15 April 2009 Preview: Essex - High Easter
Watering has already begun at High Easter, the venue for an Essex Point-To-Point on Saturday April 18 which has attracted 82 entries.
The first of six races, a six-entry Hunts Club Members, kicks off at 2.00pm and the last, the 19-entry Open Maiden, comes under orders at 4.55pm. After the steeple chasing is over there will be two pony races over half a circuit of the course but bypassing the fences.
The highlight of the afternoon is the three and three-quarter mile Countryside Alliance Club Members event, due off at 3.10pm. Four of the 19 possibles come here on a winning sequence of at least two, most notably Viceroy Close, who has won all four of his starts since joining David Kemp's Thetford yard in the autumn.
Itsallupintheair, The Piper's Son and Captain's Legacy will all be looking to complete a hat-trick while Mid Div And Creep has won three times at Horseheath in 2009 and was in front when unseating on her only other start this term. One other interesting contender is Bob Ar Aghaidh, whose stamina is guaranteed as he chased home the classy Bee An Bee in the Kent Grand National at Detling last time out.
Mid Div And Creep's connections may decide to sidestep the main event and run instead in the Ladies' Open, where her 11 potential rivals include Bedtime Boys and the in-form Joe Turner-trained duo of Assassino and Forsty Run. And Captain's Legacy has an alternative engagement in the Intermediate Race, where he would face a maximum of ten opponents.
The course is just south of the village of High Easter, eight miles north west of Chelmsford. From M11 Junction 8 take A120 east towards Colchester for roughly eight miles until the Dunmow South exit. Take A130 (direction Chelmsford). As you arrive in Barnston turn right at a mini roundabout signposted 'The Easters'.
Follow this road all the way to High Easter where you turn right at a T junction. Stay on this road through the village and the course is about half a mile out the other side.
Admission will be charged at £10 per head with under 17s admitted free.
