Please find the Pub Team's preview for Marks Tey below. I'm not expecting a plethora of runners which is just as well as I'm making my racereading debut for Mackenzie and Harris today!!!
THE ESSEX FARMERS & UNION HUNT – MARKS TEY Monday 25th April 2011
Advanced going: Good to firm (watered)
2.00pm Open Maiden – 8 entries
A paltry entry of just 8 for this contest and two of the leading contenders Can't Touch This and Princess Yasmin are also entered at Higham on Saturday. Quel Ferbet has improved this season for the change of stable but was a well beaten 3rd at High Easter last Saturday beaten 20 1/2 lengths by Mister Tibus. Can't Touch This has been 2nd on her two previous outings, she was beaten 1/2 a length by Mister Tibus at High Easter last week but finished 20 lengths ahead of Quel Ferbet. Previously she was beaten 25 lengths by Sud Nivernais at Horseheath last month. Princess Yasmin was 3rd at here earlier this month beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Katepast and the Martin Ward stable were victorious in the maiden last week at High Easter so must have a chance if reproducing that form here. Suzi's Gift was 3rd here in a 3 runner members race beaten a distance behind Maranach earlier this month. Neither Charlies Chance, Rock Alliance and Verbury Star have done anything this season to indicate they will lose their maiden status here. The interesting runner is the Andrew Pennock owned and trained High Way Lord who was placed twice in Irish points earlier this year including a 2nd at Tinahely in a 2 1/2 mile contest going down by a neck to Crystal Fire. However he pulled up on his last run in Ireland earlier this month at Monksgrange. Can't Touch This seems to be going the right way and Princess Yasmin ran well at this course previously but both also have entries at Higham. It's difficult to envisage Quel Ferbet reversing places with Can't Touch This on their High Easter running and any support in the market for High Way Lord may be the best indicator to his chances today.
Selection: Can't Touch This Alternative: Princess Yasmin
2.35pm PPORA Club Members (Novice Riders) – 11 entries
An interesting race with 11 entered and nothing standing out as the race favourite. At the last meeting at Marks Tey Ballygalley Bob had an easy victory in the Novice Riders event in the stylish hands of Dickie Collinson. Collinson is coming in for more rides this season riding another winner at High Easter last week. This race however will not be so easy. Exceptionnel historically has performed well in the hands of Tim Lane or Stuart Morris. Neither is eligible to ride in this race and the going would also seem to be too fast for this reliable old pointer. King’s Chase won the Member’s last weekend at High Easter. This was a weak race and this would be quite a step up in class, but the 9 year old ran on well and the time was the fastest of the day so perhaps this one has some class and is worth following. If there is a stand out horse it is The Piper’s Son impressive winner of the Confined Race at Marks Tey back in March. There is however one huge question mark - the going. We would be surprised if this one takes part unless there is heavy rain between now and race day. Of those to consider the final one that comes into the reckoning is Thatmakestwoofus. Last season, here at Marks Tey, we saw something of the ability of this likeable 11 year old. A 20 length victory in the Confined Race in a time 5 seconds faster than the Men’s Open won by the late Rydal Park. However that day the going was good and was over 12 months ago. Last time out at High Easter he ran poorly and it remains to be seen whether the horse can turn out again so quickly and transform himself into a winner. Bridget Andrews is vying for the National Novice Riders Championship so whichever horse she selects will be worth following but on form to date Ballygalley Bob looks the one to follow.
