Charing Races host their second fixture on Sunday 10th March where the going is currently good to soft, with the bottom bend being wet.
The first race of the day, the maiden race over 2 miles 4 furlongs is at 1pm and has attracted twelve entries. Three of those entered ran here at Charing on February 4th. Nigel Padfield’s Vango Vick who was placed in three of his five starts last season over three miles was six lengths second to the winner, A Quick Risk over this distance here at Charing last month. He finished three lengths ahead of William Rekert trained The Red Fella and both are entered here this time. The Red Fella ran well on his debut at Larkhill in November 2023 and finished second in his recent start at Ampton on January 14th, beaten by a length in the closing stages of the race, so definitely has the ability to win a maiden race. Local trainer David Phelan has Jus de Raisin entered, he finished fifth over this distance here in February but will have learnt a lot from that race. He is a five year old who had two starts in Irish Point-to-Points in April 2023 in which he pulled up both times but his last run was promising. Michael Kehoe owned and trained Ilitch has run in National Hunt Bumper races finishing two lengths third on his most recent start at Newcastle in December, if he takes to negotiating the fences he could also be involved in the finish if he lines up here.
Tim Vaughan has two entries, Designer Destiny and Maska du Morvan. Designer Destiny has had four starts in point-to-points this season and has finished second on her last two starts over both this shorter distance of 2 miles 4 furlongs at Larkhill and over the full three mile distance most recently at Higham where she was only half a length behind the winner, so she is also likely to be involved here if she starts. Maska du Morvan has only had one run in point-to-points at Chaddesley Corbett in December in which she pulled up, however she does have form in Irish point-to-points in 2022 so is not without ability. Andrew Pennock has Shanes Passion entered, he pulled up in the maiden at Higham where Designer Destiny was second, but he has some form in Irish point-to-points and is a half-brother to Unowhatimeanharry so cannot be ruled out.
Rushmount Boys was placed in three of his five starts last season all over three miles, he finished seventh at Sheriff Hutton over this distance on January 14th but pulled up at Garthorpe in February. He was previously with Tom Ellis but is now with Phil York so it will be interesting to see how he runs for his new owner / trainer if he starts. Heather Kemp trained Fiftyfifty is another entry who has run in national Hunt Bumpers, although he was unplaced in both starts. He, does has some decent form in Irish point-to-points having finished third in two starts in 2023 so is not without a chance here. Tim Underwood’s Innellan Shore also has form in Irish point-to-points but was disappointing for Gordon Elliott in National Hunt Chases, but should appreciate being back in point-to-point company. The final two entries here are Francesca Poste trained Peace Pact who has yet to race and Sarah Humphrey owned and trained Midnight Mystery who was prominent in the early stages of the maiden at Higham in February before falling at the fifteenth fence and prior to this she pulled up on her first start at Horseheath in January.
The restricted race follows the maiden and will also be run over the shorter 2 mile 4 furlong distance. Martin Wanless trained A Quick Risk won the maiden over this distance here at Charing in February, so will be looking for a second success here again. Shropshire based Laura Richardson trains Jeux D’Eau who is also entered for this race, he won the maiden at Tabley in May 2023 and has since run in a restricted race at Sheriff Hutton on January 14th and at Duncombe Park on February 4th and finished third on both occasions so could be a danger here. Tim Vaughan trained Mary’s Fortune will also be a threat, she was a comfortable winner of the maiden race at Great Trethew in November 2023 and was challenging for the lead when falling in the closing stages of the restricted race at Wadebridge in December 2023. Her last race was at Larkhill on February 4th where she finished three lengths second to Horizon d’Ainay. Phil York trained Touch Tight won a restricted race at Penshurst in March 2023 and then won the Hunt Members Race at Aldington Races on Easter Monday. He was second in an Intermediate Race at Horseheath in February and should be a danger here.
Nigel Padfield owned and trained Penniless is a course winner having won the two mile four furlong maiden at this fixture in 2023. He then won the restricted race at Parham in March 2023 but pulled up in his only other start in 2023 in the hunt member’s race at High Easter but that does not exclude him here, especially given that he was second in the restricted race at Brocklesby Park on February 10th over the full three miles, where he was prominent until the penultimate fence. William Rekert trained Why Didn’t Ya won a maiden race at Penshurst in March 2023, but the failed to complete in two starts in restricted company before finishing third at Parham in April 2023. He has pulled up on both starts to date this season at Larkhill and Ampton and he may find one or two too good if he starts here. Alan Hill trained Calidad won a maiden at Godstone in May 2023 but he pulled up in the final stages of the restricted race at Cocklebarrow in January, however he may prefer the ground conditions at Charing.
