It's Cheltenham Festival week and to celebrate Essex held its own mini-festival of jump racing with the Easton Harriers point-to-point meeting at High Easter racecourse last Sunday.

Land-owner and Clerk of the Course, Simon Marriage, had performed his usual exemplary performance to produce probably the best jumping ground of any course so far this season.

The number of runners during the afternoon was a reflection not just of the excellent going, but also the popularity of this under-estimated course among East Anglian owners, trainers and jockeys.

The Open Maiden proved to be the most exciting race of the day when Abridge trainer Nigel Padfield seemed ready to crack the champagne corks as his Barbed Broach jumped the last looking home and virtually hosed.

True to his name, Thunderbird, from the yard of Royston trainer Harry Hobson, stole the thunder from Barbed Broach, coming with a wet sail to steal the race by two lengths on the run-in.

Celtic Duke passed the winning post with a circuit to go, looking very hard held by jockey Zoe Turner, but almost threw it away after the last, veering violently across the course.

Almost handing the Ladies Open to Gatchou Mans ridden by Tory Hayter, it was only dogged perseverence and strong riding from the experienced Ms. Turner that saved the day for Celtic Duke.

Having shown little of his best form this season, Hatcham Boy finally succumbed to the urgings of jockey Christian Ward-Thomas and went clear approaching the last to land the Mens Open by three lengths from Sussex visitor Life's Work and owner-rider Marcus Gorman.

Mr. Ward-Thomas was not so fortunate later in the day when opting for the ride on Manna Brave in the Intermediate. Although Ward-Thomas was also the name next to Tap The Father in the racecard, it was Hertfordshire jockey Paul Taiano who took over the winning ride on this occasion.

Eleven runners went to post for the final race of the day, the Point-to-Point Owners and Riders Association Confined race.

After a rather uneven start it was Ballad, owned and trained by David Featherstone, who belied his previous 'R' for refusal, in the form book, who rather convincingly landed the spoils with Newmarket jockey Neil King.

The showers and rather blustery weather may have held all but the diehard race fans away on this occasion, but fairer weather will hopefully prevail for the Essex Hunt fixture to be held at this course on Saturday 6th April.

Meanwhile, the season carries on with two meetings this weekend, the Granta Harriers at Higham on Saturday and the Suffolk at Ampton on Sunday.

Published Thursday, March 14, 2002