Racing returns to Parham on Saturday where three pony races starting at 11:45am precede the start of the racing at 2pm. The first race on the card is the intermediate which has attracted nine entries, but they are all relatively well matched and this could be an interesting race depending on who lines up at the start. Three of the entries are trained by Luke Price at Ynysybwl near Pontypridd, and all three come into this race with fantastic form. Elle Est Beau has won all three of her starts to date in point-to-points winning a maiden at Larkhill on March 29 th and restricted races at Bitterley and Kimble in April. Her stable companion Lavorante had a similar course of progress last season winning a maiden at Garthorpe last March and then winning two restricted races at South Hill and Kingston Blount in May 2024. He has had one start this season where he won the hunt member’s race at Howick in early March. Price’s final entry is Inchidaly Robin who has won two restricted races this season at Larkhill in March and Edgcote in April. He however, has the benefit over his stable mates that he has also won an Intermediate race on his latest start at Paxford. Elen Wylie trained Jullou de Grissay has also had a very positive season so far winning a maiden at Horseheath on New Year’s Eve and following up with a comfortable twenty five length victory in restricted company at Cocklebarrow on January 26 th . Tim Vaughan trained Designer Destiny has also been placed on all three of her starts to date this year. She was second behind Clondaw Drake in the restricted at Wadebridge in January but easily won the restricted at Howick on her next start on March 8 th . Her most recent start was in a level three conditions race at Higham where she was in contention until the penultimate fence and had to settle for second place behind Mister Splash. Phil York has two entries here, Touch Tight and Happy Larry. The former was granted a walkover in the Intermediate race at Penshurst in March and finished behind Designer Destiny in the level three conditions race at Higham on his most recent start. Happy Larry won an intermediate race at Penshurst in March 2023 and had finished second on all three subsequent starts including the level three conditions race at Charing on February 23 rd where he was fifteen lengths behind Empire de Maulde but did not seem to enjoy himself on his most recent start at Parham on March 29 th and finished fourth in the level two conditions race. Katie Featherstone also has Petite Mike entered who is a course winner having won the restricted race here at Parham at the end of March. Prior to this he had been placed on his three starts in restricted company at Charing and High Easter. The final entry here is Alan Hill trained Highland Glory, he beat Happy Larry in a veteran and novice riders race at Peper Harow in May 2024, but was fourth in his first start of this season in the intermediate race at Dunsmore in November and then pulled up on both subsequent starts at Chipley Park and Kingston Blount in February. He was fourth in his latest start at Kimble last Saturday having been in contention until the closing stages of the race. The maiden race follows and has eight entries, Katie Featherstone’s Crookbarrow finished third in the maiden over the shorter two mile four furlong distance at Charing at the end of February and was also third in a three mile maiden at High Easter on March 8 th but was only seventh at Maisemore Park at the end of March having weakened in the final stages of the race. Joe Hill trained King James has only had one start to date, where he finished fourth after losing touch with his rivals at the penultimate fence, but he will have learnt a lot from that experience. Nigel Padfield trained Validation has been knocking on the door of victory all season, finishing second on all three of his starts, however, he has been beaten by a comfortable margin on all three occasions to date and did finish five lengths ahead of Crookbarrow at High Easter last month. Tim Vaughan trained Miss Ghillie fell in the closing stages of the maiden at Howick on March 8 th and then slipped up on a bend when leading at Shelfield Park two weeks ago. She did complete in her latest start last weekend at Flete Park, finishing fourth, and that race may have regained her confidence. Gardie Grissell trained Gold Bandit was placed in maiden races throughout 2024 including a second at Peper Harow in May 2024 but he was pulled up in the maiden at Penshurst on his first start this season but finished fourth in the maiden race here at Parham at the end of March. Ashford based trainer David Phelan has the final three of these entries. Defying Gravity has had two starts to date, both in point-to-point flat races at Larkhill in December and Maisemore Park at the end of March where he finished fourth on both occasions, but he is yet to jump a fence in public. Tully Star has pulled up on all three of his starts in his career at Godstone and Kingston Blount in May 2024 and more recently at Horseheath in December, but he will have gained experience and confidence in these races. Phelan’s final entry is Country Style Boy who will be making his racecourse debut if he lines up here. The level two owner conditions race has four entries. George Gorman owned, trained and ridden Larry is a course winner having won the level one conditions race at Parham at the end of March and was only two lengths second to Aramax in a mixed open at Dingley last Saturday. Rob Varnham’s Count Simon is another course winner having won the ladies open at this fixture in 2024 and 2023. He was second to Getting Closer at Charing in a level two conditions race in February and was fourth in a level two conditions race at Didmarton on