The final three entries here are from the South East area. Sarah Ashby owned and trained Imperial d’Ainay was second in a restricted at Parham in March 2023 behind Penniless but then seemed to struggle in restricted company and was seventh in his first start this season at Horseheath in January. Elizabeth Feakes Highway Hero also ran in this race and pulled up. He was then fourth in a level three conditions race at Higham but pulled up at Larkhill two weeks ago in a 2 mile 4 furlong ladies conditions race, so he may struggle here. Hannah Hickman-Jones has Hellavaheart entered, he previously raced on the flat, so it will be interesting to see how he copes with the fences.
The men’s open has the biggest entry with fifteen horses entered and this could be the race of the day. Francesca Poste has her multiple winner Kaproyale entered. Kaproyale has won eight of his eleven starts in point-to-points and has won two of the four Hunter Chases he has run in and has been placed second in the other two. Francesca also has Deise Aba entered, he was previously with Philip Hobbs and was a Grand National runner in 2022. He has had four starts in point-to-points and has won twice. He pulled up most recently at Badbury Rings. Anthony Ward-Thomas’s Go Whatever was another entrant who pulled up in that race and he may also find this a bit of a challenge.
Leighton Hopkins trained Minella Encore has point-to point form having won three of his five starts last season so he could be another one to be in with a chance here. Locally trained hopes will fall on David Phelan trained Buachaill Dana who was impressive in 2022 winning three of his five starts including the Southern Novice Championship Race. He did not show the same level of form in 2023 despite winning on his first start of the season in a novice rider’s race. He ran in the ladies open at Ampton in January and finished fifth, seventeen lengths behind the victor, Captain Biggles and was third behind Lusitanien in the Ladies open race at Charing in February. Ella Gillings trained Definite Dilemma won both his starts in point-to-points in 2023 and was prominent for much of his first start this season in a mixed open at Larkhill, however he weakened in the closing stages and was pulled up but should be better for that run.
Tim Vaughan has two entries here, Tight Call had not been seen on a racecourse since November 2021 until he made his first start in a point-to-point at Wadebridge in December in a level two veteran and novice riders race where he finished sixth having been prominent until the third fence from the finish. He has again been prominent until the final stages of his subsequent two starts at Larkhill in February and at Charlton Horethorne last weekend, and he may also find a couple just a bit too good here. Vaughan’s other entry is Siberian Star who has had three starts in point-to-points this season. He has finished third in two starts at Dunsmore and Larkhill and was fifth behind Red Maple in a novice rider’s race at Ampton in January.
Pont Aven moved from James Owen to Alexandra Dunn in 2023 having been a runner in the 2022 Aintree Foxhunter’s Chase. He finished second in two point-to-point starts in 2023 but unseated in his only start this season when in with a chance at Higham in a level two conditions race. Benjamin Case trained Kilbrew Boy finished second in this race but was twenty five lengths behind the winner Shentri, he has ability but may find this a struggle. John Maxwell-Smith’s Ecco may also find some of his rival’s here just a bit too good to beat. He had mixed form in 2023 and pulled up on his only start this season at Larkhill in the level two conditions race, but he was in touch until the fourteenth fence, so could be involved here.
The final three entries here are locally trained with two from the Grissell yard at Brightling. 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 his only start in a point-to –point at Ampton in January. His stable mate Just A Sting last raced in December 2021 finishing eighth in a national hunt chase at Wincanton before dropping to point-to-pointing. He ran in the level three conditions race here at Charing in February but pulled up on that occasion. The final entry here is Hannah Hickman-Jones trained Buffalo Sabre. He was placed in two starts at Parham in March and April 2023 but has pulled up in his last three starts including the level two conditions race at Larkhill in December which was won by Deise Aba. Buffalo Sabre ran here at Charing in February and was sixth in the Veteran Horse Conditions Race, and again he may struggle in this company.
The ladies level two conditions race follows and is an options for the Grissell trained duo, Acting Lass and Just A Sting. This is also an option for Buachaill Dana. Lusitanien was previously with Fergal O’Brien, he won a two mile national hunt chase in September 2023 and was then placed second in two further national hunt chases in October 2023. He is now trained by Edward Rees and clearly appreciated the drop to point-to-pointing as he won the ladies open at Charing five weeks ago finishing ahead of Buachaill Dana and Alan Hill trained Back Bar who also holds an entry here. Back Bar finished second in the ladies open at Horseheath on December 31st to Tigerbythetail so definitely has the ability to win here.
Not That Fuisse was previously with Dan Skelton and ran in the 2023 Aintree Foxhunters where he finished seventh. Now trained by Tom Ellis he was fourth in his first start in a point-to-point at Milborne St Andrew at the end of January and was fourth in the mixed open at Higham four weeks ago. Sara Bradstock trains Myth Buster who ran in a hunter chase at Wincanton six weeks ago finishing fifth. Prior to this he has had two starts in point-to-points this season both at Larkhill and has been prominent until the final part of the race.
