PREVIEW: CRAWLEY AND HORSHAM (SATURDAY 28TH MARCH)

Parham hosts its first fixture of 2026 on Saturday with pony racing scheduled from 12pm before
the racing starts at 1:45pm. The fixture is being held in aid of two farming charities, with all
profits being split between The Farming Community Network and Jamie’s Farm.
Alongside the racing there is a dog show, fun fair and a range of trade stands for everyone to
enjoy.
The first race is the Restricted which has attracted seven entries. Nigel Padfield has two entries
with Fortuneville and Validation. The former won the maiden race at High Easter three weeks
ago on his first start in point-to-points and could pick up a second victory here. Validation won a
maiden race at Dingley last year and has had two 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 in his latest start at Kingston Blount four weeks ago.
Alan Hill trained Our Brother John won a maiden race at Holnicote in 2022 and has been lightly
raced since, but has been placed in five of his subsequent seven starts including a victory in a
restricted race at Larkhill in 2023. He has had two starts to date this season finishing third at
Garthorpe in November, however he pulled up in his latest start in an Intermediate race at
Ampton four weeks ago.
Hannah Marshall trained Catch Me Quick won a maiden race at Cothelstone in March 2025 and
then won a restricted race at Dunsmore in November 2025. He finished three lengths behind
Monrocco Moonlight in a restricted race at Charing in December and was second in a level two
conditions race at Kingston Blount four weeks ago.
David Phelan trained Time To Upgrade won the maiden race at this fixture in 2025 and has
been placed in restricted company since this victory but has appeared to struggle. He finished
sixth in the restricted race at Charing in December behind Catch Me Quick and was twenty
lengths behind Validation in third at CHaring in January but cannot be discounted.
Hannah Hickman-Jones trained Creapapy won a maiden at Penshurst in March 2025 and like
Time To Upgrade has been placed in restricted company but finished behind Catch Me Quick
and Time To Upgrade at Charing in December and pulled up in the restricted race at Charing in
January where Validation was second and Time To Upgrade was third, however he did finish a
neck ahead of Time To Upgrade at High Easter three weeks ago.
The final entry is Cossack Dancer from the Grissell Yard in East Sussex who was previously
with Chloe Mills. He pulled up in his only start this season at Horseheath in December where
both Creapapy and Time To Upgrade finished fifth and sixth respectively and he may also find
his rivals here too good.
The Mixed Open is the second race on the card, and George Gorman trained Larry is a dual
course winner having won at both fixtures at the course in 2025. He has had a mixed season to
date this year but was second behind Gina Andrews trained Fairly Famous in the Mixed Open at
High Easter three weeks ago.
Rob Varnham trained Count Simon is another dual course winner having won ladies open races
at the course in 2023 and 2024. He finished behind Larry at the course in April 2025 but then
won races at Godstone at Peper Harow. He has had two starts to date this season finishing fifth
behind Grace A Vous Enki at Larkhill in January and then pulling up in the Ladies Open at
Charing in January, but at his best he would be a danger.
Ella Gillings trained Movethechains won a Men’s Open at Penshurst in March 2025, but was a
faller in the race won by Larry at this fixture last season, and was then second in a conditions
race at this course won by On Springs in April 2025. He has had two starts this season, both at
Charing where he finished fourth in the Men’s Open in December but he pulled up in the
conditions race in January, where the going may not have been to his liking.
Anthony Ward-Thomas has two entries with Beat Box and Viva Lavilla. The former pulled up in
a Hunter Chase at Wincanton at the end of February but was third in the Coronation Gold Cup
at Larkhill in February where Larry pulled up and was fifth in a mixed open at Didmarton three
weeks ago. Viva Lavilla also ran in the Coronation Gold Cup at Larkhill finishing fifth but finished
a long way behind his rivals at Badbury Rings five weeks ago.
Harriet Etheridge trained Mister Tickle was second in a conditions race for novice riders at the
course in March 2025 and was also second in an owner-trainer conditions race at Kingston
Blount in May 2025 but has pulled up in both starts to date this year at Charing in January and
at High Easter three weeks ago.
