Twenty-six runners only on display, on a more than wet
afternoons racing at Fontwell.
Still controversy in the card where runners were
short and the going still fast on an afternoon possibly all may agree was best
left curled up in front of the fire.
The biggest field of the afternoon was the long-distance
handicap hurdle over three miles one furlong.
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| Yukon Delta |
Gary Moore’s Yukon Delta duly won this contest, off the 5/2 favourite,
the nine-year-old third at Fontwell back in October, winning in between a
contest at Plumpton with blinkers on seemed to relish the rain soaked ground,
5 mm falling on the Sussex course during the pre-race nubtles.
Beating Nigel Twiston-Davies Guiting Power by eight lengths
the race looked all over from two out, beforehand the field racing tightly
compact.
Ridden by Joshua Moore this horse looked well in control,
with softer ground now possibly on offer. It would be no surprise if you saw
this one out locally again soon, dependant on company taken on this horse would be worth a look. Though the handicapper and bookies alike making sure all is done to put this
horse to the test.
The next race the two mile five furlongs’ mare’s beginners
chase, three runners went to post.
Dan Skelton sending Ian Popham on Yes I did
to post the 10/11 joint favourite.
Fifth here first time out in a very tidy Handicap hurdle,
the six-year-old mare certainly showed her turn of foot from five fences out,
giving Popham a ‘heart in your mouth’ moment a few times while out on her own.
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| IAN POPHAM ON Yes I did |
33/1shot FrankNFair split the two favourites a part trailing
in seven lengths behind, making a race of it to the line with Kayfleur for
second spot taking the place by a neck.
The rain still falling Clerk of the course Ed Arkle had no
choice but to listen to the weighing room and bring the going back down to good,
the ground certainly visible becoming loose on top, but still maintain some zip
for the runners ahead.
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| Fifth here first time out in a very tidy Handicap hurdle, the six-year-old mare certainly showed her turn of foot from five fences out, |
The class three mares handicap hurdle over two miles three
went to 2/1shot Midtech Valentine from the yard of Ian Williams.
Ridden by Tom
O’Brien the five-year-old off bottom weight seemed to tire a little at the end
from being sent to take her race three hurdles out, drifting left the mare
managed to stay on to take the race from Mystic Sky the 15/8 favourite by a
couple of lengths.
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| Midtech Valentine |
The mare not out of the top three since March looked the
type that deserved to win a higher grade of event.
Lizzie Kelly looking the
challenger two out on Culture De Sivola, but jumping left herself ended the
race with a stumble and fall living the winner to the mercy of the race.
‘More like she would have got up even without the horse
going two out,’ mentioned the jockey. And certainly, looks the fit type that
would go on again surviving a strong pace set by Culture De Sivola two out.
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‘More like she would have got up even without the horse going two out, |
Innocent girl from the Harry Fry yard took the two miles one
handicap chase.
The 4/6 favourite made short work of his only three contenders
making all most of the way around the figure of eight tack, the ground very
much apparent loose on top causing horses to falter over the obstacles.
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| Withy Mills, James Best |
The winner no exception to this seemed to disrespect the
fences three out,
'we probably were not going quick enough
for him really, which caused him to peck at a few.’ Mentioned the 3lbs claimer
Kieron Edgar.
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| Innocent girl |
The seven-year-old mare, surely has speed, the slight give
in the ground allowing her to use this to her benefit, 27 lengths splitting the
first and second placed horse Fine Resolve.
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| 'we probably were not going quick enough for him really |
The two miles three furlongs’ Conditional jockey’s novices
hurdle came down to a dual Dan Skelton already on a winner for the afternoon
with No Hassle Hoff ridden by the inform Bridget Andrews.
And Chief Bottlewasher from the Charlie Mann yard, Tommy Dowling on board.
All the way around the favourite from the Skelton yard
looked in a commanding position, going out to the back straight the final time
Andrews looking behind her making sure no surprises were in store in the final
flings of the race.
But nothing could have prepared the sister of the twice
crowned point to point ladies champion jockey when the four-year-old took his
eye off the game at the last, completely uprooting the hurdle giving no chance
for the pairing to continue.
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| No Hassle Hoff ridden by the inform Bridget Andrews. |
This left Dowling and Chief Bottlewasher to go through the
gap made by the faller and take the run in on his own.
‘ I didn’t know what to
believe when I saw what happened in front of me, I just aimed for the gap to
pop the flattened hurdle.’
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| ‘I didn’t know what to believe when I saw what happened in front of me.' |
The jockey who the previous year had a crashing fall at the
course was delighted with the horse’s victory, the trainer mentioning tongue in
cheek a win was never in doubt.
The five-year olds first win from five starts
may look a bit of a false contest, but jumping is the name of the game and
that’s exactly what the Moss Vale gelding did.
Both horse and rider came out of their fall unscathed,
though I do not think anyone would have got any sort of conversation out of
Andrews for the next few hours.
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| Chief Bottlewasher |
The final race of the day was a two miles one furlong
national hunt flat race for the older horses, four, five and six year olds.
Five runners to post headed by favourite David Cricket, trained by Alan King
and ridden by course specialist Tom Cannon.
The pace again strong saw the favourite well out of sorts by
six furlongs out, the eventual winner Markov out of the Ben Pauling yard and
ridden by David bass taking up the race as the field turned into the home
straight.
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| Markov |
The 5/2 shot on his maiden voyage seemed green towards the
end of the race allowing runner up Everybody’s Happy to near steal the race,
Bass’s six-year-old showing how hard Irish point to point maiden ‘s can be
sticking his head out for a neck victory.
A good looking chasing type by presenting looked the winner,
but I must say the placed horses in Everybody’s Happy, David Cricket and Good
news (half-brother to Fontwell star, Venetian Lad) would have to be recognised.
One of the better bumpers at Fontwell this season without a doubt. Fontwell
always attracting the nice maiden horses in these types of event.
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| The 5/2 shot on his maiden voyage seemed green towards the end of the race allowing runner up Everybody’s Happy to near steal the race, |
The next meet at Fontwell. Southern national day, more
quality jumpers on show, a whole meeting to take the book to.
This and other Fontwell meetings can be see at
Racing Blog folder