March 1 st , but pulled up on his most recent start at Kingston Blount three weeks ago in another level two conditions race. Sarah Ashby owned and trained Monkey Puzzle won a ladies open race at Charing on February 23 rd beating Back Bar but finished second in the ladies open at Penshurst in March, getting headed at the final fence by Dundrum Wood having led from the drop of the starter’s flag, but again has the capability to secure another success for his connections. The final entry is Elizabeth Feakes owned and trained Highway Hero who finished sixth in the owner – trainer conditions race at Higham in February, and was third more recently here at Parham four weeks ago in the restricted race finishing twenty lengths behind the winner Petite Mike. The men’s open follows and is an option for George Gorman’s Larry. Luca Morgan trained On Springs has had two starts in point-to-points having previously run under rules when trained by Ben Pauling. Both of these starts have proven to be successful with victory in level two conditions races at Kingston Blount at the beginning of April and at Paxford on April 21 st . Tim Vaughan trained Mourzouk has also previously raced under rules, and was victorious in his only start in a point-to- point at Flete Park last weekend beating Grangeclare Glory by half a length in a level three conditions race. Heidi Brookshaw trained Movethechains won the men’s open at Penshurst on March 16 th beating Imperial Esprit by three lengths, but he fell last time out, at Parham in the level one conditions race which was won by Larry when he over jumped heading out on the final circuit. Southfield Royale trained by Suzanne Cox is the final entry and he finished three lengths second in that level one conditions race at Parham having been fourth in his previous start at Penshurst in a level two conditions race. The restricted race has eleven entries and is an option for Petite Mike, Jullou de Grissay and Highway Hero. Luke Price also has three entries in this race, All Thumbs Up won a maiden at Lydstep in April 2023, but missed last season so has not raced since that victory two years ago. Callaghy suffered a slipped saddle after the final fence of the maiden race at Howick on March 8 th which resulted in his jockey unseating on the flat when victory looked possible. He finished five lengths third behind Fongs Way on his next start at Kilworthy on March 23 rd but was a comfortable winner of the maiden conditions race at Chilfrome two weeks ago, so will be looking to gain another quick success. Price’s final entry is Echo of Promise who was placed in maiden races throughout 2024 and won the maiden at Kilworthy on March 23 rd on his first start this season. Nicholas Wright trained Steppingstone has also previously run under rules for Willie Mullins before coming to point-to-pointing this season. He pulled up on his first start in a maiden at Garthope but then won the maiden at Fakenham on March 23 rd beating Validation by ten lengths. He has had one start in restricted company where he fell at the twelfth fence in a race won by Inchidaly Robin. Tim Vaughan trained You Know Me Too Well was placed in restricted races in 2024. She unseated early on in the restricted at Wadebridge in January this year and was then fifth in her most recent start at Chilfrome two weeks ago. Hannah Hickman Jones trained Creapapy won the maiden at Penshurst on March 16 th having finished second in two previous starts this season at Charing. Time To Upgrade won the maiden here at Parham on March 29 th . He has since moved from David Phelan’s team to Karen York and was third in a restricted race at Shelfield Park on April 12 th but both would have a strong chance of getting involved if they start. The final entry is from David Phelan’s stable and is McMurroughs Court who won a maiden race at Parham in April 2022 and followed this up with a second place in restricted company at Dingley in May 2022, but has not raced since. The ladies race concludes racing and sadly has only two entries. This is an option for Monkey Puzzle who could face Anthony ward Thomas owned and trained Doctor Foley, who previously raced under rules for trainer Anthony Honeyball and has won three of his nine starts in national hunt chases including a three mile two furlong chase at Fontwell Park in May 2024. He has had two starts to date in point-to-points at Larkhill in February where he pulled up in a novice rider’s conditions race and at Kingston Blount on April 6 th where he pulled up mid race in the mixed open. Parham racecourse can be found four miles south east of Pulborough and one mile west of Storrington off

Young horse maiden at Eyton which featured entries from most of the top selling yards was sadly declared void. Not because they didn't want to take each other on ( in fact Lacey, Ellis, Rowley Gibbs etc all had runners) but a carelessly placed marker meant half the field missed a fence out so after a long stewards deliberation race was declared void😟 Rumour has it that the person who makes sure these things don't happen had gone to Paxford🤪

