PREVIEW: CHIDDINGFOLD, LECONFIELD & COWDRAY – PARHAM RACES (SATURDAY 25TH APRIL)

Parham hosts its second fixture of the season on Saturday 25th April and pony racing will precede the point-to-point races at 12:15 and 12:45pm

The first point-to-point race is at 2pm and is the Intermediate race which has eight entries. Katie Featherstone’s Petite Mike who has only failed to finish in the top three in one of his nine starts in point-to-points holds an entry and could record his third consecutive success of the season and his second victory at Parham this year having won the novice rider’s race at Parham four weeks ago. He followed up on this with victory at High Easter two weeks ago in a level two conditions race. However, Luke Price trained Shareyourbiscuits will also be looking to continue his winning streak as he has won all three of his starts in point-to-points this season winning a maiden at Howick six weeks ago and then restricted races at Larkhill and Chilfrome.

Hannah Hickman-Jones trained Creapapy is another course winner this season having won the restricted race at the fixture here four weeks ago beating Catch Me Quick by half a length but he finished second to Cossack Dancer two weeks ago at Penshurst who had finished behind him when winning at Parham.

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 is not without a chance if he starts as he was in contention when falling last time out.

Daniel Cherriman trained Punch Perfect is also entered, 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. The final two entries here are Phil York trained Happy Larry and David Phelan trained Time To Upgrade. Happy Larry finished third behind Petite Mike in the novice riders race at Parham four weeks ago and unseated his jockey early in the level three conditions race at Penshurst two weeks ago. Time To Upgrade finished third in restricted company at Charing in January and at Ampton in March but subsequently he has struggled in two starts at High Easter and at Parham where he finished fifth in the race won by Creapapy.

The maiden race follows and David Phelan has two entries, Wait At The Gate and Emmet Square. Wait At The Gate finished third but was subsequently promoted to second in the maiden race at Parham four weeks ago, but was only able to finish fourth at Penshurst two weeks ago. Emmet Square finished fifth at Charing in his first start of the season but pulled up in his next start at Charing in January. He was running well and was still in contention in the maiden race at Ampton eight weeks ago when he unseated in the closing stages of the race, but is not to be discounted if he starts.

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 two weeks ago, which was her first start in point-to-points. She finished behind Phil York trained Noir Du Tay who also has an entry here and he finished ahead of Wait At The Gate at Penshurst two weeks ago, but at Parham four weeks ago finished fourth behind Wait At The Gate and also behind Hannah West trained Halla Paroiste who is also

entered here. Halla Paroiste had failed to finish in four previous starts until finishing fourth and being promoted to third at Parham four weeks ago.

Justin Brotherton trained One Man Party previously raced under rules when trained by David Bridgwater, and was placed but failed to win over hurdles and chase fences. He has had two starts to date in point-to-points and was second at Ampton in the race where Emmet Square unseated his jockey and was in contention at Lower Machen last weekend until his saddle slipped and he was pulled up. The final entry is Karen York trained Can’t Buy Time who has failed to finish in six of his seven starts this season, and pulled up here at Parham four weeks ago and at Penshurst two weeks ago so will need to find a significant improvement to be involved, However, all of the entries have the ability and potential to win and this could be a thrilling race depending on the declarations on the day.

The level two conditions race for novice riders is the third race on the card and this is an option for Katie Featherstone’s Petite Mike, but she also has Commander of Ten entered who is also looking for a third consecutive success and is another course winner having dead-heated with Padjoes Legacy in the level one conditions race here four weeks ago. Prior to this he won a level two conditions race at High Easter.

Rob Varnham trained Imperial Esprit was second in the mixed open at this course in 2025 and was then placed in two hunter chase starts at Stratford. He finished six lengths second in a point-to-point at Cocklebarrow in a novice riders race at the end of January but then returned to winning ways when he won the level two conditions race at this course four weeks ago. He was granted a walkover in the mixed open two weeks ago at Penshurst and then finished second to Inchidaly Robin in the level two conditions race at the same fixture, but will be looking to gain another victory to his name if he starts.

Slipway is one of two entries trained by James Luck, he has previously ran under rules trained by Ben Pauling where he won five of his twenty four starts. He ran in a hunter chase at Warwick in January and finished fifth. He was then second in a ladies conditions race at High Easter at the beginning of March finishing three lengths behind I’m Spellbound and won a level three conditions race for novice riders at Siddington five weeks ago. Luck’s further entry is 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 one start in point-to-points which was a winning start at Didmarton three weeks ago in a level two conditions race.

Luke Price trained Ringsend John has been placed in seven of his nine starts to date, and has three victories to his name. He has run twice this season, in novice rider races. He was in contention when unseating at Howick four weeks ago and was third two weeks ago at Shelfield Park. In that race he finished ahead of Mawlood from Georgina Howell’s yard who also holds an entry here. Mawlood has also raced under rules where he has two victories to his name over hurdles b ut he may find this a challenge.

