PREVIEW: SURREY UNION (SATURDAY 16TH MAY)

Point-to-Point racing in the South East Area concludes for the 2025-2026 season on Saturday at Peper Harow.

The first race on the card is the level three conditions race for novice riders which has attracted nine entries, and this could be a close race depending on declarations.

Castletown was previously with Lucinda Russell and has won four of his fifty four starts under rules and in his first season in point-to-points with Verity Green training, he has won one of his six starts which was his most recent start in a hunt member’s race at Lockinge, but he could be a danger here. Tim Underwood has two entries Chinx of Light and Stranger Danger. 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, he then finished fifth in a member’s conditions race at Woodford at the end of April and fell at the final open ditch when leading in a novice riders race at Godstone two weeks ago. Stranger Danger finished second behind Castletown in the hunt members race at Lockinge in April but has struggled in recent races finishing fifth in a conditions race at Kingston Blount in April and second but twenty two lengths behind the winner in a conditions race at Kingston Blount last weekend.

Mawlood from Georgina Howell’s yard also holds an entry here. Mawlood has raced under rules where he has two victories to his name over hurdles. He has had three starts in point-to-points this season and he was only beating into second behind Imperial Esprit by a length in his latest start at Parham three weeks ago and could run a big race here if he starts.

Bruce Vaughan trained Designer Destiny has been consistently placed in point-to-points over the previous three seasons and has finished second on his last two starts including the novice riders race at Kingston Blount last weekend where he was defeated by a length by Island Run.

Cossack Dancer trained by Gardie Grissell won the restricted race at Penshurst five weeks ago but was then only fourth at Parham three weeks ago in the restricted race won by Creapapy. He finished fifth at Kingston Blount behind Designer Destiny and will need to be at his absolute best to challenge here.

David Phelan has two entries, Carrickfergus and McMurroughs Court. Carrickfergus won the maiden race over two miles four furlongs at Penshurst in April and finished second behind Galudon in the restricted race at Parham three weeks ago finishing ahead of Cossack Dancer. He fell at the penultimate fence in his latest start at Godstone two weeks ago when still in contention. McMurroughs Court won the restricted race at Godstone in 2025. He then pulled up in his next start at Dingley in May 2025 and had not raced this season until running in a conditions race at Godstone two weeks ago where he finished third behind Creapapy and Penniless who is the final entry in this race. Penniless, trained by Sophie Davies has finished second in both of her starts this season and is a danger if she lines up.

The restricted race follows and this is an option for Penniless, Cossack Dancer and Carrickfergus. David Phelan also has Wait At The Gate entered. He won the maiden race at Parham three weeks ago, but this would be a stiffer challenge for him. Nigel Padfield owns Penniless but he also owns and trains Validation who had been consistently placed in restricted races this season and won his latest start at Godstone two weeks ago defeating Alan Hill trained Our Brother John by fifteen lengths and if he starts he could be the one to beat.

Evie Toozer trained No Hard Feelings has previously raced in Ireland without success but won a match at Chilfrome four weeks ago, but this could be a tougher challenge if he starts here. The final entry in this race is Christopher Barber trained Stick Season who was placed in two maiden races at Badbury Rings and Chilfrome before comfortably winning a maiden race by fifteen lengths at South Hill two weeks ago, and he will be looking to add to his success.

The men’s open follows and has attracted entries of accomplished and very capable horses. Joshua Newman trained Beacon Edge was previously trained by Gordon Elliot where he won ten of his forty six starts. He has won three of his five starts in point-to-points this season, which have all been mixed open races including his most recent start at Vauterhill two weeks ago, and has been placed in both other starts to date, and if he makes the journey could be the one to beat.

Luke Price has Inchidaly Robin and Lavorante entered who have both been consistently placed winning or placed this season. Inchidaly Robin won a conditions race at Penshurst five weeks ago and was then second in a mixed open at Parham three weeks ago, but he has since comfortably won a condritions race at South Hill two weeks ago. Lavorante won a 0-110 rated race at Charing in December and was then narrwoly beaten in the Lord Ashton of Hyde’s Men’s Open race over three miles six furlongs at Cocklebarrow. He has subsequently won three conditions races and has finished second in his other three starts including a mixed open at Holnicote last weekend.

Rob Varnham trained Imperial Esprit has an entry, he was defeated by Inchidaly Robin at Penshurst but since then he has won a novice riders race at Parham three weeks ago and finished second in a hunter chase at Warwick two weeks ago so he cannot be discounted if he lines up.

Mount Sinai was bred and trained by Willie Mullins and won two starts over hurdles. She is now with Christopher Barber and has won three of her seven starts in point-to-points. She pulled up in the Lord Ashton of Hyde’s men’s open race but won a ladies open at Howick seven weeks ago but was comfortably beaten by Beacon Edge in her latest start at Vauterhill two weeks ago and may find one or two difficult to beat. Rhainnon Lodge trained Envious Editor had been placed in Hunter Chases and has plenty 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 seven weeks ago and at Kingston Blount four weeks ago.

