GOING UPDATE: the course is being watered, this was started Saturday 20th and will continue until Friday when the aggravator will be used. An official going video and update will be posted Thursday morning.
Parham hosts their second point-to-point meeting of 2019 on Saturday. The racing starts with the Intermediate race at 2pm in which Cynthia Woods has both Florella and Lickety Split entered. Florella was narrowly beaten by Streets Of London in the Intermediate race at Penshurst in March and finished second behind Franks A Million in the men’s open at Aldington on Easter Monday so clearly has the ability to take the victory here. Lickety Split has finished third on his last two starts including at Parham in March behind Indian Chance and subsequently at Penshurst in the Conditions race behind Platinum Ben who also holds an entry in the race. Alan Hill trained Desert Retreat won the restricted at Penshurst but only had one rival to beat so may find this a tougher task. Hill also has Stage One entered who won a hunt members race in March but finished behind Florella at Penshurst and has since been third in a novice riders race at Edgcote. David Kemp owned and trained Law Of Gold has been impressive in restricted company this season having finished second at both Garthorpe meetings in February and March before winning at Guilsborough at the beginning of April and he could prove to be a big threat to hopes of an area winner.
The open maiden race has attracted eleven entrants but many have more letters to their form than numbers. Stand-out entrant is Jappeloup from the Grissell team who was a close second behind Forgiving at Godstone at the beginning of April having unseated on his first start at Penshurst in March. Gemma Cobb’s Iron In The Soul was third in his last start at Parham in March and was declared to run on Easter Saturday at Charing but was withdrawn on veterinary advice before the start of the race and if his is in the form he showed at the last Parham meeting could definitely be involved at the finish. Cynthia Woods has Bit Of A Legend entered who raced in a Point-to-Point flat race in march finishing seventh so it will be interesting to see how he copes over fences. Get The Gate is an unraced four year old from Tom Ellis’s yard so again it will be exciting to see how he copes in his first race if he lines up before the starter.
Court Dismissed and Head Spin both benefitted from walk-overs at Charing last Saturday but will find the ladies open a tougher task this weekend. David Phelan trained Generous Ransom finished second on Easter Monday at Aldington behind Don’t Do Mondays with Maggie Howie’s See You Jack just behind in third. Both are experienced enough to win in this company and should be involved in the final stages of the race. Streets Of London from Tim Underwood’s team has been impressive in maiden, restricted and intermediate company and also benefitted from a walk-over in the conditions race at Charing so it will be fascinating to see if this 5 year old is as good in open company. From the same yard Golden Crisp finished behind Streets Of London earlier in the season and may struggle to reverse the form. Tom Ellis trained Blue Mountain Boy was fifth in a hunter chase at Leicester at the start of the season and has been second in two ladies open races since so will be looking to go one better here. Le Fou Royal ran well at Penshurst in March when narrowly beaten by Top Smart but unseated at Penshurst next time out. He is clearly capable and could cause a surprise here.
Le Fou Royal also has the Conditions race as an option as does Streets Of London and Desert Retreat. The Grissell team have four entered, Arbeo, De Clare Man, Ashanti Moon and Head Spin. Head Spin walked-over in the hunt member’s race at Charing and was third in the novice and veteran rider’s race at Aldington on Monday. Arbeo finished fourth in the men’s open at Aldington whilst Ashanti Moon unseated on his only start since 2014 at Penshurst in March and De Clare Man finished behind Streets Of London at the same meeting and may struggle to reverse that form. Cynthia Woods veteran Glint Of Steel won a hunt members race earlier this year and was five lengths second behind Free Of Charge at Aldington on Monday and is likely to get involved if he starts in this race.
Several horses have the men’s open race as an option on Saturday so it will be interesting to see where owners / trainers take their chances. Ashanti Moon, Florella, Generous Ransom, Head Spin and Streets Of London are all entered. Nigel Benstead’s Thomas Junior is a course winner having won the hunt members race here in March but he may find this a slightly tougher mission. Vivaldi Collonges from James Owen’s Suffolk yard was a very impressive winner at Parham in March when taking the veteran and novice rider’s race almost two fences clear of his nearest rival and is going to be the one to beat here if making the journey to Sussex. Tim Underwood’s Timmie Roe also comes into the race with impressive form having won his last six starts and will be looking to add to his silverware collection here. Depending on declarations for this race this could be the race of the day with the possibility of a thrilling finish.
The concluding restricted race has only eight entrants but includes Broadwater who won the maiden at Fakenham two weeks ago having been second in maiden company here at Parham in March. Hannah Clarke’s Shanoule Wood who beat Broadwater on that occasion holds an entry and will be hoping to record his second victory at Parham. Cynthia Woods Uknowwhatimean beat Monmouth Hill to lose his maiden status at Penshurst two weeks ago and could find a quick second victory here. Woods also has Dontdillydally entered who was fifth on Monday at Aldington. Tim Underwood’s Shallamar finished second in the restricted at Charing on Easter Saturday having every chance at the penultimate fence he weakened over the run to the final fence losing out to Steel The China by eight lengths. Underwood also has Bluebell Sally entered who was third last time out at Penshurst behind Platinum Ben and may just find one or two here a little too good. He also has Miss Massey entered who won a mare’s maiden at Edgcote two weeks ago in her only point-to-point start to date and will be looking to make it two victories from two starts.
Pony racing precedes the racing from 12:30pm.
Early bird tickets can be bought for £13 from www.parhamraces.com or on the gate for £15 per person. Under 16’s free.
With 40 plus trade and food stands, fun fair, bookies, Skinners Dog show and Allsaved Countryside Arena there really is something for everyone so come along and enjoy a fabulous day out.