Godstone hosts the next fixture in the South East and benefits from the addition of a seventh race which will be 2 mile bumper for 4 and 5 year olds. Racing starts at 2pm with the restricted race. Rhiannon Lodge trained Money Spinner finished three lengths second behind Russian Invasion at Parham two weeks ago and if he starts here, he is sure to be involved at the finish. Dorset Diamond from Rachel Bartlett’s yard won a maiden at Badbury Rings in February and followed this up with a second in the restricted at Milborne St Andrew but unseated early in the restricted at Cotley, but he could be a danger. Hannah Clarke trained Frontieres Lad finished third in the race where Dorset Diamond unseated and has been consistently placed since winning his maiden at Peper Harow in May 2023. Hannah Clarke also has Schiap Hill entered who has not raced since Parham in April 2023. Gina Ellis has For One Night Only and Main Stage entered who both won maiden races earlier this year and have both been placed since so will also pose a threat if they start.
Rob Cundy trained Driveondonn won the maiden at High Easter on 13th April and has ability but this would be his first test in restricted company. Tin Vaughan trained Jean Genie won a maiden at friars Haugh in March and has been placed in a restricted and a conditions race since. Tim Vaughan also owns Ringsend John, trained by Luke Price. He won a maiden at Stafford Cross on 28th April and this would also be his first attempt in a restricted race. Another stepping up to restricted company is Alan Hill trained Solider Unknown won his maiden race on his debut at Paxford. Annabel England trained Marton Abbey has yet to race this season but he was second in a restricted race at Mollington in May 2023 so definitely has the ability.
Miss Carli Fay trained by Mark Grant makes up the entries for this race. She won an Irish point-to-point at Belclare in March 2023, she was then fifth in a mare’s only point-to-point before running in national hunt hurdle races in Ireland. She then returned to Irish point-to-points at the end of 2023 finishing fourth in a mare’s only race and then pulling up in her next start. In her first start for Mark Grant, she ran in the restricted at Chipley Park and was in contention until mid-way. She was second behind Right Hand of God at Charing in February but pulled up in her latest start at Didmarton.
The level two conditions race for horses aged 9years or older follows and Gina Ellis has Benefaktor entered who has been consistently placed this season but has yet to find the winner’s enclosure, but this could be his day. However he finished third in his latest start at Kingston Blount and was one and half lengths behind Katie Featherstone’s Secret Cargo in second who leads the hopes of a locally trained winner. Katie also has Imperial Acolyte entered who won the conditions race at Charing in March and was two lengths second to Count Simon at Parham two weeks ago.
Alex Dunn has two entries here, One For Billy and Pont Aven. One For Billy has only had one start so far this season and was fifth in the Hunt Members race at Chaddesley Corbett. Pont Aven was second earlier this season in a conditions race at Larkhill, and he was fifth most recently in a Veteran Horse conditions race. He finished a neck ahead of Blazing Tom from Kelly Morgan’s yard who also holds an entry here. Another runner in that race was Acting Lass from the Grissell stable, but he pulled up and has yet to complete in his starts in point-to-points. The Grissell team also have Ballintara entered who has plenty of ability. But he ran out in the men’s open at Parham two weeks ago when starting to challenge. Southfield Royale who is entered here, also ran in the men’s open at Parham but he unseated on the first circuit and may also find this a challenge.
Will Thirlby trained Get On The Yager has pulled up on three earlier starts this season, but was third on his latest start at Thorpe Lodge, but was over thirty lengths behind the winner, so this might also prove to be a challenge. Hannah Hickman-Jones trained Buffalo Sabre finished fifth in the Intermediate race at Parham two weeks ago. He was prominent until the penultimate fence where he weakened and will need to be at his best to challenge here. Hannah Clarke trained Monmouth Hill won a restricted race at Milborne St Andrew in March 2023 and was fourth in the restricted at Parham two weeks ago whilst Tim Underwood’s Cusp Of Carabelli was previously running under rules in Ireland where he recorded three victories. He won a conditions race at locking in April and was sixth on his most recent start in a novice rider’s race but should not be discounted. The final two entry is Tim Vaughan’s Designer Destiny has won her last two starts comfortably in maiden and restricted company.
The mixed open has eleven entries and again there are several entries that would have a chance of winning here. Gina Ellis trained Captain Biggles won all four of his starts in 2023 and won a ladies open at Ampton in January this year. He has finished second in his last two starts in Mixed Open’s. Gina also has Loughan entered who has won his last three races this season and is a course winner having won the ladies conditions race at this fixture in 2023. Their challenge could come from Alan Hill trained Reikers Island who won the men’s open at Parham two weeks ago and was also placed in a three mile six furlong conditions race in March. Kelly Morgan trained Go Go Geronimo has finished second in both starts this season and was only beaten a short head in a three mile four furlong conditions race at Higham most recently.
