SUFFOLK at AMPTON SUNDAY MARCH 2nd

RESULTS : Suffolk Hunt meeting held at Ampton .

By Ray Newby

The official going was good, good to firm in places.

Veteran Horse Conditions ( Level 2 )

1st Captain Biggles        Gina Andrews 1/3fav

2nd Rhythm Is A Dancer Tom Hutsby 4/1

3rd Take To Heart             Alex Chadwick 4/1

Time 6-21          Dists: 5L, 3L       3 ran

Trainer Gina Andrews

Owner: Captain Biggles Syndicate

Restricted

1st L’Aventura     Ed Vaughan 7/4fav

2nd Mister Splash Rupert Stearn 2/1

3rd Touch Tight     Phil York 5/1

also Ask Carla 9/4 (PU)

Time 6-10   Dists: 10L , 4L      4 ran

Trainer Bradley Gibbs

Owner Chris Harriman

Ladies Open

1st Tullys Touch    Ellie Holder Ev’s

2nd Learntalot         Izzie Hill     4/6fav

Time 6-53       Dists: 2L             2 ran

Trainer John Ibbott

Owner Christana Blockley

Mens Open

1st Paper Mill      Charlie Case 1/2fav

2nd Shoal Bay       Tom Hutsby 5/4

also Le Boulevardier 10/1 (PU)

Time 6-36   Dists: 1¾L            3 ran

Trainer Michael Kehoe

Owner  Michael Kehoe

Maiden

1st Jasmin Des Bordes Vicky Frost 5/1

2nd Patricks Hill               Gina Andrews 4/1

3rd Sports Magic               Charlie Buckle Ev’s fav

Time 6-17     Dists:     Shd, 2¼L           9 ran

also At Mangan Bridge 4/1(4th), Japon De Carjac 12/1(5th), Rounditoff 6/1 (6th)  Carrickfergus 33/1(7th), Machu Pichu 12/1(PU), Secret Plan 6/1 (PU)

Trainer Andrew Pennock

Owner Vicky Frost

Conditions (Level 3) for Grass Roots Riders

1st Galileo Silver          Daniel Cherriman 5/4

2nd Imnottalkingtoyou Cian Murphy 4/6fav

3rd Carrolls Cottage       Seb Mead 5/1

Time 6-25     Dists: 7L , 4½L         5 ran

also Wisecracker 20/1 (4th),  Chapelier 14/1 (UR)

Trainer Rhiannon Lodge

Owner Ruth Elaine De Quincey

East Anglia  Area Conditions ( Level 3 )

1st Jersey Fromentin Ed Vaughan 3/1

2nd Soldier At War       Connor Baker 5/4

3rd Good Source           Rupert Stearn 4/6fav

Time 6-31           Dists: ¾L , Hd           3 ran

Trainer Andrew Pennock

Owners: David Everard, Adele Hardy & Ruth Pennock

AMPTON Sunday March 2nd

GOING UPDATE

Following the BHA inspector's visit the going is now GOOD/GOOD to SOFT in places. We do not anticipate that this will change between now and race day on Sunday

( issued Friday 28th )

