PREVIEW: DUNSTON HARRIERS (SATURDAY 10TH JANUARY)

We’re underway in East Anglia and after a great meeting at Horseheath, with some excellent racing, the action moves to Ampton, near Bury St. Edmunds, for the Dunston Harriers fixture on Saturday January 10th. The card comprises of six races, the first of which is at midday with a total of 58 entries of which 7 have been either double or treble entered on the card with final declarations being made, on the day.

There are increasing opportunities for the older generation both under rules and in points to compete against their own age group. The first race, a Conditions race ( Level 3) provides such an opportunity for which 10 entries have been made, although five of these, Aikenbreakinheart, All Loved Up, East Street, Go Go Geronimo and Grange Island also hold an alternative engagement during the afternoon. Of these five, only Grange Island has had a run this season, finishing third in a Men’s Open race at Charing. Go Go Geronimo will be starting in a point for his eighth consecutive season and has only failed to finish in the first three in points on one occasion. Consistency is the also the theme for All Loved Up who has only finished outside the first three on one occasion in eight starts in points. Coolagh Park has a similar profile having finished in the first three in all his 10 point to point starts which includes a win around this course in March 2024. Mumbo Jumbo, a late recruit to the pointing field, won four of his five starts during his first pointing season, having failed to win under rules. Skandiburg, another late starter to pointing, ran a promising race to finish a close 2nd to Midnight River at Chaddesley Corbett over 2 ½ miles in early December.

The Maiden Race has 13 entries of which four have had a run this year, the most promising of these was by Another Notion who finished a six length, runner-up at Lower Machen on the first day of this season, back in November. Emmet Square finished 5th at Charing, whilst the ex-Irish Guseakie comes from the in-form Francesca Poste yard and Harper Creek unseated at Horseheath on the last day of December. Apart from Give Me More who is unraced, the remainder of the entries have previously been running either under rules or in Irish points. The horse that stands out is Jorah who is now in the care of trainer Alan Hill, Jorah finished 2nd for trainer Dan Skelton on his most recent run in a 2½ mile novices handicap ‘chase at Lingfield in November and finished as though a longer trip would be beneficial. Walkingtheline could represent the formidable Chris Barber stable and had four outings, for trainer Tom Lacey, under rules and cannot be ruled out of predictions.

There are six entries for both the Ladies and Men’s Open races. In the Ladies Open race only Tigerbythetail has yet to run this season and has an alternative entry at Wadebridge. Stable companion, from the Gina Andrews yard, Loughan is a winner of 10 points to-date including a 2½ mile Ladies Conditions success at Garthorpe at the end of November. He followed this with a 3rd place, beaten 3¾ lengths at Alnwick in mid-December in a Ladies Open. Myth Buster won on his seasonal reappearance, winning the same race as last season at Larkhill, in which Somptueux was 10 lengths behind, in 4th place. Shentri was leading a Ladies Conditions race at Charing recently when unseating his rider on the second circuit, and seven-time Ampton course winner Tullys Touch finished 2nd last week, in a Ladies Open at Horseheath, in tactical affair, beaten 3 lengths by Fairly Famous.

The three horses from the Men’s Open race to have run this season, all ventured at various times to Larkhill. Famous Clermont, the 2023 Aintree Foxhunter winner reappeared in a 2 ½ mile Men’s Open race, finishing 4th to A Jet of Our Own at the end of November. At the same meeting I K Brunel finished 2nd to Myth Buster in the Ladies Open race and a couple of weeks later Magical Escape was runner up to Kandor in a Conditions race, at the Larkhill course. The remaining three entries who have yet to run all hold other entries, namely Aikenbreakinheart, East Street and Go Go Geronimo.

It is also likely that those with a recent run will come to the fore in the Restricted race. Trainer Bradley Gibbs’ Ask Elli beat the up-and-coming Glancing Hill at Kingston Blount last February to lose her maiden tag but then disappointed, when pulled up, in her final race of the season at the same course, in April. Call Me Early finished a promising 3rd, beaten only 4 lengths, at Chaddesley Corbett in early December, whilst around that same course Easy Rider held on well to win a Maiden race, at the end of December. Colibri Bleu was in contention when falling at the 3rd last at Garthorpe in November and Myfanwy, ran twice in November, failing to finish last time at Dunsmore having previously run well to finish 2nd at Lower Machen. Jasmin des Bordes who finished 4th in a 2½ mile Restricted race, for new connections, at the recent Charing meeting won a Maiden race around Ampton last season and Tellmesomethingood finished 3rd at Larkhill in mid-December. Both Rounditoff and Time To Upgrade ran last week at Horseheath, Rounditoff finished 5th in the Maiden race, whilst Time To Upgrade was well behind in the Restricted race.

The concluding PPORA Club Members Conditions Race for novice riders has entries for three of the first four from last week’s race at Horseheath. The winner, Hubrisko, who was doubling up, the 3rd Carrolls Cottage and the 4th Back Bar are all entered whilst those entered in earlier races who could easily turn up in this contest are All Loved Up, Shentri and Imnottalkingtoyou. One to catch the eye is High Game Royal who is an interesting recruit to pointing having twice finished runner up in 3 mile chases for Philip Hobbs and Johnson White last year.

Ampton is a friendly, good viewing venue and there will be six scheduled steeplechases, the first of which is at 12 midday.( Gates open at 10am) A variety of food and merchandise stalls together with a public cash bar, plus local bookmakers will be in attendance.

There will also be children’s fun attractions and a popular and often amusing dog show during the afternoon with various classes including best bitch / best dog / best puppy / young handler / cutest / best in show. Entries on the day, £2 per entry. Rosettes for 1st and second placings.

Admission: Adults £15 (cash or card options at the gate) Children 16 and under free Racecards £3.50

Dogs ( on short leads ) very welcome.

Ampton racecourse is situated 4 miles North of Bury St. Edmunds on the A134 Thetford Road, through the village of Ingham (IP31 1NS )

COME RACING IN EAST ANGLIA, AT AMPTON, ON SATURDAY JANUARY 10th