REPORT OF THE ESSEX & SUFFOLK MEETING HELD AT HIGHAM RACECOURSE ON GOOD FRIDAY APRIL 18th By Mike Ashby Once again, all roads led to Higham racecourse on Good Friday, for the final meeting of the East Anglian 2024/25 season. Another colossal crowd assembled, from early on, at this popular course situated  on the borders of Suffolk and Essex and it seemed a significant proportion of the two counties were in attendance. Runners were always going to be a premium considering the number of Easter fixtures nationally, together with the concerns regarding the going and the prevailing dry conditions, leading up to the meeting. However, all the additional hours allocated to watering the course were rewarded as all six scheduled races took place and the racing was of a high standard, complementing the course preparation. There were local winners for the huge crowd to cheer home with Mister Splash, trained at Ampton, The Big Lense based at Newmarket and Tullys Touch, fast becoming a local legend, from near Halesworth. Trainer Ed Turner is having an exceptional season and this was his sixth winner of the season when Mister Splash stayed on stoutly to regain the lead from Designer Destiny, in the 3 ½ mile Conditions (Level 3 ) race. Partnered by Paddy Barlow, the pairing led their rivals for a majority of the race which was contested over 24 fences. Mister Splash partially surrendered the lead when taking a chance at the last open ditch which allowed Phil York and Touch Tight to make their move and they led approaching the cross fence, four fences out. Entering the final straight Mister Splash and the odds-on Designer Destiny had passed the York runner and it was the staying prowess of the Turner horse that saw him go on to win by 6 lengths from the favourite. Jockey Barlow confirmed the error at the ditch “ gave him a fright but I stayed in the plate and knew he stays really well”. Jenny Owen trains The Big Lense who jumped superbly for Rupert Stearn to win the Mixed Open contest. They only had one rival in Hardline, who was over 30 lengths adrift of them when they met  at Fakenham, last month. Stearn was able to hold his mount up then but here he had limited choice and made the running with Charlie Case on Hardline hoping to play his cards late. This never became a factor as the fencing of The Big Lense was immaculate and he soared over the last open ditch to increase his advantage to 4 lengths and the result from there was never in doubt as he kept up a relentless gallop over the remainder of the contest. Tullys Touch won his fourth race of the season, the PPORA Grass Roots Riders’ Mixed Open, for trainer John Ibbott and jockey Ellie Holder who with Tullys Touch now has an unbeaten winning sequence of five races together and this was his 17th career win for owner Christina Blockley. Holder employed her normal tactics on the winner just reining Tullys Touch back behind the other two runners, Chapelier and Jacks Touch. As the three rounded the final bend Holder kept the inside line and took the lead two fences to go on to facile victory by 7 lengths from Chapelier, who was running his last race for John Whyte, before being retired. Trainer Ibbott admits this is “ a horse of a lifetime and he is now finished for the season” He will be turned out, in the field, now until August when he will be brought back in and all being well will campaign again next season. Back Bar and Izzie Hill comfortably won the opening Hunt Members race, a race they won together in 2003, for local owner Richard Cranfield. Richard is the current Chairman of the host hunt, the Essex and Suffolk and trainer Alan Hill had mapped out a target to win this race, again, for the owner.  The application of a tongue-tie had been used at Fakenham recently and after discussions with his son Joe, went with the same thoughts again and Hill senior felt this was beneficial to the horse’s overall performance.  Trainer Andrew Pennock’s previous course winner Shanes Passion set out to make the running and at the final open ditch there was only 4 lengths covering all four runners. The order changed at the second last where Izzie Hill had brought Back Bar through to contest the lead and they strode away to win by 10 lengths with Driveondonn and Charlie Buckle running on to take the runner-up position. Izzie was winning on the 13-y-o Back Bar for the ninth time and her parents arrived just in time to see the final outcome of the race, having had a horrendous traffic-problem journey up from the south. Due Reward and Marina Bealby have had a mixed association since they have been racing together. Marina’s first ride in points was on Due Reward at the corresponding meeting at Higham in March 2024  which ended with unseat two fences out. Since then the pairing have recorded a success in a match race at Tabley earlier in the month and here they came home victorious in the Conditions (Level 2 ) race, having overtaken Take To Heart the early leader four fences from home. Although  Paddy Barlow encouraged the Ed Turner horse for another effort, on the run-in, Due Reward maintained his lead to finish 2 lengths ahead, at the finish, with the favourite The Yellow Mini being eased when out of contention, a further distance away. The win gave the Leicestershire-based Miss Bealby her 3rd career success from 17 rides. The concluding Maiden race saw Gallant Geronimo and Aimee Jones, who had journeyed from the Cotswolds, narrowly defeat Eile Tara who travelled even further from Glamorganshire. The race was run at a slow pace with The Orchard Boy taking the lead.  East Anglian jockey, Charlie Buckle, was having his last ride on the favourite Sports Magic, in this race, but unfortunately Charlie was unseated at the tenth fence when he seemed to be travelling ideally behind the leader. Gallant Geronimo took over at the cross fence and was challenged by Eile Tara and Ed Vaughan two fences from home who looked the likely winners. In what resulted in the closest finish of the afternoon, Aimee Jones gave Gallant Geronimo every assistance from the saddle and rallied sufficiently to snatch the judge’s verdict by a neck. This was Miss Jones 5th points win and was witnessed by professional trainer Max Comley who was overseeing saddling duties for his partner Elen Wylie. Another very successful Essex and Suffolk meeting, hugely attended and we will have to wait until December before we can go point-to-point racing, again, in East Anglia.