PUB TEAM PREVIEW

THE SUFFOLK HUNT – AMPTON Sunday March 2nd 2025

1.00 Club Members Conditions – 7 entries

Clara Sorrento defeated Captain Biggles comfortably when making all at Fakenham last season. A 3lb turnaround in the weights in favour of Captain Biggles will make things closer this time. Clara Sorrento has been a tremendous performer for the Stearns winning 6 of his 11 starts in points, also has the Mens open as another option on the card.  Captain Biggles is the baby of the field. He beat course specialist Tullys Touch in Ladies Open here in 2023, but he's not got his head in front since, and has finished runner up in 5 of his 7 starts since that victory. In his defence he's run into some useful performers, and a tactical affair allowed Tullys Touch to his gain revenge at Horseheath last month. He has the Ladies (looks very competitive) as an alternative on the card.  Benefaktor is a stablemate of Captain Biggles and is a 5 time winner in points. Runner up to a horse who went on to win under rules on his only ever run here back in 2020, and did finish ahead of Rhythm Is A Dancer when runner up at Revesby in January, but struggles to get a stiff 3 miles.  Senior Citizen would be a most appropriately named winner. He ran out a very easy winner on his debut from Alan Hill's yard at Higham last month, runner up Rhythm Is A Dancer beaten 15l has a small turnaround in the weights, but it doesn't look enough.  A 5 time winner under rules, he was rated in the 140's at his peak during his time at Alan King's, and also has a runner up placing in a Grand Sefton on his CV. The fact that he only ran 3 times over 3 miles  suggests that connections back then had reservations over his stamina, but he took advantage of a drop in the weights to win comfortably over the trip at Doncaster in 2022.  Rhythm Is A Dancer is a 4 time winning pointer and landed the prestigious Lyon Trophy in 2023. As previously mentioned he finished behind Benefaktor on his return from a lengthy break at Revesby in January, but both look up against it in this.  Take To Heart is a 4 time winning pointer, but despite his yard being in tremendous form he has a little to find on form, and has options on the card.  Ask Ben a winner under rules for Graham McPherson didn't get very far at Horseheath on his seasonal debut last month.

Selection: Senior Citizen                                    Alternative: Captain Biggles

1.35 Restricted – 11 entries

11 entries with 4 rated over 100 and 3 over 90 so a really competitive race in prospect. Ask Carla from the Pennock yard ran all out to win his Maiden at this meeting last season but was a 16L weakening 4th on his seasonal debut in the recent Brocklesby Park Restricted, he will have come on for the run and a place is possible. Atlantic Fleet from the local Turner yard will have come on from his Maiden win by 7L at Horseheath in Feb and although rated only 87 should have every chance in this higher grade. Bride Rovers Abu from the Morgan yard rallied to take the Dec Alnwick Restricted and unfortunately fell at the 15th when leading the Feb Brocklesby Park Restricted so definite claims but a 5lb penalty won’t help. Colden’s Dream from the Price yard stayed on well to take the Cotley Maiden on his only run last season following an indifferent Rules career in the Skelton and Fry yards. Imnotalkingtoyou from the Cantillon yard carrying 5lb penalty is entered in 2 others races but unseated when leading at the 14th in the Feb Horseheath Conditions race following runs in Open Irish PTPs last season. L’Aventara from the Gibbs yard stayed on well to win the May Kingston Blount Maiden and this season was 5th in the Jan Larkhill Restricted and will have come on from that run and the 7lb mares allowance will help. Mister Splash another from the Turner yard was 2nd in this race last season behind Mount Pleasant and then a hd 2nd to the progressive Designed to Win in the High Easter Restricted – place prospects. 6yr Monrocco Moonlight from Jo Hill’s yard made all to win a Charing Maiden following a 3rd in the Jan Friars Haugh Maiden up a grade and may struggle in this company. 8yr. Salacia’s Storm from the in form Wright yard’s 2nd run this season and made all to win the Feb. Brocklesby Maiden and could progress here and the 7lb mare’s allowance will help. 13yr Touch Tight a veteran and from the amazing veteran Phil York’s yard was 2nd in all of his 3 runs last season but a distant 4th in the Feb. Horseheath Intermediate so a step done in grade will benefit but a 5lb penalty won’t. Walk Easy from the Lodge yard made all to win the Feb Duncombe Park Maiden by 11L another with place prospects.

Selection: Salacia’s Storm                                 Alternative: Mister Splash

2.15 Ladies Open – 5 entries

There are four horses entered in this contest whose ratings are closely matched so there is the potential for another classic race. Tullys Touch and Captain Biggles fought out an enthralling finish at Horseheath, two weeks ago, with the former winning by a neck. They have previously met over the Ampton course, in January 2024 where Captain Biggles and Gina Andrews came out on top that day by 3 lengths. On both of the above occasions they raced at level weights but here Tullys Touch is due to carry 3lb extra to his rival which could make the difference. However, as the John Ibbott- trained runner is a five-time course winner and was in excellent heart at Horseheath, then he is capable of conceding the weight and Ellie Holder will again take the ride. Stratford hunter ‘chase winner, Learntalot and Izzie Hill won a Mixed Open on his seasonal debut at Friars Haugh in January and the runner-up, Wild Romance, came out and was successful at Alnwick, last weekend. With the Alan Hill horses in fine winning form, Learntalot could add to the tally. Shentri finished 2nd at Garthorpe last Sunday after being an unlucky loser at Higham, previously, after falling at the second last and looking the likely winner. Take To Heart form Ed Turner’s yard has other options on the card and probably looks to have it all to do, in this race, having pulled up at Horseheath recently.

