Festive Fontwell 2015

While the Northern part of the British Isles were experience the worst of the weather and water.. The Southern part of it basked in a mild, overcast clasp of the British winter.

Three race meetings south of the Watford gap. Wincanton, the main meeting of the day at Kempton Park and Fontwell Park, who sported seven races with a sell out crowd who came to flush out the Christmas festivities from the day before.

The Southern Cranes and Access LTD Juvenile Hurdle

The first race a 2m 1f Juvenile hurdle saw 8/1 shot Harley Rebel take the prize ridden by 7 lbs claimer Neil Mulholland. The ground telling throughout the whole of the meeting how heavy it was as the horses were well strung out when it came to the finish, with 21 lengths separating first and third.

This three year old by Cockney Rebel, with three wins know to his credit.The last one coming in the shape of a 1m 3f all weather flat race.

Only two chases in the card, the first one being a 2m 1 f Handicap event. Five runners to post, for a race that was packed with trials and tribulations.

The first being that 8/1 shot Highbury High unseated Shane Quinlan at the first and then continued to mould the race as he hampered the remaining runners. With Toohighforme being pulled up and Youm Jamil unseating Nick slatter four out, Tea Caddy and Showboater were the only two left standing. The loose  Highbury High three out went straight across the path of Paige Fuller on Tea Caddy causing the horse to fall at the fence, this left the 4/6 fav ridden by David Bass all alone to jump the remaining two fences and claim the prize.

Showboater 

Three hurdle races in quick succession saw the trio of races start off with a 2m 3f  Novice hurdle. Oliver Sherwood’s The Organist, ridden by Leighton Aspell made all and duly won the event by 28 lengths and made sure his favouritism of 1/7 was well placed. The trainer only choosing to put out two runners for the Boxing day racing extravaganza, the other being at Wincanton.

The Organist

 Trainer Oliver Sherwood

The Organist

Aspell again in the next hurdle event, a 2m 1 f handicap rode 10-1 shot Prouts Pub for local trainer Nick Gifford. Taking the lead from two out the Grand National winning rider bought home his festive double to beat Needless Shouting by 17 lengths

 Prouts Pub

Leighton Aspell

Could this be a quick treble for the Irishman? as he took 10/3 shot Tambura to post for the six runner 2m 5f Mares Handicap. Alas not, David Bass on 10/1 shot At First Light stayed on and denied him of the treble by three quarters of a length.

At First Light(David Bass) Tambura (Leighton Aspell)

At First Light

The second and last chase of the day, a long distance event in heavy going saw six runners go to post for the 3m 1 f handicap chase.2/1 fav Call The Detective was one of the only two finishes and saw off his opposition winning the race by 27 lengths. The only other finisher being Lady of Geneva, who was a firm favourite to back up her second and win at the course in soft ground throughout November and December, and ridden by in form Leighton Aspell.

Call The Detective

Call The Detective 

 The last race of the afternoon a 2m 5 f Conditional Jockeys handicap hurdle saw 3 lbs claimer Martin Blake make all on Harry Cobden’s Hassadin. The 5/1 shot with a drop in distance and fifty runs under his belt made only his third trip to the winners enclosure, which pleased the trainer no end, who hoped the drop in distance and ground would help the horse in his endeavours.

Hassadin

More Blogs and images from 2015 at Fontwell Park

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