Sarah Ashby owned and trained Monkey Puzzle who also has an entry here, won a level one conditions race at Godstone in May 2023. Monkey Puzzle has been placed in ten of his thirteen starts, he was third at Ampton in a Novice Riders Race in January and last weekend was second in a Novice Riders Race at Ampton. Imperial Acolyte finished behind Monkey Puzzle at Godstone in May 2023 but was third behind Hawkhurst in the Veteran Horse Conditions Race at Charing five weeks ago, finishing only five lengths behind the winner.
Tim Underwood’s Cusp Of Carabelli was previously running under rules in Ireland where he recorded three victories but the most recent was in February 2021. He has had two starts in point-to-points since joining Tim Underwood where he pulled up in a level two conditions race at Larkhill on New Year’s Eve and he pulled up in the level three conditions race at Charing in February so this might also be a challenge. Francesca Poste trained Russian Diamond was third in a men’s open at Alnwick on December 17th. He pulled up in the men’s open race won by Premier Magic at Sheriff Hutton on January 14th but then finished fifth in a Hunter Chase won by D’Jango at Warwick a week later. He completed in a level two conditions race at Badbury Rings three weeks ago but weakened in the closing stages of the race.
Too Many Diamonds who is also entered here, pulled up in the level two conditions race at Badbury Rings three weeks ago and has only finished in one of his five starts to date this season. The final entry in this race is Sum it Up who has moved from Andrew Pennock’s yard to Anthony Humphrey. He won a level two conditions race for novice riders at Garthorpe in April 2022 but pulled up on his first start since changing stable in the novice rider’s race at Ampton won by Red Maple. He also pulled up in the level three conditions race at Charing in February but won a novice riders race at Higham the following week.
The level three owner-trainer conditions race has only five entries and is an option for Imperial Acolyte who may find this an easier option than the ladies conditions race. Too Many Diamonds also has this as an option and again may find this an easier task. Nigel Benstead has two entries here, Thomas Junior and Streets of London. Thomas Junior missed 2023 but completed in the veteran horse conditions race at Charing five weeks ago but finished fourth and was fifteen lengths behind Imperial Acolyte. Streets of London also missed 2023 but has been placed in the top three in fourteen of his nineteen starts. He also completed in his only start so far this season at Charing in February finishing fourth in a close finish between the four finishers in the level three conditions race. He is talented and despite the small number of entries this could also provide an exciting finish. The final entry here is Brian Dowling’s The Yellow Mini. She finished fourth in two starts in 2023 but was second behind Silver Sheen in the level three conditions race at Higham four weeks ago.
The fixture finishes with a maiden conditions race which is an option for Jus de Raisin, Vango Vick and The Red Fella. Tim Underwood trained Kyler Kane was placed in his first start in a point-to-point at Cocklebarrow in January and a week later finished fourth in a maiden at Milborne St Andrew and he could be a challenger here. Francesca Poste trained Deep Purple has only run in maiden races over the shorter distance to date but has finished second on all three of his starts and as long as he has the stamina for the full three mile distance he will also have a chance here. Phil York trained Phil The Sock was third in his first start in a point-to-point at Kingston Blount in May 2023, he was hampered in his only start this season at Horseheath three weeks ago and unseated as a result but he too could be a threat here. Imaginaire from Tim Vaughan’s stable has been placed in both starts in maiden races this season and again comes here with a strong chance of finding the winner’s enclosure.
Gold Bandit trained by the Grissell team has been placed on a couple of starts in 2023, but was only sixth in the maiden at Ampton in January and may find some of his rivals tough to beat. Royal Bucks trained by Hannah Clarke has yet to race this season but only completed on one of his three starts in 2023 so is another who might struggle here but should not be discounted if he makes his seasonal debut here.
Bea Coward trained Rocky Creed has also failed to complete in his starts in England but has been placed in Irish point-to-points. The final entrant here is Whatwoulditb trained by Chloe Boxall, he is also an ex Irish point-to-pointer but he also pulled up on his only start in England at Cocklebarrow in January in the race where Kyler Kane was third.
Racing starts at 1pm with gates open from 11am. Admission is £15 per person (cash only) with under 16’s admitted for free, mother’s admitted for £10 (as it’s Mother’s day) and race cards at £3 (cash only). There will be bookmakers, food outlets and a bar and dogs are welcome on short leads. Wrap up and come and enjoy a day at the races.
The postcode for the course is TN27 0JD and What3words is rejoins.freshest.rudder. Charing railway station is a 10-15 minute walk from the course.