Selection: Learntalot                                          Alternative: Captain Biggles

2.45 Mens Open – 6 entries

Amongst the entries for the Men’s Open race is recent Horseheath victor, Paper Mill.  Victory over Premier Magic in the Men’s Open race at Horseheath followed three placed efforts in conditions races, twice behind Duc de Bourbon at Larkhill and once behind All Is True.  Dalamoi’s switch to points immediately paid off with a win in a Mixed Open race at Wadebridge in January where he beat Sidi Ismael by a neck, with Dr Rhythm close-up in third.  Both Sidi Ismael and Dr Rhythm have won since.  Shoal Bay’s first run this season resulted in a distant fourth place in the Lord Ashton of Hyde’s Cup Men’s Open race run over 3m 6 ½ furlongs at Cocklebarrow.  Last season Shoal Bay progressed after his first start to win three consecutive races starting off with a win at this fixture.  Both Take To Heart and Le Boulevardier failed to finish on their last start behind Paper Mill, whilst Clara Sorrento has yet to run this year.  Entered in both this race and the race for “Veteran” horses, Clara Sorrento has not been seen since winning a Mixed Open race at Fakenham last season and he might benefit from an outing.

Selection: Dalamoi                                             Alternative: Paper Mill

3.20 Open Maiden – 12 entries

Sports Magic is superbly bred, his mother won a Listed Hurdle race. On his first start for Rob Cundy, he finished 2nd in a competitive Maiden, he was only beaten a neck staying on strongly all the way to the line and holds a great chance. Machu Picchu ran in the same race and was pulled up. Secret Plan has his second start for the Turner family, he pulled up on his first start but cannot be dismissed the yard are in fantastic form having had plenty of winners recently. Patricks Hill has been placed twice in Point to Points, but our concerns are that they were over 2miles 4furlongs. He steps back up to 3 miles where he has been disappointing and not seeing his races out, best watched on this occasion. At Mangan Bridge had solid form in Ireland finishing 2nd on debut.  He was in touch before unseating at Larkhill on his first start for new connections and if he has a clear round he could be an interesting contender and cannot be dismissed. 

Selection: Sports Magic                                     Alternative: At Mangan Bridge

3.55 Club Members Conditions (Grassroots Riders) – 7 entries

This race for “Grass Roots Riders”. Riders who have ridden 20 or fewer winners under any rules of racing has attracted 7 entries. Imnottalkingtoyou was unlucky to unseat two weeks ago at Horseheath when leading. He was a two-time winner in the UK when trained by Tom Ellis and placed on all four subsequent outings before crossing the Irish Sea. However he only completed once in Ireland from five starts. That was a 2nd to The West’s Awake at Lisronagh in February last year going down by 1 ½ l. He’s due to be ridden by Cian Murphy who boasts a 40% strike rate in points. Galileo Silver has had two runs this season. On his first run he was 3rd at Revesby Park going down by 6l to Largy Mountain. A possible opponent today, Kostantina was 58 l behind in 8th that day. Kostantina was 2nd on her next appearance but beaten 23l in a 3 runner hunt race at Brocklesby Park behind Boss Man Fred earlier this month. Carrolls Cottage has been placed 4th on his two recent runs. He ran at Charing last weekend and finished just over 12l behind Empire De Maulde. Nasee also ran last weekend. He was 2nd at Kingston Blount in a conditions race going down by 2l to Cooldine Bog. Chapelier is a course winner, but his last win here was in 2019 and he’s on the downgrade. Wisecracker has pulled up on his last three outings and is best watched today.

