairde has previously run in Irish point-to-points but has failed to complete in three starts in England since December 2023. Impact d’Authie would be making his racecourse debut if he starts. Francesca Poste also has two entries, Japon de Carjac and Glancing Hill. 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. Glancing Hill has been placed in all three of his starts to date, and was second in the maiden at Kingston Blount on February 22nd, having been prominent for most of the race.
Patricks Hill finished ahead of Japon de Carjac at Ampton finishing only a head behind the winner Jasmin des Bordes, he was also second in the shorter maiden at Charing on February 2nd behind Bobbarelli, so is a strong contender if he starts. Carrickfergus trained by Phil York also ran in the maiden at Ampton on March 2nd but finished behind both Patricks Hill and Japon de Carjac and would need to improve to be a threat. Elder Statesman trained by Sarah Ashby ran in the three mile maiden at Charing on February 2nd but pulled up after making a mistake and losing momentum at the ninth fence. Before this he was third at Parham in April 2024, but this has been the only time in four starts that he has completed the race, so would also need to improve significantly to be in with a chance.
William Rekert’s Wait At The Gate 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, he finished third on his first two starts and unseated in his most recent start at Charing when still in with a chance. Secret Plan was previously with Evan Williams but failed to achieve anything under rules in eight starts and has pulled up in two starts in point-to-points including the maiden race at Ampton where Patricks Hill finished second, so this could prove to be a challenge. Tim Underwood owned and trained Who’s Houdini has shown some form in maiden company finishing six lengths third at Larkhill on December 15th 2024 but he pulled up in his latest start at Charing on February 2nd where Patricks Hill once again finished second. The final two entries are Gardie Grissell trained Gold Bandit and Hannah Hickman-Jones trained Creapapy. Gold Bandit was placed in maiden races throughout 2024, but has not raced since finishing second at Peper Harow in May 2024. Creapapy was placed in four of his six starts in 2024 including finishing second at Godstone in May 2024. He ran in the three mile maiden at Charing on February 2nd and finished second to Monrocco Moonlight and then ran in the two mile four furlong maiden at Charing on February 23rd where he was second behind Tellmesomethingood having led until the final fence so comes here with a solid chance.
The course is an undulating left handed course situated three miles south west of Penshurst, west of the B2188 and twelve miles from exit five of the M25. The postcode is TN8 7DD. Racing starts at 1:30pm. There will be food outlets, stalls and a bar as well a bookmakers, and dogs are welcome on short leads. Wrap up and come and enjoy a day at the races.