Penshurst hosts its second point-to-point of the 2022 season on Sunday 10th April, where the going is currently good, good to firm in places, there remains a good covering of grass and there is fresh ground on the bends. Rain is expected but if this does not come then plans are in place to water to produce good ground. The course is an undulating left handed rectangular course with an uphill finish.
The first race of the day is at 14:00pm and is a level two conditions race, James Owen trained Fiddler of Dooney was a winner here at the March fixture and recorded a win, a second and three thirds in five races prior to that last race here on March 20th, but his stable mate Just Cause could also be a big threat in this race. Just Cause has only had one run this season, on March 26th at Parham where he won the Veteran Horse Conditions race comfortably beating Tim Underwood’s Cheltenham Mati who also holds an entry in this race. Cheltenham Mati could look to reverse the tables here but it would be a big ask of the ten year old mare.
The Sarah Ashby duo of Monkey Puzzle and Whatsinthecorner also both hold entries in this race with daughter Mary Ashby taking the ride on the preferred runner. If this is the option for Monkey Puzzle, he could cause an upset to keep the trophy in the area, he was fourth at Horseheath in February and won a level two novice riders race at Ampton on March 5th and was a head second to Getting Closer in a conditions race here at Penshurst on March 20th. Whatsinthecorner pulled up in both his starts at Charing and Kingston Blount in February but was then fourth in a conditions race at Parham on March 26th.
Alan Hill regularly leaves the area with a lorry full of trophies and he has Frank And Honest entered who won a restricted race on good to firm going at Higham in November 2021 but has not raced since. The other entry here is Luke Price trained Rose Iland, based at Ynysybwl in South Wales this would be a long journey, however Rose Iland has won a restricted at Charlton Horethorne on March 6th and an Intermediate at Howick on March 26th so is not without a chance here.
The ladies open has attracted eight entries and this is an option for Sarah Ashby’s Monkey Puzzle. Sara Bradstock trained Southfield Theatre holds an entry and will be looking for a fifth victory from five starts this season if he lines up having already won at Larkhill in both January and February, Cocklebarrow in January and Siddington on March 26th. Luke Price has Foreign Secretary entered who won a men’s open at Howick on March 26th in his first British point-to-point start. No Hassle Hoff from Ed Turner’s yard won the ladies open at the previous Penshurst meeting in March and was second behind General Arrow in his latest start at Fakenham last weekend and could be a danger again if he lines up here. Katie Featherstone owned and trained Imperial Acolyte was second behind Tullys Touch at High Easter in March but unseated at Parham when in contention in the Mixed Open. Maggie Howie trained Jackfield was third behind No Hassle Hoff at Penshurst in March and was fourth in the mixed open at Parham but again may find one or two too good on this occasion. Jac The Legend finished ten lengths behind Jackfield in the mixed open at Parham and is another who may find one or two too good to beat here. The other entry is Oscar O’Scar who was third in the conditions race here at Penshurst in March and was fifth in a conditions race that was won by Tangoed at Parham on March 26th.
The men’s open has seven entries who all have a chance if they line up. The entries include Luke Price trained Foreign Secretary who may take this option over the ladies open. Former area Champion lady jockey Jenny Gordon has Highway One O One entered with son Freddie taking the ride. Highway One O One gave Freddie his first point-to-point victory at Charing in February and this was followed up with further victories for the pairing at Larkhill on February 27th and at High Easter on March 12th. John Ayton has both Rintulla and Doldido entered. Rintulla finished third in the mixed open at Parham on March 26th, eight lengths behind the winner Who’s My Jockey whilst Doldido finshed second four lengths behind Tangoed at the Parham meeting and was just outpaced on the run to the winning post. Hannah Grissell trained Ballintara is more than capable of winning and was second at Charing in February behind Desire de Joie, and was third on his latest start at Penshurst in the men’s open that was won by Jenny Gordon’s Captain Bucks. Another former area champion jockey and trainer, Nick Pearce has Mr Love entered here. Mr Love has won novice rider races at Horseheath in December and February and also at Didmarton and was second in his last race which was a men’s open at Shelfield Park on March 19th. The other entry comes from Victoria Collins who has Zamparelli entered. Zamparelli was second in the mixed open at Larkhill which was won by Southfield Theatre before finishing second in a Hunter Chase at Ludlow on March 28th. If any number of these seven runners line up for the starter this could be the race of the day.
