Charing Races hosts the first of its fixtures for 2025 on Sunday 2nd February.
The fixture starts with a maiden race over two miles and four furlongs which has attracted fourteen entries. Local trainer David Phelan has Time To Upgrade entered who finished sixth in his only previous start in point-to-points at Horseheath at the end of December over three miles, having been prominent for the early stages of the race so he may appreciate the shorter trip here. Fellow South East Area owner / trainer Katie Featherstone has Crookbarrow entered who was previously with Cynthia Woods. He finished second in a two mile flat race at Larkhill in February 2023. He has run in hurdle races during 2024 finishing fifth on two occasions and eighth on September 24th where he was forty nine lengths behind the winner. He pulled up on his most recent start over three miles in November but has shown he can stay over three miles.
Other locally trained entries include Chris Dennington’s Taghadoe who finished a head second to Jullou de Grissay at Horseheath in December with the winner having subsequently won a restricted race at Cocklebarrow last weekend, suggesting that the form from that race puts Taghadoe in a good position here. William Rekert trained Bolberry Down has run under rules during 2024 and only completed on one of his three starts. The drop back to point-to-points may be beneficial for him and he may also appreciate the shorter distance of this race.
Andrew Pennock based near Bury St. Edmunds has My Jetta Plane entered who also ran at Horseheath in December over the full three miles and finished ten lengths ahead of Time To Upgrade. Monrocco Moonlight from Joe Hill’s stable also has form from this season having finished third over this distance at Friars Haugh two weeks ago. Nigel Padfield trained Patricks Hill was fifth in a maiden at Chaddesley Corbett in May 2024 and prior to this finished second over this distance at Cothelstone, so clearly has ability. Tim Underwood owned and trained Who’s Houdini has also shown form in maiden company finishing six lengths third at Larkhill on December 15th 2024. Alan Hill trained Ewood Park missed 2023 and 2024 and prior to this ran under rules over hurdles. He was fourth in a hurdle race in 2022 beaten twenty four lengths and this could be a big task.
Michael Kehoe trained Dontblamejack has been placed in an Irish point-to-point at Dromahane in December 2024 and could run well if he starts here. Amber Jackson-Fennell’s Bobbarelli has pulled up in both starts to date this season, but his races have been over the three mile distance and he has pulled up in the closing stages, so he should find this shorter distance easier. The final three entries all have yet to race, Ifwegetaway is a six year old from Christy Woods stable and the final two entries are the Francesca Poste duo of Laudable and Lyster du Mazet.
The restricted race follows and will also be ran over the shorter two mile four furlong distance. Warwickshire based trainer Julie Wadland has Bushtucker Park entered. She won a mare’s maiden at Larkhill in March 2024 and then comfortably won a restricted over this distance at Holnicote in May 2024. However, she fell in a restricted race at Badbury Rings when challenging for the lead and she pulled up on her most recent start at Larkhill, but this was in the latter stages of three mile races. Tim Underwood’s La Vega Moon finished seventh in this race which is his only start in point-to-points having previously run in Ireland over hurdles. Finishing in this race may give him the advantage over Bushtucker Park. Artiste d’Ainay from Andrew Pennock’s team won a maiden in January 2024 at Horseheath and was a faller in the early part of his first start in restricted company at Larkhill in February 2024. He then ran at Guilsborough in March and was in contention until the penultimate fence. He has not started since but would be a danger here.
Nigel Padfield trained Penniless won his maiden at Charing in 2023 and then won a restricted at Parham in 2023. He was also placed in two of four starts in 2024 so is another who could be in with a chance if he starts here. Fred Hutsby trained Joe Kidd won a maiden at Lockinge in April 2023. He was fourth in two starts in restricted company in 2024 but unseated at the eighth fence in his most recent start in February 2024. Fame And Concrete from Nicholas Wright’s yard was previously with Jonjo O’Neill. He won a flat race over two miles in 2020 and was placed in hurdle races in 2022 and 2023. He missed 2024 but could make a bold bid here.
The final two entries are locally trained. Petite Mike is entered for Katie Featherstone, he won a maiden point-to-point in Ireland in April 2024 and was then placed in a hunter chase in Ireland in May 2024. His form has tailed off since then but he may find this an easier task. Highway Hero, owned and trained by Elizabeth Feakes finished seventh in the restricted at Larkhill in January, but he struggled in 2024 and may find some of these too good.
The men’s open race follows and is an option for Bolberry Down. Bardenstown Lad won two national hunt chases in Ireland in 2024 for Gavin Cromwell. He is now with Sarah Loughnane and has been placed in two starts in point-to-points this season and was fifth in a hunter chase at Warwick on January 20th. Fred Hutsby trained Drakes Well was placed in two of his four starts in 2024. He won his most recent start in a point-to-point at Mollington in May 2024 in a level two conditions race over two miles four furlongs, and was then third in a Hunter Chase at Stratford in his last start to date. Julie Wadland trained Lagan Valley pulled up in a ladies open in December 2024, but was fourth last time out in a mixed open at Revesby Park on January 18th.
