Parham Races hosts their fixture on Saturday 20th April with the first race taking place at 2pm. This is the Intermediate Race and has attracted seven entries, all of whom have a chance. Justin Brotherton’s Horizon d’Ainay has frequented the winner’s enclosure three times this season in five starts and could be the one to beat here, although Nicholas Wright trained Mount Pleasant has won two restricted races so far this season from four starts and could be a danger to Horizon d’Ainay. Rob Cundy trained Josh The Plod won a restricted race at Parham in 2022 and would also come here with a chance of finding the winners enclosure again. Dorset based Hannah Clarke has both Monmouth Hill and Right Hand of God entered. Monmouth Hill won a restricted race in March 2023 but has only had one start this season where he pulled up. Right Hand of God won the restricted race at Charing in February but pulled up in his subsequent start two weeks ago at Kingston Blount, having been prominent in the early part of the race, but he too is not without a chance here if he can find the form he had at Charing. Alan Hill trained Our Brother John won a restricted race in December but he pulled up in the restricted race that Right Hand of God won at Charing in February. However he was second in the Intermediate race at Paxford on Easter Monday and could easily go one better here. The other entry is the only locally trained entry and is Hannah Hickman-Jones trained Buffalo Sabre. He ran in the men’s open at Charing in March which was won by Kaproyale and finished sixth and he pulled up in his latest start at Kimble three weeks ago.
The maiden race for horses who have not yet won a race follows and has eleven entries. Nigel Padfield’s Vango Vick has been placed on all three starts this season and is sure to run a big race again if he lines up here. Max Comley trained Spaghetti Pete has only had two starts to date but was involved in a close finish at Paxford on Easter Monday finishing a short head behind the second who was only a neck behind the winner. Tim Underwood’s Windgap Hill was second at in the Maiden race at Parham in his only start in 2023. He failed to complete on his first three starts this season but finished two lengths second to Sforza Castle at Lockinge on Easter Monday, so is not without a chance if he starts. Alan Hill has Barry Scott entered who has been prominent in the early stages of his three races this season, he has ability but will need to maintain his stamina for the full three miles to get himself into the winners enclosure.
Ashford based trainer David Phelan has two entries, Tully Star and Newcastle Succes. Tully Star has failed to complete in three Irish point-to-points and has not started in England to date, however Newcastle Succes has had four starts to date and had finished third on both occasions when he finished, including most recently at High Easter last weekend. He was adrift of the first two finishers but this was a fast run race so he could be involved here. Other local entries here include Elder Statesman for Sarah Ashby who has run and been placed in Irish point-to-points in 2022, but he has pulled up in both starts this season and may struggle here. Pam Tetley’s Del Amitir also ran in Irish point-to-points in 2022 and early 2023 and was placed on a few occasions. She has only had one start in England two weeks ago where she pulled up in the closing stages having been involved until mid-way through the race. She could benefit from that race to get herself involved if she starts.
Nikki Henton trained College Field has had two starts in maidens this season, he pulled up at Larkhill in January and finished sixth at Higham at the end of March but was some way behind Vango Vick on that occasion, and is another who may struggle here. Hannah Clarke trained Marching Mason finished third in an Irish point-to-point in 2023 but has pulled up on both starts this season for his new trainer in 2 mile 4 furlong maiden’s so he could also struggle over the full three miles. The other entry here is Free The Lion trained by Laura Hurley. He has also been placed in Irish point-to-point in 2023 and was placed third in his one start this season at Cotley four weeks ago, so he too could benefit from that race experience and could get involved.
The ladies open has seven entries and is an option for Hannah Clarke’s Right hand of God. Rob Varnham trained Count Simon won the ladies open at this fixture in 2023 and will be looking to repeat that success here again. He is yet to find the winners enclosure this season and finished second behind Lusitanien at Charing in February and was fourth most recently in a novice rider’s race at Kingston Blount on April 7th. Sarah Ashby trained Monkey Puzzle finished second behind Count Simon here last year and has finished second a length behind Back Bar at Charing in March in a ladies open and was third in a novice rider’s race at Kimble on March 30th on his most recent start. Katie Featherstone’s Imperial Acolyte won an owner-trainers conditions race at Charing in March finishing five lengths ahead of The Yellow Mini. He was fifth in his latest start in a level two conditions race at Lockinge but is not without the ability to cause a shock here. The Grissell team have Acting Lass and Ballintara entered. Acting Lass finished second in a two mile seven furlong chase at Ascot in 2019 but then has pulled up on all subsequent starts in the National Hunt sphere and he pulled up in both of his starts in a point-to-point this season. Ballintara was placed in ladies open company in 2023 but finished behind both Count Simon and Monkey Puzzle here at Parham in 2023. He finished fifth in a veteran horse conditions race at Charing in February and was sixth in a level two conditions race at Higham three weeks ago, so he may also find this a challenge.
Go Whatever is the final entry here for Anthony Ward-Thomas, he has only completed in one of his six starts in point-to-points and that was in a men’s open at Charing in March where he finished fourth, twenty lengths behind Kaproyale, so he may also be one that finds this a challenge.
The level three owner conditions race follows, this race is an option for both Imperial Acolyte and Mount Pleasant, and both would have a chance if they choose this option. They are likely to face Rob Varnham’s Ripper Roo who has been placed on all three of his starts this season. He was beaten by a short head at Charing in February by Urban Grit and was third in a 2 mile 4 furlong mixed open at Kingston Blount two weeks ago finishing nine lengths behind the winner Loughan. Thomas Murray trained Farrants Way has been placed in four of his five starts in point-to-points with one success to his name in a level three conditions race at Brocklesby Park in February. He finished third in a 3 mile 4 furlong mixed open at Cothelstone in March and was prominent until the closing stages of the race so should be in contention over three miles.