Ed Turner trained Take To Heart won a level one conditions race for veteran and novice riders at Fakenham in April and could get involved here, as could Who’s In The Box trained by Joan Johnston who was second in a mixed open at Guilsborough in March but pulled up on his latest start at Lockinge a month ago. Anthony Ward-Thomas trained Go Whatever also pulled up in that race but was third most recently at parham in the ladies open which was won by Rob Varnham’s Count Simon who is also entered here and will be looking to find the winner’s enclosure again and provides the hopes of a locally trained winner.
The other entries here are Andrew Pennock trained Jasmin des Bordes, James Mullins trained Potters Venture and John Whyte trained Sopran Thor. All three have ability but this could be a test as they have all struggled to date this season.
The level two conditions race over two miles four furlongs is an option for Ballintara, Benefaktor, Go Whatever, Cusp of Carabelli, Secret Cargo and Buffalo Sabre and all would have a chance of victory here. Gina Ellis also has a further two entries here. I’m Spellbound won four of his five starts in 2023. He was second in an Intermediate race in January but then fell at the final fence when in a clear lead at Larkhill in February and was only sixth in his latest race at Chaddesley Corbett. His stable mate Lunar Contact won the restricted race at Fakenham on April 21st having been placed in a couple of earlier starts in restricted company and both would be in with a chance if they line up for the starter. Alan Hill trained Urban Grit has won his two previous starts and has only been unplaced in one of his seven starts in point-to-points so is also one to pose a threat should he start. Simon Cross has both Dogon and Whoshotwho entered. Dogon has not raced since 5th May 2023 when he pulled up in a Hunter Chase and prior to this he was third in a Men’s open at Parham in April 2023. Whoshotwho has also not raced since April 2023 where he finished fourth in an owner-trainer conditions race. The final three entries here are Tim Vaughan’s Tight Call, Elizabeth Feakes Highway Hero and Rob Cundy trained Josh The Plod. Tight Call has had four starts in point-to-points and is yet to be placed. Highway Hero was eighth in a restricted race at Charing in March but was tailed off for much of the last circuit, whilst Josh The Plod has been placed in a Hunt Member’s race at Higham in March but refused three fences from the finish when beaten in a veteran horse conditions race at Fakenham two weeks ago.
The maiden race has sixteen entries, Ed Turner’s Graveside Lad had failed to complete in three starts this season but was only narrowly beaten in the maiden at Fakenham two weeks ago. He finished fifteen lengths ahead of Creapapy from Gina Ellis’s yard who is also entered here. Nigel Padfield’s Vango Vick has been placed on three of his four starts this season and is sure to run a big race again if he lines up here, however he was beaten by both Graveside Lad and Creapapy at Fakenham. Their key rival could be Tim Vaughan trained Bumpy Evans who also failed to complete on his first two starts but was second to Driveondonn at High Easter on April 13th in a race in which Graveside Lad pulled up. Chris Dennington trained Taghadoe finished fifth in this race having been sent off the favourite and could also get involved here if he starts.
Tim Underwood’s Windgap Hill was a bookmaker’s favourite at Parham two weeks ago but fell at the fourth fence so will be looking to get further on this occasion. He brought down Del Amitir trained by Pam Tetley. Del Amitir ran in Irish point-to-points in 2022 and early 2023 and was placed on a few occasions. She pulled up in the closing stages of her first race in England having been involved until mid-way through the race, so could definitely be involved here.
The Grissell team have Gold Bandit entered, he also pulled up in the maiden at High Easter won by Driveondonn, but he was second at Charing in March only a length behind Deep Purple. Suvla Bay from Rhiannon Lodge’s stable was placed in a point-to-point bumper in May 2022 and was chasing the winner when he slipped up on a bend at Trecoed in May 2023. He has not raced since but that does not discount him should he start. Chloe Boxall trained Whatwoulditb has only finished in one of his three starts and was tailed off during the final circuit so could find this to be a struggle. Ashford based trainer David Phelan has Hermes Roque and Tully Star entered but both have failed to complete on their point-to-point starts to date and will need to find a vast improvement to win this.
The final four entries have yet to race in a point-to-point, Chic Avenue trained by Will Thirlby has run in national Hunt Chases finishing sixth in November and pulling up in February, but she may appreciate the drop to point-to-points. Ciaran O’Brien trained A Little Something, Alan Hill trained Oka Tsuki and Andrew Pennock trained Ludovica would all be making their debut if they start. This does not discount them, but there ability remains unknown.
The level one conditions race follows, this is an option for Imperial Acolyte, Southfield Royale and the Grissell duo Ballintara and Acting Lass and this could be an easier option. However Rob Varnham has Trappist Monk entered, he was second behind Hawkhurst in the Veteran Horse Conditions race at Charing in February and was only a length behind Reikers Island in the men’s open at parham two weeks ago. The other entry here is Fabrique En France who was previously with Victoria Collins but would be having his first run for Hannah Hickman-Jones if he starts. He has pulled up on his previous two starts this season but would also have a chance here.
Racing concludes with the flat race for four and five year olds over two miles which has sixteen entries, many of whom will be having their first start in a race.
The going is currently good and the course can be found less than a mile from junction six of the M25.