George Gorman trained and ridden Larry has had a mixed season, but was second behind Fairly Famous in a mixed open at Higham in March and then won the mixed open at Parham at the end of March beating Count Simon by one and a half lengths. He has since finished third in a level two conditions race at Dingley two weeks ago. Hannah Hickman Jones trained Creapapy won the restricted race at Parham seven weeks ago beating Catch Me Quick by half a length but he then finished second to Cossack Dancer five weeks ago at Penshurst who had finished behind him when winning at Parham. However, he returned to winning ways back at Parham three weeks where he won the intermediate race beating Shareyourbiscuits by four lengths and he then won the conditions race at Godstone two weeks ago, beating Penniless, so he has clearly found winning ways in recent weeks and is not to be ruled out despite this being a step up for him.

Also holding an entry is Poli Roi who was previously with Thomas Malone and Tim Vaughan before moving to Alyce Fisher. He has appeared to struggle to date this season finishing fourth in a mixed open at Badbury Rings in November and fifth in a men’s open at Charing in December. He was second behind Petite Mike in a conditions race at Parham three weeks ago and he does have ability having won four of his thirteen starts to date.

Alan Hill trained Learntalot has also had a mixed season, he finished second in a men’s open at Charing in December but then pulled up in his next start at Badbury Rings. He was then second in a conditions race at Siddington but pulled up in his most recent start in the conditions race at Kingston Blount won by Lavorante and in which Envious Editor was fourth. Stranger Danger finished fifth in this conditions race at Kingston Blount and this race is an option for him.

The ladies open has seven entries including Beacon Edge, Mount Sinai and Learntalot. If any of these take this option they could come up against Gina Andrews trained Tigerbythetail who has won two of his four starts this season including a ladies open at Shelfield Park five weeks ago. Nigel Padfield trained Padjoes Legacy also has an entry, he dead-heated with Commander of Ten in a level one conditions race at Parham seven weeks ago and he also won a level two conditions race at Ampton at the beginning of March. He was narrowly beaten on his latest start in a conditions race at Tabley three weeks ago but is not to be discounted.

Local hopes would fall on Rob Varnham trained Count Simon. Count Simon was second in the mixed open behind Larry at Parham seven weeks ago and then had a walk-over in the novice riders race at Penshurst. He won the mixed open at Godstone two weeks ago, beating Uno Mas b y eight lengths. The final entry here is Abigail Henry trained For Rita who has had a mixed season. She failed to complete in her first three starts this season but then she won a novice riders race at Kingston Blount four weeks ago. She ran in a hunter chase at Warwick two weeks ago finishing sixth having lost touch with her rivals in the closing stages of the race. This could also be a challenge for her.

The maiden race is next on the card, 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 maiden race at Penshurst in April won by Carrickfergus, which was her first start in point-to-points. She finished behind Phil York trained Noir Du Tay who also has an entry here. Noir Du Tay was sent off the bookmakers favourite at Parham three weeks ago but fell early in the race, but he definitely has the ability to win in this company. 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 four weeks ago but may find one or two of his rivals too good on this occasion, but he also holds a chance of he starts. Alan Hill also has Lewis Road entered, he has previously raced in Irish point-to-point races and finished second in a start in Ireland at the beginning of February. He has had one start in England at Kingston Blount last weekend where he finished second in a maiden race tun over two miles five furlongs.

Tim Underwood trained Minella Laoch is also entered, he has struggled so far this season in maiden company and finished behind Incitatus at Kingston Blount four weeks ago. He then finished second in a match against Fear The Deere at Godstone two weeks ago and this might also be a challenge.

Joshua Newman trained Dart Of Ginger has only had two starts and she has finished fourth on both occasions. She had been in contention in both of these races until the closing stages of the race and she could get involved if she starts.

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 racing concludes with the level two conditions race which is an option for Creapapy, Envious Editor, Stranger Danger, Poli Roi and McMurroughs Court. Joshua Newman has Clondaw Drake and Holiday Fund entered. The former has won six of his ten starts to date whilst Holiday Fund has been placed in eleven of his seventeen starts in point-to-points and won a conditions race at Cherrybrook seven weeks ago and was second in a novice riders race last time out at South Hill two weeks ago . Luke Price trained Galudon won both of his first two starts this season, winning a maiden race at Buckfastleigh and then winning a restricted race at Cotley, but he unseated at the second fence at Penshurst in five weeks ago when sent off the odds on favourite with the bookmakers. He has made up for this error winning the restricted race at Parham three weeks ago and then winning a conditions race at Holnicote last weekend and he could be the one to beat of he makes the journey here. However, Tim Underwood trained Garde La Peche is also a strong contender. Having previously raced under rules for Henry de Bromhead with one victory to her name she has enjoyed the move to point-to-point races despite a rocky start. She has won two novice rider races including her most recent start at Mollington two weeks ago.

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 next two starts at Didmarton and Cothelstone but he was in contention when falling. Since then, he has won a conditions race at Mollington two weeks ago and should be considered if he starts. 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 but he won his latest start at Godstone two weeks ago in a conditions race beating Island Run by three lengths. The final entry is 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. He has had two starts in point-to-points, winning his first start at Didmarton in a level two conditions race, however he fell in his latest start at Parham three weeks ago during the closing stages of the race when still in contention.

Peper Harow course is a right handed course with the first two fences jumped four times and a finish up the centre of the course. The course is located six miles south west of Guildford and three miles west of Godalming, fifteen minutes from junction 10 of the M25. The postcode is GU8 6LA.

There is plenty of fun for all of the family and dogs are welcome on short leads.