PUB TEAM PREVIEW OF DUNSTON HARRIERS AT AMPTON ON SATURDAY JANUARY 10th
THE DUNSTON HARRIERS – AMPTON
Saturday January 10th 2026
12.00 Conditions – 10 entries
Fingers, toes and everything else will be crossed that a thaw arrives in time to save this meeting. A few of these have alternative options, not only here but at other meetings this weekend as well. Mumbo Jumbo won 4 of his 5 starts in points last season, only meeting defeat at Guilsborough behind a useful rival in a tactical affair. He never looked happy over the bigger fences at Cheltenham and will relish going back between the flags. Aikenbreakinheart was runner up on 3 occasions last season but struggles to get 3 miles. All Loved Up is regularly placed but has never found winning easy. She gets a handy 7lb allowance though, and if able to reproduce the form of her Charlton Horethorne win last season would have a squeak. Black Gerry had a pipe opener at Horseheath on New Years Eve, but this winner under rules struggles to stay 3 miles. Coolagh Park has been well placed to win 5 points and has been placed in a Hunter Chase towards the end of last season. Go Go Geronimo seems to have been around for ever; he's won 7 point to points and been placed on many many occasions. He will be hard to keep out of the frame. Skandiburg returned from a lengthy break, not the first of those in his career, with a good 2nd over 2 1/2 miles at Chaddesley Corbett before Christmas. This one time highly rated hurdler ideally needs plenty of cut, and it's over 6 years since he won a race. Grange Island has won a couple of Hunter Chases in Ireland and showed up well for a long way when 3rd behind two useful rivals at Charing before Christmas. East Street landed a hat trick in late 2024 for James Owen. Pulled up on his seasonal debut at Wetherby in November, he quickly heads into the pointing ranks and regularly has some headgear on. Grove Road is a 4-time winning hurdler, and although still a maiden over fences, he was beaten a neck in a chase at Uttoxeter at the end of 2024. He stays 3 miles and regularly runs in a visor. An open affair, with plenty of horses who like to force the pace, but none looking 100 per cent bombproof.
Selection: Mumbo Jumbo Alternative: Grange Island
12.35 Open Maiden – 13 entries
This looks a competitive contest with several runners arriving with both proven form and potential for improvement. Another Notion should be firmly in the mix, with no concerns surrounding his fitness, having already shown a solid level of form this year when finishing second. That performance suggests he is in good heart and capable of playing a prominent role once again. Colonel Whizz remains a Maiden after nine starts under rules but has shown enough to suggest he can get involved. Having been placed twice over Hurdles and having gone off favourite for his Handicap Chase debut, where he finished unplaced, implying better was expected of him on the day. He now makes his first start for new connections and could easily be revitalised, with any improvement making him a danger. Diamond Tiki is one of the more interesting contenders. His connections have done well with this type of horse in the past. He showed promise on debut when finishing second in a Bumper and although he was disappointing when tailed off on his second start over hurdles, he is entitled to improve significantly for both a step up in trip and his first run over fences. Guseakie makes his first appearance for new connections after four runs in Irish point-to-points, finishing a beaten favourite on his final outing, did show glimpses of ability during that spell and could be dangerous if able to translate that promise to the track. Indie Rocknroll has had three starts in Irish point-to-points and has shown a fair level of ability, and he now joins the Pennock’s who tend to do particularly well at their local track, meaning he should not be dismissed lightly on his first start for the yard. On form Jorah is the standout in the field. He does need to prove his fitness and his ability to stay the three-mile trip, but his pedigree suggests stamina should not be an issue. He finished second on his first start over fences and has been placed over hurdles giving him strong credentials, and there is plenty to like about his profile. North Moon, a former Willie Mullins-trained runner, is more difficult to assess. He disappointed when an unplaced favourite in a bumper but does have a solid piece of hurdles form, although his effort over fences was again underwhelming. He could prove better than he has shown.
Selection: Jorah Alternative: North Moon
1.10 Ladies Open – 6 entries
Six entries in total and two from the Gina Andrews stable, Loughan a winner of ten points to-date and a winner this season and Tigerbythetail who hasn’t had a run this campaign and has an alternative entry at Wadebridge. All ten victories by Loughan have been with Gina in the saddle and their latest win came in a 2 ½ mile Ladies Conditions contest at Garthorpe at the end of November. He followed this with a 3rd place, beaten 3¾ lengths at Alnwick in mid-December in a Ladies Open. The veteran Myth Buster won unchallenged on his seasonal reappearance at the end of November, at Larkhill, with Lily Bradstock aboard. Somptueux and Marina Bealby finished 4th and last, in the same race, so is unlikely to reverse that result. Shentri, who races prominently, unseated Poppy Shaw in a Ladies Conditions race at Charing recently when leading their rivals, the third time they have parted ways when partnered together. Seven-time Ampton course winner Tullys Touch finished runner-up recently in a Ladies Open at Horseheath, in what became a tactical affair, beaten 3 lengths by Fairly Famous. In view of Loughan and Gina Andrews very successful history together they may well enjoy another victory but don’t discount Tullys Touch attempting to improve his course record even further with Ellie Holder taking the ride.
