The stuttering East Anglian point-to-point season has got back on track with successful meetings over the past two weeks and one positive result of the recent weather-enforced postponements is that a bumper entry of 136 horses has been received for the Essex & Suffolk fixture at Higham tomorrow, writes James Crispe

This meeting always attracts a big crowd, as organisers do their very best to make it into a real country fair rather than simply a horseracing event, with lots of stalls, trade stands, childrens activities and refreshments on top of a minimum of six steeplechases, which start at 2.10pm and run through until at least 5.05pm.

The equine action is varied, with a Side Saddle Dash taking place at 12.25pm and three children’s pony races going off at between 12.45pm and 1.30pm, while the Essex & Suffolk Hunt hounds will parade on the course at 2pm.

The racing highlight is undoubtedly the £1,000 Mixed Open, which has 18 possible starters and comes under orders at 2.45pm. Underfoot conditions will be crucial in deciding the result, as Higham dries extremely well and could yet offer ground on the fast side of good come race day.

If that does happen, Broken Eagle will be very difficult to beat, whereas if the recent wet spell continues it would play into the hands of the veteran, Brackloon High, who is unbeaten in two career starts at this venue, and Midnight Cowboy, who is better than a recent errant-jumping third place in an Ascot Hunter Chase suggests.

Midnight Cowboy has an alternative engagement in the 27-entry Novice Riders Race where he could come up against L’Eldorado, twice a winner and once second in three similar races so far this term.

There is a possibility that a race or two may need to be divided on the day, most probably the Open Maiden, where there are 25 entries and a maximum field size of 15.

The opening 21-entry Restricted Race could go the way of the easy Ampton maiden winner, Chosen Rose, while the closing 11-entry Hunt Race, for Veteran and Novice Riders, looks a good spot for One Fine Morning following last month’s comfortable High Easter success.

Higham is just to the west of the A12 between Colchester and Ipswich using the B1068 turn-off towards Stoke-by-Nayland, post code CO7 6NG. Admission will be charged at £12 per head with under 17s allowed in for free.