The restricted race has six entries, and Luke Price also has an entry here with Captain Mc who won the maiden at Ston Easton on March 20th and was second in restricted company at Larkhill on March 27th. Pam Tetley’s Big Dawg was second in the restricted at Parham finishing four lengths behind Buachaill Dana, on that occasion Nigel Padfield’s Direct Flight was half a length further back in third and these two could be the ones who battle it out if they both face the starter on Sunday. Hannah Grissell’s Robin Is Ready was fifth in a competitive maiden race at Horseheath in December but hasd subsequently pulled up in a Hunter Chase at Fontwell Park and in the maiden race here at Penshurst on March 20th, so this would be a big task for the 9 year old, but he could get off the mark here. Berkshire based Sarah Bosley has Midnight Jitterbug entered, he won the 2 mile 4 furlong maiden at Knightwick on his seasonal debut but pulled up in a 2 mile 4 furlong restricted at Cothelstone on March 12th so may struggle here over three miles. Victoria Collins trained Duntish won the maiden at Siddington two weeks ago but this could be a tougher task although he should not be discounted if he faces the starter.
The level two conditions race is an option for Cheltenham Mati, Whatsinthecorner, Monkey Puzzle and Oscar O’Scar and should Monkey Puzzle take this option he should be the one to beat, although Rob Varnham trained Trappist Monk would be a danger. Trappist Monk was third in a conditions race at Badbury Rings in February but was second last time out here at Penshurst finishing half a length behind Captain Buck’s battling all the way from the penultimate fence. Nigel Benstead owned and trained Thomas Junior may have a few years on most of his rivals but he is capable of making it into the winner’s enclosure and was unlucky to unseat in the veteran horse conditions race at Parham on March 26th. This is a tough ask for him but Will Hickman has been booked for the ride so he could be involved at the finish. The other entry comes from Hannah Grissell’s team at Brightling Park, Cooladerry King was also unlucky to unseat in his last start in the level two conditions race at Parham two weeks ago. He has a lot of ability and if his jumping holds together he isn’t without a chance.
The maiden concludes the day’s racing and has nine entries. This is an option for Robin Is Ready for Hannah Grissell who also has Westtara entered. Westtara was third here at Penshurst on March 20th in the maiden finishing nine lengths behind the winner Calvic. Hannah Clarke trained Monmouth Hill finished second in that race three lengths ahead of Westtara and these two could meet again here and could be the two who are battling it out at the finish. Tim Underwood’s Bolamore Bridge also faced the starter in the maiden here three weeks ago but he unseated his jockey at the first fence and owner / trainer Tim Underwood will definitely be hoping for a better showing on this occasion if he is declared to run. Hannah Clarke has a further entry in Frontieres Lad. He has not raced for a year, when he finished seventh of nine in a two mile four furlong maiden at Mollington. Albert Huckleback for Jenny Gordon finished seventh on two earlier starts this season at Chipley Park and Badbury Rings and he pulled up in his latest race at Charlton Horethorne, but he shold not be discounted if he is a runner here. Benny Flies High pulled up in hurdle races under rules at the end of 2021 but in two point-to-point starts for Essex trainer Anthony Humphrey has finished third and fourth so clearly has ability in this sphere. The other entries in this race are Nicklass, owned, trained and ridden by Aimee Rowe who was fifth in the two mile four maiden at Charing in February but pulled up in the maiden here at Penshurst which was won by Calvic, and the final entry is Fubar from Luke Price’s yard in Wales. He was fifth on his debut at Larkhill in February but hads unseated on both of his last two starts at Shelfield Park and Howick. He departed early in the race at Shelfield Park but was in with a chance of winning at Howick before unseating at the last fence, so even though his form suggests he should be ignored he is definitely in with a chance.
The course is 3 miles south west of Penshurst and is well signposted from exit five of the M25 (which is approximately 12 miles away).
The postcode for the course is TN8 7DD. There will be trade stands, food stalls, a bar and bookies to take your bets, so bring your picnic and enjoy a day out with the family, dogs welcome on a lead.