Benjamin Case owned and trained Kilbrew Boy has been consistently placed over the past two seasons. He was third in a men’s open at Charing in March 2024 and was third in his most recent start at Kingston Blount in May 2024. Sam Barton has previously raced under rules for Emma Lavelle, but is now with Edward Rees and may be one to benefit with the drop back to point-to-points having appeared to struggle under rules since March 2023 when he finished second behind Flash Collonges.
Definite Dilemma trained by Ella Gillings has also proven to be consistent and capable. He finished second ahead of Kilbrew Boy at Charing in March 2024 and was also placed in a men’s open at Parham in April 2024. He was fourth in a hunter chase at Cheltenham in May 2024 on his last start to date and is likely to run well if he starts. Trappist Monk for Surrey based trained Rob Varnham was also consistently placed in 2024. He was second behind Hawkhurst at Charing in February 2024 in a veteran horse conditions race and was then second on his next two starts before winning the men’s open at Peper Harow in May, and he also has the potential to provide a south east area trained winner. The final entry is Hannah Hickman-Jones trained Joy of Life. He won a chase in Ireland in January 2023 and was second in his subsequent start but has then appeared to struggle throughout the rest of 2023 and 2024. He again may value to drop back to point-to-points.
The ladies open follows and has nine entries, and this is an option for Sam Barton. Rob Varnham has Imperial Esprit entered. 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. He was fifth on his most recent start at Cocklebarrow on January 26th finishing twenty five lengths behind the winner. Sarah Ashby trained Monkey Puzzle was also consistently placed during 2024, including finishing second at Charing in March only a length behind Back Bar, but he was a faller when challenging for the lead in the ladies open at Parham in April 2024 on his last start. The other locally trained entry is David Phelan’s Carrolls Cottage who has been running under rules in Ireland. He was ninth in a chase in June 2024 but has generally struggled to make an impression under rules.
Lily Bradstock trained Southfield Lily likes to front run, but has already found the winner’s enclosure this season at Badbury Rings in November which was her most recent race. However, Alan Hill trained Soldier Unknown has also won this season having moved through the ranks from maiden status in 2024 with ease. Soldier Unknown won an Intermediate race at Wadebridge in December on his latest start and could be one to challenge if he starts. Francesca Poste has two entries, Westhill and Russian Diamond. Westhill finished four lengths behind Largy Mountain in a level three conditions race for grassroots riders at Revesby Park on January 18th, whilst Russian Diamond has yet to race this season but finished fourth on two occasions in 2024 in novice rider races. Aikenbreakinheart from James Luck’s yard is the final entry here. He has only had one start in point-to-points and pulled up in the closing stages, but also failed to show any form under rules prior to this.
The level three conditions race for grassroots riders has only attracted five entries and this is an option for both Carrolls Cottage and Westhill. Rob Varnham has Empire de Maulde entered. He ran at Horseheath in December in a level three conditions race and was in contention until the closing stages of the race. Gardie Grissell has Goudhurst Star entered who missed 2024 and much of 2023. He last raced under rules at Plumpton in February 2023 where he was fourth, fifteen lengths behind the winner. The final entry here is Amber Jackson-Fennell’s Cooldine Bog. He was third in a level three conditions race at Charing in February 2024, but then ran in hunter chases during the rest of 2024 with mixed fortunes.
The final race of the day is the maiden conditions race which is an option for Taghadoe, Time To Upgrade, Who’s Houdini and Monrocco Moonlight. If they choose this option they may come up against At Mangan Bridge from Michael Kehoe’s yard. He was second in an Irish point-to-point in December 2024 but then unseated in his next start at Larkhill on January 18th when in contention. Brian Dowling trained Diamon des Flos has not raced since 2022 but he did show ability then, in four starts, but he may need the run. Tim Underwood’s Windgap Hill has also shown ability having finished second at Lockinge in April 2024, but then fell, pulled up and unseated when trying to refuse on his next three starts in 2024, so will need to find his best form to be in with a chance if he starts. Alan Hill trained Oka Tsuki pulled up in two of his three starts in 2024, however, he should have learnt a lot from those races and cannot be discounted. Francesca Poste has Blue Topaz entered. She pulled up on her debut at Hexham in May 2024 but she finished fourth in the maiden at Larkhill on December 15th and should improve for that run.
The final two entries are locally trained. Creapapy trained by Hannah Hickman-Jones was placed in four of his six starts in 2024 including finishing second at Godstone in May 2024, where he finished ahead of Taghadoe and Oka Tsuki and Windgap Hill both pulled up. Elder Statesman trained by Sarah 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 in a race where Windgap Hill was a faller.
Racing starts at 12pm with gates open from 10.30am. £15 per person, cash only please. Children aged 16 and under enter for free. There will be food outlets and a bar and dogs are welcome on short leads. Wrap up and come and enjoy a day at the races.