Parham hosts the first of their meetings on Saturday where alongside the point-to-point races there will be pony racing at 12:15 and 12:30pm, a fun dog show starting at 1:15pm with guest judge Tim Wonnacott and the chance to watch the six nations rugby.
The hunt member’s race kicks off the point-to-point races at 1:45pm. Strollawaynow hasn’t been seen since running at Fontwell in May 2018 but could return to the winner’s enclosure here on his seasonal debut for owner/trainer Andrew Wates. Gemma Cobb has three entered including For Yes for Alex Embiricos who has pulled up on both recent starts. Cobb also has Letskeepit Simple who is a previous course winner and was runner up in this race in 2017 which was won by her other runner Take The Mick. Thomas Junior ran well behind Excitable Island at Godstone and may well improve for that run where he finished fourth.
Cobb has Mano Cornuto entered in the restricted race who won his maiden race at Cottenham before pulling up in restricted company at Charing in February. The Grissell team from Brightling have Ballintara entered who won the maiden race at Charing under Oz Wedmore who is likely to take the ride again. Stingthebookies finished second in his last outing for Hannah Jones at Higham three weeks ago and could be the best chance of a local winner. However there are strong entries from outside the area including Almost There from Nicholas Wright’s yard who also won at Cottenham in December before struggling at Godstone two weeks ago in tacky going. Classico Dais from Tom Ellis’s yard in Warwickshire is another who won a maiden in the early part of the season before finishing fourth in restricted company at Chaddesley Corbett three weeks ago and could be the one to beat if travelling down to line up.
The mixed open has attracted 22 entries including Conkies Lad from Charlotte Marshall’s yard who was second in a hunter chase at Lingfield in February proving that at the age of thirteen he still loves racing. Rendezvous Peak from Phil York’s yard hasn’t run since winning a ladies open in June 2018 but could prove to be an interesting contender as could Work Du Breteau a new recruit for Stuart Robinson who could make his point-to-point debut having left Dan Skelton’s yard over the summer. Cloudy Bob was in contention and looked like he could cause an upset at Godstone two weeks ago when falling at the penultimate fence. He will be partnered by Tabitha Worsley and should once again run a solid race and be in the frame at the finish if negotiating the fences without any problem. Once again there are several out of area entries including Petrou from the Atherstone hunt who won the mixed open at Charm Park two weeks ago. Nigel Padfield’s Excitable Island was a comfortable winner at Godstone two weeks ago and is likely to run a big race once again and Alan Hill enjoys taking trophies back to his Oxfordshire base and has Start Royal entered who won on his last start at the end of January.
Adept Approach was another unlucky faller at the penultimate fence at Godstone when in contention in the novice rider’s race two weeks ago and could atone for his error in the Conditions Race for novice riders under owner / jockey Cosmo Ball. Lukes Hill who is now at Sarah Ashby’s yard has won two of his previous eleven starts in point-to-points but hasn’t been in the winner’s enclosure since 2017 and Hannah Jones’s Max My Boy finished fourth behind Kashmir Peak at Godstone and should improve for the run. Woodfleet from Kate Bandey’s Isle of Wight yard would be a potential threat to a local winner as could either of James Owen’s entries Silvergrove and Vivaldi Collonges.
The following conditions race could provide Indian Chance from David Phelan’s yard in Ashford with a further victory although Cynthia Woods will be hoping that Lickety Split can reverse the placings from their last meeting at Charing in February. Charlotte Marshall may well send out Frampton who finished third in his first point-to-point start at Cottenham in December finishing third behind Sharp Suit. Warwickshire based Francesca Nimmo’s first season pointer Black Jewel has already won in maiden and restricted company and could also provide Indian Chance with a challenge and prevent a local victory in this race.
The concluding maiden race has only attracted ten entries but they include Winola for owner, trainer, jockey Katie Featherstone who has been placed in all three starts this season and should soon be hitting the winner’s enclosure. Shanoule Wood from Hannah Clarke’s South Dorset yard finished ahead of Winola at Godstone two weeks ago when both finished behind Indirocco and will be looking to go one better this time out. Gemma Cobb’s Iron In The Soul pulled up at Charing in February but if he can settle could also be involved in the finish.
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