Selection: Ballygalley Bob Alternative: King’s Chase
3.10pm Mens Open – 11 entries
Multiple entries by three stables will ultimately see a small field contesting the race. The entries are however headed by Bon Accord. Back in 2008, Bon Accord finished second in the Cheltenham Foxhunter to Amicelli, but then missed a season. Last year he was successful three times So far this season he has run twice, finishing fifth to My Flora in an open at Whitwick Manor and then finished as runner-up to Noble Ben in a Club Members race at Kingston Blount. Caveman was last seen contesting the men’s open at Fakenham, where he finished third to Star Double. Prior to this he won at Cottenham, where Coat of Honour was pulled up, but his best performance was on this course in early March where he had Star Double a distance in arrears. Sorry Al has been runner-up in both his runs this season, the latest behind Northall Lad at Horseheath. Stable companion Clifton Debut has also only had two runs. Pulled up on his first run, he then finished fourth behind Andsosayallofus in the 4 mile race on this course. The Turner stable have entered three, Art Trend, Basic Fact and Parrain. Art Trend has not run since winning the Confined at Northaw last season, where he beat Toe To Hand by 3 ½ lengths. Prior to this victory he had only completed the course once in four attempts. Basic Fact last ran at Fakenham in Caveman’s race, where he crashed through the wings of the second last fence. His only completion so far this year has been a distant second in a 2 mile hunter chase behind Takeroc. Comments for Parrain can be found under the Higham preview.
Selection: Caveman Alternative: Bon Accord
3.45pm Intermediate – 10 entries
Watering and its effectiveness will have a major influence on declarations. Out of the 10 entries 5 ran last weekend which does not bode well for a big field. Orient Legend has not run since February when 5l 2nd to Comealong Cornwall in the Godstone Intermediate on soft ground following a 5l. 2nd to Over The Phone in the Whitfield Intermediate on good ground and should go close. Bavard Court should run well following his Restricted win in good to firm ground at Fakenham 2 weeks ago beating Batalov by 4l and the Turner stable will possibly favour him over Native Bob who ran 2nd last week at High Easter in the Intermediate where Thatmakestwoofus disappointed running a poor 18l 4th to Gleeson and seems unlikely to run 3 weeks in a row following a weakening 3rd to Carapuce at Fakenham. Toe to Hand will probably not have the pace following a 2nd to Rockfield in the Fakenham Members and a weakening 26l 6th in the Marks Tey Intermediate in early April. One to trouble the judge will be Kings Chase who with Bridget Andrews up won the High Easter Members last week in a very respectable time following a Restricted win at Brafield in March beating Caged Tiger 3l with sister Georgina up but has he recovered from last week?
Selection : Bavard Court Alternative: Kings Chase
4.20pm Ladies Open – 11 entries
King Du Berlais has a great record here and has won his last four starts though these have all been against mediocre opposition. He made hard work of it at High Easter last weekend only just managing to hold off Maranach in a falsely-run race which turned into a sprint up the hill to the finish. The main opposition will probably come from Delightful Cliche who won well at Horseheath and Ampton earlier in the season but hasn’t been seen since. Champtho showed a lot of promise when falling on his only pointing start at Horseheath he’s a young horse with great potential and we doubt whether he will be risked on the likely fast ground. Mysaynoway won a match against Presenting Express over 4m last time out but we can’t see him troubling the top two. Ski Dazzle is probably the best of the rest and has place chances.
Selection: King Du Berlais Alternative: Delightful Cliche
4.55pm Restricted – 12 entries
Batalov holds Dalmatian, Ocean Fou, Regal Ovation and Shannina on form this year. Batalov hasn't run a bad race all season, and looks the form choice here. The Architect is another who on a line through Dalmatian (3rd and 4th at High Easter last week) looks to need to improve to match Batalov’s form. Rockfield’s supporters have finally gained reward, and rather like London buses, after a long wait two arrive close together. The time of his Fakenham Members win was 12 seconds slower than the Restricted in which Batalov was runner- up in. Again giving Anthony Howland_Jackson's horse an edge. Mambo Ruler, Regal Ovation, Sud Nivernais, Timmies Gone and We Got Him all have an easier looking option at Higham on Saturday. It would be surprising if the Andrews/Padfield yards took each other on here, but Sud Nivernais would be a serious contender if taking up this option.