The final two entries for this race both recorded victories at Penshurst two weeks ago. David Phelan trained Carrolls Cottage won the maiden race having finished second behind Petite Mike on his previous start in the level three novice riders race at Parham four weeks ago, whilst Gardie Grissell trained Cossack Dancer won the restricted race at Penshurst. Cossack Dancer was previously with Chloe Mills, he finished fourth in the restricted race at Parham two weeks

ago behind Creapapy but was a three length winner two weeks ago beating Creapapy on that occasion.

Again this looks an interesting race on paper and could also produce a thrilling race depending on declarations on the day.

The mixed open follows and also looks interesting on paper with eight entries. This is an option for James Luck’s Slipway, however, Luke Price’s Inchidaly Robin holds an entry and he has won nine of his eleven starts in point-to-points and has finished second on his other two starts. He won the level two conditions race at Penshurst two weeks ago beating Imperial Esprit by six lengths.

Rob Varnham has two entries, Count Simon and Empire de Maulde. Count Simon finished second in the mixed open at the course four weeks ago finishing a length behind Larry and was then given a walkover in the level one novice riders race at Penshurst two weeks ago. Empire de Maulde has won four of his seven starts to date and he won a men’s open race at Charing in December but then pulled up in a men’s open race at Badbury Rings in February before starting in a hunter chase at Newbury at the end of March where he was seventh.

Nicky Sheppard trained Hugos New Horse was previously with Paul Nicholls winning seven hurdles races and one national hunt chase. He has been placed in four of his seven starts in point-to-points this season but has yet to find the winners enclosure, but he was only beaten by half a length in his latest start at Eyton-on-Severn on Easter Monday.

Nigel Padfield trained Padjoes Legacy is a course winner having dead-heated with Commander of Ten in a level one conditions race here four weeks ago. He has won both of his starts this season, with his first victory this season coming in a level two conditions race at Ampton at the beginning of March.

Anthony Ward-Thomas has two Beat Box entered. He 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 four weeks ago in the mixed open won by Larry.

The final entry here 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. But he does have ability having won four of his twelve starts to date.

The level two owner-trainer conditions race follows and this is an option for Poli Roi, Halla Paroiste, Hannah Hickman Jones trained Creapapy and Katie Featherstone’s pair Commander of Ten and Petite Mike. Harriet Jeffreys trained As Tears Go By has also previously raced under national hunt rules and has won three starts over hurdles. He has had one start in a point-to-point at Paxford where he finished second in a mixed open run over the shorter two miles four furlong distance. The final entry is Gardie Grissell trained Goudhurst Star who was previously with Harry Fry. He had two starts in point-to-points last season finishing third and sixth and he ran in the level two conditions race at Penshurst two weeks ago finishing third behind Inchidaly Robin and Imperial Esprit.

The final race of the day is the restricted race and this is an option for Punch Perfect, Cossack Dancer and Time To Upgrade. David Phelan also has Carrickfergus entered who won the maiden race over two miles four furlongs at Penshurst two weeks ago but this would be a step up for him.

Luke Price has two entries in this race, Galudon won both of his first two starts this season, winning a maiden race at Buckfastleigh eight weeks ago and then winning a restricted race at Cotley four weeks ago, but he unseated at the second fence at Penshurst two weeks ago when sent off the odds on favourite with the bookmakers. His other entry Lightning Legs finished second in a maiden at Howick six weeks ago and then won a maiden race at Larkhill four weeks ago. He has had one start in restricted company at Cherrybrook three weeks ago, but he may prefer a better surface than he had on that occasion.

Alan Hill trained Nice To See You won a maiden on his first start of the season at Garthorpe in November but then pulled up in two starts in restricted company at Horseheath and Brocklesby Park. His latest start was a match and he finished seven lengths second, having been in contention until after the penultimate fence so he clearly has the ability to win in this company.

Nigel Padfield has two entries, Validation and Ice Prowler. Validation finished third, six lengths behind Creapapy at Parham four weeks ago and was also third in the restricted race at High Easter two weeks ago. Validation won a maiden race at Dingley last year and has had two other starts this season finishing three and a half lengths second to The Dancing Tree at Charing at the end of January and fourth again behind The Dancing Tree at Kingston Blount at the end of February. Ice Prowler was third in the maiden race at Charing at the end of January before winning a maiden race at Ampton where he denied One Man Party in the run to the winning post. He has had one start in restricted company at Fakenham five weeks ago where he finished third having been in contention until after the penultimate fence.

The final entry is Nicholas Wright trained Steppingstone. He won a maiden race at Fakenham in March 2025 and won a restricted race at Peper Harow in May 2025. He has failed to complete on both starts in restricted company this season falling early in the race at Fakenham where Ice Prowler finished third and then pulling up in his next start at High Easter two weeks ago having led until the closing stages of the race.

Parham racecourse is located adjacent to the gliding club and rugby club west of Storrington near the A283 and postcode RH20 2ER should be used to locate the course. There will be plenty of entertainment for all of the family during the day, dogs are welcome but must be kept on short leads.