Selection: Imnottalkingtoyou                           Alternative: Galileo Silver

4.30 Conditions Level 3 -  5 entries

The one exception is Soldier At War, who has moved from the Jenny Owen yard to be trained by his owner-rider, Connor Baker, since last season and ran well to chase home The Yellow Taxi at Higham three weeks ago. However, he has yet to win in 10 British pointing starts and may find Ampton’s uphill finish stretching his stamina. Good Source is hard to fancy having pulled up on each of his outings this term. Jersey Fromentin was allowed to go off at a massive 25/1 when getting off the mark at Fakenham in April. He is comfortably the lowest rated of the quintet and needs to make a massive leap forward having pulled up soon after halfway on his seasonal debut at Horseheath. Imnottalkingtoyou won twice in 2022 when trained by Tom Ellis and had one good bit of form in Irish points last season but got no further than the fifth-last at Horseheath on his British comeback so has his fitness to prove here. A similar remark applies to Back It Up, from the David Kemp yard, after he pulled up at Horseheath five weeks ago, but this gelding has an excellent 4-7 strike rate and won second time out last term after pulling up on his return. The Pub Team enjoys nothing more than watching John Ridge’s ‘black, green star’ silks being carried to victory and, although the ground may ride softer than he likes, Back It Up can achieve that feat on Sunday.

Selection: Back It Up                             Alternative: Imnottalkingtoyou

OVERVIEW

Race 1: Senior Citizen / Captain Biggles

Race 2: Salacia’s Storm / Mister Splash

Race 3: Learntalot / Captain Biggles

Race 4: Dalamoi / Paper Mill

Race 5: Sports Magic / At Mangan Bridge

Race 6: Imnottalkingtoyou / Galileo Silver

Race 7: Back It Up / Imnottalkingtoyou

IMPORTANT TRAFFIC NOTICES FOR THOSE TRAVELLING TO AMPTON

It has been brought to our attention that The Highways Agency have closed the Ingham-Ampton Road until the end of March therefore a diversion is in place. Please follow the diversion signs or use the turning to Timworth at the bottom of the hill. Both routes will bring you back to the normal course access.

ALSO

A diversion will take place on the A134 Sicklesmere Road, south of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. For the duration of the weekend closures, drivers will be diverted along the A1302, A143, A1017, A1092 and A134. Drivers will face a 43-mile diversion on a major A-road as work gets under way to connect a nearby housing scheme - adding more than an hour to journey times.

The closures will be in place from 8pm on Friday and 5am on Monday

A FURTHER UPDATE:

I have been informed that the A134 will be open this weekend at Sicklesmere but there will be temporary traffic lights in place.

GENERAL PREVIEW: SUFFOLK AT AMPTON ON SUNDAY MARCH 2nd

By Graham Bishop

The racing action returns to Ampton racecourse, on Sunday for the only meeting scheduled to be held there this season. Their fixture in January was unfortunately abandoned due to frost in the ground.

A full day of entertainment commences with two pony races which are always exciting, competitive affairs, at midday, followed by seven steeplechases starting at 1pm.

Always a great country show feel to this meeting, with good viewing for the racing and an amazing range of food and retail stands with a public cash bar together with a Skinners-sponsored fun dog show, where you can enter your canine family member, for a variety classes, on the day.

Following on from the pony races, the point-to-point action commences with a Veteran Horse Conditions race. The sole entrant that has won this season is Senior Citizen, who was winning at the first time of asking for his new stable, defeating a race fit Rhythm Is A Dancer by 15 lengths around Higham. Prior to this run Rhythm Is A Dancer had finished third at Revesby Park, one place behind Benefaktor, who has since finished fourth to Glenmount at Brocklesby Park.  Captain Biggles, a stable companion of Benefaktor has finished runner-up in both of his races this season, latterly by a neck to Tullys Touch at Horseheath. Clara Sorrento has not been seen on the course since Fakenham’s fixture last season, during which he defeated Captain Biggles by 3 lengths. Alongwith Take To Heart who was pulled up at Horseheath, both Clara Sorrento and Captain Biggles hold alternative entries in the “Open” races.

