SATURDAY RACING AT FONTWELL PARK

Day two, and Seven more races at the Sussex racecourse. Billed as the racecourses 'Ocoberfest,' the racing with a quality display of early season jumpers ahead of the new season.
Some trainers and jockeys well on their way into double, and some with treble figures of winners already for the new season, the jumping game seems to be in full swing.

Mercers Court

Trainer Neil king sent out the first winner of the afternoon in Mercers Court, the seven year old gelding with his sixteenth run of his career backing up his only other trip to the winners enclosure  at Warwick in April,ridden both times by Trevor Whelan.
The 7/4 shot came over the last ahead, up the Fontwell inclined finish he hung sharply right to the stand side, but held on well to a late challenge from the rider of the winner of the last race the previous day Noel Fehily on Le Legro, in the end winning by a comfortable six lengths.

Vikekhal Joshua Moore

 Again families took a large part of the double header meeting.
Father and son duo Gary and Joshua Moore took the 2m3f Novices handicap chase with the six year old Vikekhal.
Jockey Moore, who rode his first winner back after a long spell on the sidelines from falling on stable star Sire De Grugey at Aintree in April, was thrilled to be back in the winners enclosure, and with his older brothers Jamie and Ryan both back in the plate, the dynasty of Moore is now back in full swing.
Incidentally this could be good omens for the star De Grugey, as Chepstow in a weeks time, rain willing, and going better than ever will be back to kick start his 2015-16 campaign.

Vikekhal

Five pound claimer Lizzie Kelly took the main race of the day, The Clancy Docwra supporting rockinghorse children's charities handicap hurdle over 2m3f. Trainer Nick Williams took the 5 lbs off the back of five year old to back up his last run and win at Wincanton in April.
Kelly produced the horse well, and though wandering up the finish, kept the gelding to his work.

After Eight Sivola

                 

After Eight Sivola Lizzie Kelly

Grand National trainer Dr Richard Newland sent out 15/8 favourite Top Cat Henry for the 2m 5f Handicap chase. The Dr Massini gelding taking twenty six attempts to get into the winners slot and guided home by Will Kennedy beat Midnight Lira by by three lengths.

Top Cat Henry

Another contender for the National in April,possibly not. But as his jumping is good, possibly the Topham wouldn't be out of the question. Only time will tell.

Tokyo Javilex

Nigel Hawke trained the winner of the next. A stayers handicap hurdle over 3m 1f. Amateur jockey Mr L Drowne bringing home Tokyo Javilex by a couple of lengths from Lady of Geneva.

Sean Bowen

Sean Bowen who has had a memorable week, loosing his claim mid week at Cheptstow. And riding a winner already on the previous days racing at Fontwell brings home another winner this time on a John O'Shea's nine year old Tribal Dance. The gelding on his 41st outing has taken his strike rate to 15% with a 6th win of his racing career.

Tribal Dance

The final race of this two day meeting, was for some horses at the start of their racing career. The national Hunt's games equivalent to a maiden. A national hunt flat race over 2m 1f.

Local trainer Sue Smith sent to post Jennifer Eccles for only her third run of her career, compared to the winner of the last race. Tom O'Brien steered home the five year old, taking the lead two furlongs out. And held on well to beat Charlie Longsdon's Vivas by half a length.

Jennifer Eccles

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