Selection: Tullys Touch Alternative: Loughan
1.45 Mens Open – 6 entries
The entries for the Men’s Open race includes former Aintree Foxhunter winner Famous Clermont. The winner of 4 races last season which included a repeat win in the 2¾ mile Ladies Open Championship Final Hunter Chase at Stratford. On his seasonal reappearance in a 2½ mile Men’s Open at Larkhill at the end of November Famous Clermont finished 4th, 2 lengths behind the winner A Jet Of Our Own. I K Brunel started his season in the same race at Larkhill at the end of November, as he has done for the last 4 seasons. This year the result was the same as last, a 2nd place behind Myth Buster. Magical Escape, running for the first time in a point, finished 2nd to Kandor in a 15 runner Level 2 Conditions race at Larkhill in December. The remaining three entries have yet to run this season in point and also hold alternative engagements on this card. Go Go Geronimo who has been a model of consistency won a conditions race at Revesby Park last season and was placed in a further 3 points and a hunter chase. In the pointing field he has run 23 times, won 7 and has been placed 15 times. The ex-James Owen trained East Street was pulled up on his final start for that stable in early November. Running 9 times between Oct 2024 and March 2025 he rattled up three consecutive victories, alternating between chases and hurdles, but the remainder of his form was unconvincing, a change of scenery maybe what is needed.
Selection: Famous Clermont Alternative: Magical Escape
2.20 Restricted – 13 entries
A respectable 13 entry card with 2 rated over 100 and a further 5 over 90 so a competitive race in prospect and a challenging race to call. First run for 6yr. Ask Elli from the Bradley yard, won a Maiden at Kingston Blount in Feb and followed up with a weakening pu in the Restricted at the same track in April – a 7lb allowance will help and he should come on for the run. Call Me Early from the Andrews yard probably disappointed connections to finish 5l 3rd in the recent Chaddesley Restricted but will have come on for the run and last season’s form is strong with 3 wins and 1 place in 4 runs. A 5lb. penalty won’t help his cause. Easy Rider from the Bealby yard has his 4th run of the season and comes off a Maiden win at Chaddesley in late Dec but previous form says he might struggle in this company. Another with a 5lb penalty Imnottalkingtoyou from the Cantillon yard was 2nd in the March Conditions race at this track on firm ground which I am sure we won’t see this time. His Restricted win was 4 yrs ago at High Easter and he might find the ground and company a challenge. A long way to come for 7yr. Myfanwy from the Jones yard but she will have come on for her 2 runs this season but a weakening pu on her Nov Restricted run at Dunsmore does not inspire confidence - a 5lb allowance may help. Tellmesomethinggood from the Hill yard is another with a 7lb penalty and a 12l 3rd in the Dec Restricted at Larkhill indicates he will have to improve to score here. First PtP run in England for 8yr. The Dancing Tree from the Hill yard has rather indifferent Rules form but the well-known connections must see something and his rating indicates potential.
Selection: Call Me Early Alternative: Ask Elli
2.55 Conditions (Novice Riders) – 10 entries
On official ratings only 20 points separate the runners. However it’s difficult to look away from Hubrisko. Hailing from Fran Poste’s Warwickshire yard, he was part of a stable treble at Horseheath on New Year’s Eve when he landed the Novice Rider’s event. He’s a two-time winner this season already, both times under the promising Cerys Sheehy who has two career wins from two rides so far. At Horseheath he beat Master Malcolm by 2½L with two possible rivals today behind. Carrolls Cottage was 3rd, 19½L behind with Back Bar 4th, a further 4L away. It’s difficult envisaging these two beating Hubrisko here. Shentri has been a sterling performer for Kelly Morgan. He unseated late on at Charing on his seasonal debut last month when in the lead, but if granted a clear round here could go close. He’s a 3-time winner, his last win coming in March last year in a Novice Rider’s event at Garthorpe when ridden by today’s jockey Poppy Shaw. All Loved Up’s final run last season was in a Cheltenham Hunter Chase when he was 4th, beaten just under 25 L by Latenightfumble. Previously he had won at Charlton Horethorn in March 2025 when beating Arv Way There by 5L. Grange Island was 3rd on his seasonal debut at Charing last month, beaten 16L behind Empire De Maulde. Hardline is a former Grade One winning chaser in his youth when landing a Novice chase at Limerick by ½ L from Getabird. Now well into the veteran stage, he’s trained by Andrew Pennock at the bottom of the course and but may struggle against younger rivals. High Game Royal makes his pointing debut here. Trained under rules by Philip Hobbs, he’s only won once from 17 starts. He was 2nd on his final rules run when beaten 7L by Always Busy in a 3-mile chase at Southwell in May last year.
Selection: Hubrisko Alternative: Shentri
Overview:
Race 1: Mumbo Jumbo / Grange Island
Race 2: Jorah / North Moon
Race 3: Tullys Touch / Loughan
Race 4: Famous Clermont / Magical Escape
Race 5: Call Me Early / Ask Elli
Race 6: Hubrisko / Shentri
Great preview!