The Restricted race has a fascinating look to it, with four of the entrants having won their Maiden race on their most recent run this season.  Locally trained Atlantic Fleet won his Maiden  around Horseheath by a comfortable 7 lengths, not quite as far as Walk Easy did when winning by 11 lengths at Duncombe Park. Monrocco Moonlight won at Charing by 2½ lengths and Salacia’s Storm obliged by 1¼ lengths in a mares Maiden at Brocklesby Park. Bride Rovers Abu won a Restricted race at Alnwick in December, but on his last start fell when vying for the lead at Brocklesby Park with Ask Carla, who went on to finish fourth.  L’Aventara ran well in defeat on her first run of the season, finishing a close fifth in a Restricted race at Larkhill in January.  Colden’s Dream won a Maiden race at Cotley last season on his sole start for his connections, whilst Mister Splash and Touch Tight finished runners-up on more than one occasion last year.  Imnottalkingtoyou was travelling well in the lead of a Conditions race at Horseheath but unfortunately unseated his rider at the fifth last fence. In addition to this contest, Imnottalkingtoyou is also entered in the Conditions race for Grass Roots Riders and the East Anglian Conditions race at the end of the card.

The Ladies Open race has a small, but select entry.The first and second in the Ladies Open race at Horseheath could meet once again, Tullys Touch having got the better of Captain Biggles by a neck. This was the first time Tullys Touch had beaten Captain Biggles, having finished behind him on all three occasions they met last season.  Learntalot travelled to Friars Haugh for his sole start this season, and duly obliged in the 3½ mile Mixed Open race. Shentri finished behind Tullys Touch at High Easter last season, won first time out this year in a three runner Ladies Open race at Cocklebarrow.  A second victory was surely on the cards at Higham, having taken the lead in the “Novice Riders’ race”, but they over jumped the second last and fell. A run at Garthorpe last weekend saw him finish second to Janika over the shorter trip of 2 ½ miles.

The winner of the Men’s Open race at the recent Horseheath fixture can be found amongst the entries of this Men’s Open race. Running for the first time in Open company, Paper Mill got the better of Premier Magic by 5 lengths with Le Boulevardier having fallen early in the contest.

Switched to pointing this season, Dalamoi got off to the perfect start by winning the Mixed Open race at Wadebridge in January, just getting the better of Sidi Ismael by a neck.

Shoal Bay finished fourth on his first start last season and then went onto win his next three races, including the “Novice Riders’ race at this fixture. He is following a similar route having finished fourth on his first run this year. The aforementioned Clara Sorrento and Take To Heart are the other entries for this race.

The Maiden race has twelve entries of which five have been placed this year in points either side of the Irish Sea. Sports Magic has come closest to victory, having finished a neck behind Copshill Rock at Revesby Park, in which Machu Picchu was pulled up. At Mangan Bridge finished second in an Irish point in early December and on his first start for his new connections at Larkhill in January he unseated his rider, too early to tell how he may have fared.  Patricks Hill finished second in a 2½ mile Maiden race at Charing behind easy winner Bobbarelli, whilst Jasmin des Bordes was a distant second to Barrington John at Horseheath in January but got a lot closer to winning at the recent Horseheath meeting when finishing fourth to Atlantic Fleet, with Rounditoff and Carrickfergus behind.

The Conditions race for Grass Roots Riders could see the aforementioned Imnottalkingtoyou run in this contest. He could be joined by Nasee who finished second in a similar contest last weekend at Kingston Blount and would have gone close to victory had they not made a mistake at the last fence. Galileo Silver has run well on both starts this season, finishing third in a Grass Roots Riders race, and then finishing fifth in a high-class Conditions race at Duncombe Park.  Carrolls Cottage has run at both Charing fixtures, showing better form at the most recent fixture.

