THIS Sunday, April 4, racing returns to Penshurst near Tonbridge where the Old Surrey Berstowe and West Kent Hunt hold the first of their two fixtures, starting at 2pm.

With a good entry which includes some of the areas ‘super stars’ Sheriff’s Friend, Struggles Glory, Dick McCarthy and Kincora to mention just a few, the afternoon’s racing should be very exciting.

Punters could get off to a good start if they follow Tourjours from the in-form Tindall Gordan stable, a winner of his Maiden and Restricted already this season and looks to be improving, should take the Club Members’ Conditions race. Balau lost his Maiden ticket at Detling in fine style and could now take the Restricted here.

The Men’s Open should see Sheriff’s Friend return to the winner’s enclosure having run really well for much of the race when running in the Cheltenham Foxhunters until being bumped about by other horses which put paid to any further effort, but his task here will be a lot easier and although Struggles Glory will be all out to beat him I consider him to be the banker of the day.

In the Ladies’ Storm Castle if back to his best, has a great chance to beat Kincora and Dick McCarthy.

Race goers are advised to allow plenty of time when setting out to this popular meeting as queues may occur.

Another good day’s racing was enjoyed by a large crowd at Parham on Saturday where the Crawley and Horsham Hunt held their fixture with an eight race card.

Puntrs got off to a really great start with the Hunt Members Race when Phil York landed the odds riding Tricky Trevor in a tight finish with just a length to spare on the line from the fast finishing Tell The Nipper.

With only 30 minute intervals between the starts, the races came thick and fast. It was good to see Stuart Robinson riding his own Magnus Veritas to win the Restricted.

Disappointingly Granny Smith, an impressive winner at Godstone the previous week, trailed in 30 lengths third having been sent off 6-4 favourite.

This was the first leg of a double for Robinson and his partner, Gina Weare, who trains their horses, as Great Jubilee took the Club Members winning easily by some 22 lengths in front of the hard ridden Algan and Phil York.

Only four runners sent to post and after Algan had done much of the work, Robinson pushed for home on Great Jubilee who quickly overtook the leader and won the race in a canter.

This horse was formerly trained by David Pipe, the son of leading National Hunt trainer, Martin Pipe.

Trainer Sarah Hickman had success with Asthefellowsaid in the Confined, and Splash and Dash in the Men’s Open, both horses ridden by her husband Andrew for owner Maurice Smith.

The Ladies’ Race was another great win for Tom Cobbler given a superb ride by Pippa Hall who allowed Sarah Ashby to set the pace on Dick McCarthy, and then went on to win by some five lengths.

Credit must go to Suzanne Hall, the trainer of Tom Cobbler, who has cured the horse’s earlier respiratory problems with a herbal supplement. The horse has now won all its three races this season.

Eleven horses went to post for the Maiden Race and, although novices, the whole field stayed within a dozen lengths of each other for the first two miles.

It was not until the final mile that Chris Gordon set sail for home on Ministerial, with Stuart Morris on Hever Road hard on their heels.

Both were sketchy jumpers and it was a hard fought battle to the line, but Gordon went on to win by a short head.

Winning owner and trainer, Nigel Benstead then watched his daughter, Charlie, take the Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray and Kent and Surrey Bloodhounds Members Race on Live Wire, to notch up his first training double.