PREVIEW: MID SURREY FARMERS DRAGHOUNDS (SATURDAY 2ND MAY)

The penultimate fixture within the South East Area takes place on Saturday at Godstone where there will be pony races and a hound race as well as the six horse races.

The first of the horse races is at 2:15pm and is the restricted race., it has attracted ten entries many of whom would be hopeful of success should they be declared to race on the day. Oxfordshire based trainer Alan Hill has two entries who both have a good chance of victory, Our Brother John finished two lengths second to Shareyourbiscuits in a restricted race at Larkhill five weeks ago whilst Tellmesomethingood finished five lengths second in a restricted race behind Taghadoe at Lockinge on Easter Monday. This was over the shorter two mile four furlong distance, but prior to this Tellmesomethingood had finished all four previous starts this season which have been over the full three mile distance.

Nigel Padfield trained Validation also has a great chance if he starts in this race. Validation finished third, six lengths behind Creapapy at Parham five weeks ago and was also third in the restricted race at High Easter three weeks ago, so is another who has the ability to win in this company. Nigel also owns Penniless who is trained by Sophie Davies. Penniless, has had one start this season at Penshurst three weeks ago where she finished second behind Carrolls Cottage in a level three conditions race over two miles four furlongs but she was third over this distance at Charing in February 2025 so also has the potential and ability to get involved.

Luca Morgan trained J’Envoievalserenki started the season well with victory in a maiden at Badbury Rings in November, he then had a string of third places in restricted races at Charing, Horseheath and Cocklebarrow but has failed to finish in his last two starts at Didmarton and Cothelstone but he was in contention when falling last time out.

Daniel Cherriman trained Punch Perfect is also entered for this race and he won a maiden race at Buckfastleigh last season and then finished second in two of his three starts in restricted company last year but has only raced once this season, finishing fourth at Bitterley in early April.

Evie Toozer trained No Hard Feelings has previously raced in Ireland without success but won a match at Chilfrome two weeks ago, but this could be a tougher challenge if he starts.

Gardie Grissell trained Cossack Dancer won the restricted race at Penshurst three weeks ago but was only fourth last Saturday at Parham in the restricted race won by Creapapy, so he would need to be at his best if he was to challenge here, but should not be discounted.

The final two entries are from Ashford based trainer David Phelan who has Carrickfergus and McMurroughs Court entered. Carrickfergus won the maiden race over two miles four furlongs at Penshurst three weeks ago and finished second behind Galudon in the restricted race at Parham last Saturday finishing ahead of Cossack Dancer. McMurroughs Court is a course winner having won the restricted race at this fixture in 2025 where he beat Punch Perfect by two lengths. He then pulled up in his next start at Dingley in May 2025 and has not raced this season but that would not rule him out in this company.

The second race on the card is the novice rider’s race and again there are several entries who will be looking to add to their list of victories this season. Dewi-John Haddock trained Up For Appeal has been placed in his last four starts which includes a victory in a novice rider race at Howick five weeks ago where he beat Lucy Pickford’s Paint The Dream by eleven lengths. Paint The Dream also has an entry here and he has also won a novice rider’s race this season at Ston

Easton six weeks ago, but he finished third behind Up For Appeal who was second at Dunsmore three weeks ago where both were denied success by Jet Smart.

James Luck trained What A Steal who has also previously raced under rules trained by Tom George where he won one of his twelve starts, had a winning start in point-to-point’s at Didmarton three weeks ago in a level two conditions race, however he was a faller in the novice riders race at Parham last week, but still held a chance when falling.

Katie Featherstone trained and ridden Commander Of Ten leads the hopes for an area based winner as he has won his last two starts this season. He dead-heated with Padjoes Legacy in the level one conditions race at Parham five weeks ago and prior to this he won a level two conditions race at High Easter. David Phelan duo Island Run and Carrolls Cottage could also provide an area based winner if they start. Island Run was previously trained by Philip Hobbs where he won two of his twenty two starts and was placed in a further eight starts. He has had two starts this season and most recently finished one length second to Red Maple over three miles six furlongs at High Easter three weeks ago. Carrolls Cottage won the maiden race at Penshurst three weeks ago and finished third only two lengths behind the winner Imperial Esprit in a novice riders race at Parham last week.

Tim Underwood has two entries, Ask Nile and Chinx of Light. Despite being fourteen years of age, Ask Nile has been placed in his most recent two starts including finishing second behind The Dancing Tree at Kingston Blount two weeks ago. Chinx of Light previously ran under national hunt rules and won three of his twelve starts over hurdles. He has had mixed fortunes in point-to-points falling early on in a level three conditions race at Horseheath in December and his latest starts at Woodford last weekend saw him finish fifth in a member’s conditions race.

Anthony Ward-Thomas also has two entries, Beat Box and Viva Lavilla. The former was third in the Coronation Gold Cup at Larkhill in February but then pulled up in a hunter chase at Wincanton. He was then fifth in a mixed open at Didmarton at the beginning of March but has pulled up on both subsequent starts including at Parham five weeks ago in the mixed open won by Larry. Viva Lavilla also ran in the Coronation Gold Cup at Larkhill finishing fifth but finished a long way behind his rivals at Badbury Rings on his next start. More recently he finished second in a level two conditions race at Parham five weeks ago being pipped to the post by Imperial Esprit in the closing strides of the race.