Sarah Ashby trained Hand Over Fist was previously with Henry de Bromhead and won on four
starts whilst at the yard but has only had one start in a point-to-point where he ran out early in
the race.
The final entry here is Connor Baker’s East Street who was previously trained by James Owen
where he won three consecutive national hunt chases at the end of 2024. He has had four starts
in point-to-points this season and has finished on all four starts but has always finished some
way behind his rivals.
The level two conditions race is the third on the card and this is an option for East Street, Viva
Lavilla, Mister Tickle and Catch Me Quick.
Nigel Padfield trained Padjoes Legacy would be a threat here, he won the owner trainer
conditions race at Kingston Blount beating Mister Tickle in May 2025 and won on his seasonal
reappearance at Ampton four weeks ago. Alan Hill trained Soldier Unknown finished second in
the four mile Mixed open race at Kingston Blount behind Master Templar four weeks ago and
will also be a threat if he starts.
Rob Varnham trained Imperial Esprit was second in the mixed open at this fixture in 2025
behind Definite Dilemma and was then placed in two hunter chase starts at Stratford. He
finished six lengths second in his most recent start in a point-to-point at Cocklebarrow in a
novice riders race at the end of January and also has a good chance if starting.
David Phelan has two entries, Island Run and Carrolls Cottage. Island Run was previously with
Philip Hobbs and was consistently placed in National Hunt Hurdle Races in 2024 but had not
won since March 2023 and has yet to race in a point-to-point. Carrolls Cottage has ability and
potential but has only been placed in three of his ten starts to date.
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 four
weeks ago.
The final entry here is Hannah Marshall trained Wireless Operator who is a dual winner at the
course in 2023 when trained by Andrew Coveney. He was second in a novice riders race in
February at Badbury Rings but he pulled up in his most recent start in a level two conditions
race at Charlton Horethorne having led for most of the race but could get involved if he starts.
The Conditions race for novice riders is next on the card and is an option for Wireless Operator,
Carrolls Cottage, Island Run, Mister Tickle and Cossack Dancer. The other entries here are Phil
York trained Happy Larry who was sixth at Charing in December but pulled up in his latest start
at Charing in January and Katie Featherstone owned and trained Petite Mike who is a dual
course winner having won the restricted race at this course in March and April 2025. He
unseated in his most recent start at Higham in February but that was over a longer three mile
four furlong distance.
The maiden race has attracted thirteen entries. Rob Varnham trained Call Me Dusty has finished
third on his last two starts and must have a chance of finding the winner’s enclosure if he starts.
Jemima Taylor trained Knocknagappagh has also finished third on both of her last two starts
and will also be looking to improve on those placings.
David Phelan has three entries, Wait At The Gate, Carrickfergus and Fear The Deere. Wait At
The Gate has been placed on two of his five starts but has failed to finish on the other three
occasions. Carrickfergus has completed on two of his four starts but pulled up on his most
recent start at Howick two weeks ago, but may benefit from better going. 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.
Phil York trained Noir du Tay has also previously run in hurdle races but pulled up in his only
start in a point-to-point at Charing in January. Karen York also has Can’t Buy Time entered but
he has only completed on one of his five starts to date this season.
Hannah Marshall trained Lily’s Choice is another to have previously raced in Ireland in hurdle
races without success but was second in her only start in a point-to-point at Charlton
Horethorne three weeks ago having looked like the winner until being challenged at the final
fence.
The other entries for this maiden race are Karen Croft trained Del Amitir, Nigel Padfield’s
Affinika, Alan Hill’s Incitatus, Rhiannon Lodge trained Fruit Fizz and Hannah West trained Halla
Paroiste. They have all struggled to date this season, but any one of them could spring a
surprise here if they take their place with the starter.
The last race of the day is the Level One Conditions race and is an option for Padjoes Legacy,
Carrolls Cottage, Cossack Dancer, Movethechains, Larry, Count Simon, Island Run, Halla
Paroiste and Hand Over Fist. The other entry is Katie Featherstone’s Commander of Ten who
won a level two conditions race at High Easter beating No Risk des Flos by three lengths three
weeks ago. Depending on who lines up for the starter, this could be an exciting race.
The postcode for the course is RH20 2ER and is located one mile west of Storrington. Gates
open at 10am