In the closing Conditions race for East Anglian registered horses, Soldier At War is the only horse that has finished a race this season. His second place finish was behind The Yellow Mini at Higham last month.  Back It Up and Good Source have met a couple of times, once this season when they both pulled up in a Conditions race at Horseheath, but are better judged on their close encounter at Fakenham last season when Back It Up got the better of Good Source by 1½ lengths.  Coincidentally, Jersey Fromentin ran his best race last season on that same card at Fakenham, when victorious in the Maiden race but he too has pulled up on his only start this year.

Admission: Adults £15 (cash only) with children under 16 Free. Dogs on short leads, please. Ampton racecourse is situated 4 miles North of Bury St. Edmunds on the A134 Thetford Road ( SatNav IP31 1NS )

Please note there is a road closure near to the course, please follow diversion signs which will bring you back to the normal course entrance.

AMPTON POINT-TO-POINT and PONY RACING

THIS SUNDAY MARCH 2nd

Timetable for SUNDAY’S meeting at AMPTON:

Pony racing:

12.00pm   128cms & under Open Pony Race   -  8 entries

12.15pm   138cms & under Open Pony Race   -  7  entries

Point-to-Point Steeplechasing

1pm          Veteran Horse Conditions race         -  7 entries

1.35pm    Restricted                                             -  11 entries

2pm         FUN DOG SHOW (Skinners-sponsored) commences

                 Various classes. Entries on the day.

2.10pm   Ladies Open                                         -   5 entries

2.45pm   Mens  Open                                          -  6 entries

3.20pm   Maiden                                                  - 12 entries

3.55pm   Conditions ( Grass Roots Riders)       -  7 entries  

4.30pm   E.A Conditions                                      -  5 entries

Final declarations are made on race day.      

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Always a great country show feel to this meeting, with good viewing for the racing and an opportunity to browse the amazing range of food and retail stands together with a public bar  (cash only).

ALSO AN ADDITIONAL ATTRACTION FOR THE CHILDREN

Children can be entertained for an hour by 442 Football Academy.

£10 per child (under 16) Two sessions 1pm – 2pm and 2.15pm – 3.15pm.

Places can be reserved, contact hetty.keyes@tattersalls.com

Admission: Adults £15 (cash only) with children under 16 Free. Dogs on short leads, please. Ampton racecourse is situated 4 miles North of Bury St. Edmunds on the A134 Thetford Road ( SatNav IP31 1NS )

Please note there is a road closure near to the course, please follow diversion signs which will bring you back to the normal course entrance.

ENTRIES ARE 53 Total:

Conditions (Level 2) 9yo upwards (7)

Restricted (11)

Ladies Open (5)

Mens Open (6)

Maiden (12)

Conditions (Level 3) Grassroots Riders (7)

Conditions (Level 3) (5)

AMPTON - SUNDAY MARCH 2nd 

We have had 6mls of rain and the going is :

GOOD to SOFT, SOFT in places. 

No problems are envisaged and given the forecast we anticipate very little change in the going. 

(Monday 24th Feb 9.30am )

SUFFOLK at AMPTON on SUNDAY MARCH 2nd

GOING & TRAFFIC NOTICES:

Clerk of the Course, Simon Stearn has been at the course today. Following 4mls of rain overnight the going is currently GOOD TO SOFT, GOOD IN PLACES. The course is in excellent condition for the first meeting of the year. More showers are forecast and another update will be given next week.

IMPORTANT TRAFFIC NOTICES

It has been brought to our attention that The Highways Agency have closed the Ingham-Ampton Road until the end of March therefore a diversion is in place. Please follow the diversion signs or use the turning to Timworth at the bottom of the hill. Both routes will bring you back to the normal course access.

ALSO

A diversion will take place on the A134 Sicklesmere Road, south of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. For the duration of the weekend closures, drivers will be diverted along the A1302, A143, A1017, A1092 and A134. Drivers will face a 43-mile diversion on a major A-road as work gets under way to connect a nearby housing scheme - adding more than an hour to journey times.

The closures will be in place from 8pm on Friday and 5am on Monday

SUFFOLK at AMPTON on SUNDAY MARCH 2nd

Clerk of the course is walking the course on Saturday (22nd) and will provide a GOING update, promptly afterwards.