Harriet Etheridge trained Mister Tickle also holds an entry here and he finished third behind Imperial Esprit and Viva Lavilla at Parham five weeks ago. The final entry is Katie Croft trained Baunmore Jet who has had mixed fortunes this season but came out victorious on his most recent start in a level two conditions race at Lockinge on Easter Monday.

The mixed open is the next race on the card which again looks exciting on paper, and this is an option for both Beat Box and Commander of Ten. George Gorman trained and ridden Larry is entered, Larry was previously trained by Gary Moore where he won eight races. He is now a multiple winner of point-to-points and he won his most recent start in the mixed open at Parham five weeks ago. On that occasion he beat Rob Varnham trained Count Simon who also has an entry here. Count Simon subsequently had a walkover at Penshurst three weeks ago but is capable of being involved if he starts.

Lilian Bartlett trained Finisher has also previously raced under rules and has won a hurdles race. He was a comfortable winner of a Level three conditions race at Badbury Rings but was then placed fifth and sixth in open races at Larkhill and then unseated in a hunter chase at Taunton in January and unseated in his next start in a point-to-point at Badbury Rings, and this could be a struggle.

Bryon Moorcroft trained Uno Mas holds an entry in this race, he was previously trained by Christian Williams where he also had successes over hurdles and in a national hunt chase. This is his first season in point-to-points. He has finished third on two occasions in mixed open company including his latest race where he finished six lengths behind prolific winner Fumet D’Oudairies.

The final entry is Rhainnon Lodge trained Envious Editor had been placed in Hunter Chases and has planty of ability but was twenty eight lengths second to Fier Jaguen in a men’s open at Ampton in March and has also finished well behind his rivals in two subsequent starts at Parham five weeks ago and at Kingston Blount two weeks ago.

The level three conditions race is next on the card and will be run over the shorter distance of two miles four furlongs. This is an option for Ask Nile, Mister Tickle, Penniless and David Phelan’s duo Mc Murroughs Court and Island Run.

If any of these were to take their chance here they could have to face Chris Dennington’s Taghadoe. Taghadoe started this season with a fall when still in contention at the final fence in a restricted race at Larkhill in January and then he pulled up in a restricted race at Higham but he won his latest start at Lockinge on Easter Monday and will be looking for continue winning ways. Alan Hill trained Monrocco Moonlight would also have a solid chance of victory is he was to take his place in this race. Monrocco Moonlight won a two mile four furlong restricted race at Charing in December beating Catch Me Quick and was second to Practice Run next time out in a restricted race at Higham. He was also prominent for much of his last race at Fakenham before pulling up in the closing stages of the race.

Phil York trained Happy Larry has ability but seems to be temperamental. He finished third behind Petite Mike in the novice riders race at Parham five weeks ago but unseated his jockey early in the level three conditions race at Penshurst three weeks ago and then pulled up in the intermediate race at Parham last Saturday.

Gardie Grissell trained Goudhurst Star is the final entry, he was previously with Harry Fry and had two starts last season in point-to-points finishing third and sixth. He ran at Penshurst three weeks ago in a level two conditions race where he finished third behind Inchidcaly Robin and Imperial Esprit.

The maiden race follows and despite only having six entries, this again could be an interesting race depending on the declared runners. Luke Price trained Lady Bee Great was previously running under rules in Ireland in hurdle races for Ross O’Sullivan and was placed once in eight starts. She finished fourteen lengths third in the two mile four furlong maiden race at Penshurst two weeks ago, which was her first start in point-to-points, which shows she has potential and ability.

David Phelan trained Fear The Deere was previously in Ireland with Timothy Doyle and was placed in two starts in point-to-points before running under rules without success. He has had two starts in maiden races in recent weeks at High Easter and Kingston Blount finishing second on both occasions and should soon be finding the winner’s enclosure. Alan Hill trained Incitatus failed to complete in his first four starts in maiden races this season but finished third at Higham on Good Friday and was fourth at Kingston Blount two weeks ago but did finish behind Fear The Deere on this occasion and may find one or two of his rivals too good on this occasion, but he also holds a chance of he starts.

Tim Underwood trained Minella Laoch is also entered, he has also struggled so far this season in maiden company and was behind both Fear The Deere and Incitatus at Kingston Blount two weeks ago and may also agian find this to be a challenge.

Karen York trained Can’t Buy Time had failed to finish on six of his seven starts in maiden races this season but was second at Parham last weekend, but he did finish a distance behind the winner Wait At The Gate.

The final entry is Bryon Moorcroft’s Wintry Night who has only had one start to date. She led for the early stages of the race but eventually pulled up having been headed in the closing stages of the race.

The final race of the day is the level two South East Area only conditions race. This is an option for Goudhurst Star, Penniless, Mister Tickle, Envious Editor, McMurroughs Court, Island Run and Carrolls Cottage. The only other entry here is Hannah Hickman-Jones trained Creapapy. He won the restricted race at Parham five weeks ago beating Catch Me Quick by half a length but he then finished second to Cossack Dancer three weeks ago at Penshurst who had finished behind him when winning at Parham. However, he returned to winning ways back at Parham last weekend where he won the intermediate race beating Shareyourbiscuits by four lengths.

Alongside the racing there is plenty for the family to enjoy with a variety of tradestands, terrier racing, a dog show, a funfair and an animal petting / grooming area. All dogs must be kept on short leads at all times.

The course can be found off of Tandridge Lane with postcode RH9 8DB, which is about one mile from junction 6 of the M25. Gates open at 11am and children under 16 are admitted free of charge when accompanied by adults.