Brian Dowling’s The Yellow Mini finished second to Imperial Acolyte at Charing in March, she also ran in a longer 3 mile 4 furlong race in her latest start and pulled up at the penultimate fence, but again should be in contention over the three mile distance here is she starts. Nikki Henton’s Hybery had a mixed season in 2023 and has only had one start so far this season where he was pulled up in a ladies open at Badbury Rings and he may struggle here too.
Nigel Benstead owned and trained Thomas Junior missed 2023 but completed in the veteran horse conditions race at Charing in February but finished fourth and was fifteen lengths behind Imperial Acolyte. He has pulled up on both starts since at Charing and Kimble and will need to find his best form if he is to challenge here. Sara Cross trained Whoshotwho has only had two starts in point-to-points and both were at Parham in 2023. He pulled up in the level three conditions race in March 2023 but was fourth in April 2023 in an owner-trainer conditions race and was in with a chance until the penultimate fence, The final entry is Hannah West’s Kilfords Queen who has failed to complete in all five of her starts this season, so this would be a tough ask.
The men’s open is the fifth race of the day and has ten entries. This is an option for Ballintara and Whoshotwho, but this is not an easier option for either. Ella Gillings trained Definite Dilemma is a course winner having won the INEO Mixed Open in March 2023. He finished second, a length behind Kaproyale at Charing in March, but unseated early in his next start at Higham at the end of March. He was fourth, seventeen lengths behind Loughan in the mixed open at Kingston Blount two weeks ago but could have a chance if he starts. Rob Cundy trained Castle Trump also holds a good chance if he starts. He found the winner’s enclosure at Ampton in January when he won the men’s open defeating Go Geronimo by a length. He pulled up at Charing in the men’s open in February and was third in a mixed open at Higham in mid-February.
Nicholas Wright’s Red Maple finished second behind Definite Dilemma here at Parham last March. He won a novice rider’s race at ampton in January and was second to Raleagh Flora at Charing in February when Castle Trump pulled up. He has finished twice on his two subsequent starts and will definitely be looking to go one better here.
Alan Hill trained Reikers Island pulled up in the Aintree Foxhunters Chase on April 11th but he was third in a 3 mile 6 furlong conditions race at High Easter in March and was only outpaced in the closing stages of the race. Rob Varnham’s Trappist Monk also holds a chance here. He is another course winner having won the men’s open at this fixture in 2023. He was second behind Hawkhurst in the Veteran Horse Conditions race at Charing in February which was his most recent start. Wireless Operator is also a dual course winner having won the level one conditions race here at parham in March 2023 and the level three owner-trainer conditions race in April 2023. He has however, struggled to find his form this season but he is not without a chance. Derek Laverty trained Southfield Royale has ability but is another who might find one or two just a little bit too good. Louise dace trained Premier d’Troice is the final entry in this race. He has won three National Hunt chases and was third in a hurdle race at newton abbot in June 2023, but he has unseated in both of his starts in point-to-points, however, he too is not without the ability but may struggle in this company.
The fixture concludes with the restricted race which is also a fairly open race. Alan Hill has two entries, Highland Glory and Threeunderthree. Highland Glory pulled up in a restricted at Wadebridge in December but was second in the hunt member’s race at Kimble at the end of March. Threeunderthree won a 2 mile 4 furlong maiden at Cocklebarrow in January and followed this result with a third place in restricted company at Higham in February, so both come here with a chance of victory. Freddie Mitchell trained Cossack Dancer won a maiden race at Knightwick in late 2022 and was then placed in two restricted races in December 2022 and January 2023, but then struggled in restricted company in 2023 failing to complete a race. He pulled up on his most recent start at Badbury Rings in November 2023 so he could be an interesting contender here.
Nigel Padfield trained Penniless won a restricted race at Parham in March 2023 in a race where Highland Glory was contesting the lead until running out at the penultimate fence. Penniless has finished second on two of her last three starts including her latest start in restricted company at Lockinge on Easter Monday so she is sure to be involved if she lines up for the starter. Dean Summersby’s Russian Invasion has also been placed on his latest two starts in a restricted at Stafford Cross in April 2023 and an Intermediate at Kilworthy in March where he was eleven lengths behind the winner. 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 to find the winners enclosure as does Hannah Clarke trained Monmouth Hill who won a restricted race at Milborne St Andrew in March 2023 but he pulled up on his only start this season at Kingston Blount two weeks ago, but he should benefit from that run.
Money Spinner trained by Rhiannon Lodge won a maiden at Garthorpe in March 2023 and was seven lengths second behind Jeux d’Eau in the restricted race at Wrexham on March 10th so he will be looking to go one better here and would appear to have the ability to do so. The final entry is William Rekert’s Why Didn’t Ya. He was third in the restricted race at this fixture in 2023 behind Tim Underwood’s Must have Hope, but so far this season he has failed to complete and has pulled up on all three starts. If he can find his form he would also have a chance here but this would be a tough test based on his current form.
The going at Parham is currently good with soft patches. Admission to Parham is £20 per adult with accompanied under 16’s free of charge in the Inner car park or for the premium car park £25 per car plus £20 per adult with accompanied under 16’s free of charge. The course is located off the A283 between Pulborough and Storrington and can be found with the postcode RH20 2ER.
There will be lots of activities and trade stands for the whole family to enjoy.