Going update: Following the official course inspection the going is currently good to firm, good in places, the Equivator will be used where appropriate through Friday night. There is fresh ground on all the bends and through the dip.
Point to Point racing returns to Penshurst on Saturday with racing starting at 2pm with the 3 mile open maiden race. Although this has only attracted six entries it includes Monmouth Hill from Hannah Clarke’s Dorset yard who was second last time out at the previous Penshurst meeting finishing behind Twist On Ginge. James Owen trained Broadwater also finished second last time out at Parham and could be a threat to Mon mouth Hill. Of the local entries Cynthia Woods trained Uknowwhatimean was an unlucky faller at the penultimate fence in his first start and subsequently pulled up at Godstone last time out but should be able to win in this company.
Entries in the conditions race include Florella and Glint Of Steel both from Cynthia Woods team. Glint Of Steel won the members race at Penshurst last time out whilst Florella finished second by a marginal distance behind Streets Of London in the Intermediate and both will come into this race looking to hit the winner’s enclosure. Woods also has Lickety Split entered who was third in his last start at Parham behind Indian Chance and if he is the favoured runner form the yard would also have a shout. Steve Spice trained Le Fou Royal was second in the ladies open behind Top Smart at the previous Penshurst meeting and if finding that form again could prove a danger in this race. The dangers to local hopes of a winner are most likely to come from East Anglia with Nigel Padfield’s Platinum Ben looking for a second victory at Penshurst this season having won the restricted race here last time. James Owen’s Silvergrove finished fourth last time out in a hunter chase at Ascot and is also likely to be fighting out the finish if he lines up at the start. The Alan Hill trained duo of Velvet Cognac and Allie Beag also should not be ignored although both failed to complete in their latest starts at Kingston Blount at the end of March with Velvet Cognac unseating and Allie Beag pulling up.
The ladies open is an option for Le Fou Royal but if going for this option he could have to face Start Royal from Alan Hill’s yard who finished third last time out at High Easter. Alan Hill also has Court Dismissed entered for the Glebe House Racing Club who won at Penshurst last season but pulled up on his only start so far this season at Barbury in February. The Turner family from Suffolk have both Kriss William and Sa Kaldoon entered. Sa Kaldoon has been knocking on the door all season but has always found one too good but this could just prove to be his day whilst Kriss William finished second behind Don’t Do Mondays last time out at High Easter. Maggie Howie’s See You Jack won at Penshurst in 2017 and gave Glint Of Steel a run for his money in the hunt members race here last time and could surprise a few of his younger rivals.
Nigel Padfield’s Quick Oats has both the ladies and men’s open as an option. If going for the men’s open his dangers could be Florella is she takes this option over the conditions race. Conkies Lad only managed to finish fourth at Penshurst last time out having finished second in a Hunter Chase at Lingfield earlier in the season. Adept Approach is another veteran pointer who still loves racing. He was an unlucky faller when in contention at the penultimate fence at Godstone in early March but then fell early on at Parham in mid-March. If his jumping holds up he should be involved at the finish if he takes his chance.
The restricted has a select entry of four including Twist on Ginge who won the maiden here in March. Hannah Clarke’s Shanoule Wood finished second behind Platinum Ben in the restricted at the earlier Penshurst meeting but is not without a chance of winning this race. Desert Retreat unseated early in his latest start at Godstone last Sunday and this is definitely within his realm of capability whereas Pinsandneedles has failed to finish in all recent runs.
The meeting concludes with a veteran and novice rider’s race which is an option for Adept Approach and owner / jockey Cosmo Ball. Court Dismissed and Conkies Lad also both hold entries in this race as does Conkies Lad stable mate Never Complain. Mary Ashby and Lukes Hill completed to finish fifth in only their second start in the Intermediate race at the previous Penshurst meeting and should improve for that run. Gingili owned and trained by Johnny Farrelly has been placed in three of his four starts in novice rider races this season including a victory at Stone Easton three weeks ago. He unseated last time out but does appear to be the one to beat.