The first of three meetings at the East Sussex course before the throws of the festive period comes upon us.
To start, a Friday six race card, with the throws of late autumn being placed upon the figure of eight course. Rain,wind,dark and dismal. Soft ground and small but interesting fields saw hidden gems come out to show their trainers how well they are doing and gives them a good bench mark on how well the yards progressing as the national hunt season starts to take full flight.
A novices hurdle over the two mile three furlong for conditional jockeys,kicked off the meeting.
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| Danvinnie |
Riding up the Fontwell straight, the loose horse on the three pound claimers left veered sharp right, taking the horses race out. And giving a chance for Bannister and the four year old grey to take the race by six lengths.
Garner said ' at the second last I was aware of the dangers of the loose horse on my outside, but if I'd have taken a pull and gone around it, I would have defiantly been beaten. So i took a chance.
So it was the Warren Greatrex trained four year old who took the honours.The trainer mentioned the horse in not the easiest of rides at home and Harry rides him all the time. So it was fitting he got his chance today. Though the trainer was apologetic to his former boss Sherwood.
The trainer also reported that one of his talented rider sons Tom had a trip to the hospital this morning in a schooling accident for his Guvnor David Pipe. Nothing serious just a broken collar bone, and a few uncomfortable days ahead.
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| Bon Enfant |
Five runners went to post for the next. A two mile five furlong beginners chase. The first of only two over the fences for the meeting. Kim Bailey sent Emily Gray to post 5/2 fav, ridden by David Bass, the Severn year old mare was up with the leaders most of the race took up the lead with three to go. In front her jumping was not all that was cut out but held on well to beat Cresswell Breeze by three lengths in the rain softened Sussex turf.
The mare was a sure tonic for her owner Mr J Perris who hopefully was cheering home his horse from hospital. Bass mentioned the trainer fancied the mare, who has only won four of her twenty starts, as she had experience over fences. But he would of been more optimistic at the start if the going had been good. Despite all her wins coming on variable goings.
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| Emily Gray |
The Southern cranes and access LTD mares handicap hurdle, saw the Sussex course receive an award for becoming a track that regularly supports TBA mare races. And it was a race significant for the trainer and the yard of Gary Moore. Moore who, the day before was kicked by a horse at his Horsham home, spent the night in intensive care, Cracked ribs and a punctured lung, gave the talented Moore family anxious moments in the last 24 hours, but it was Flute Bowl, ridden by son Joshua who won this two mile three furlong event by a impressive fifteen lengths, that would of made the trainer feel a little less uncomfortable.
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| Joshua Moore |
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| Flute Bowl |
The five year old mare, who herself had been under doctors orders with a pelvic injury in the spring that had put her off racing a little, was indeed and impressive training feat. And this, her third win added to her juvenile hurdler victories at the turn of the year.
Son and Jockey Joshua was also happy with the success, mentioned his dad doesn't really know what all the fuss is about, but was happy he could bring this one home for the family.
Fontwell park, seems to be a racecourse that is geared to the family. Not only with the racegoers but trainers and jockeys alike. If you see a Skelton,Moore and now a Lee combination entered. It's surely worth a serious look at.
This time it was a farther/daughter combination that took the two mile one furlong handicap chase with ten year old gelding Mr Bachster. Kerry Lee, daughter of top national hunt trainer Richard Lee, has always been destined to become a master in her own rights.' always being about horses in dad's yard and then training pointers, i knew that this was always the job for me' said the trainer of this Bach ten ten year old on his twenty fifth outing, resulting in three wins. ' The plan was always to make all, and know i can expect a happy call from dad without not too much criticism.' Made all, is what the horse did, and won comfortably by twenty length's from the top weight Treacy Hotels Boy.
To cap it all in this race it was Jamie Moore who steered the horse home, another reason to see the Moore family leave Sussex with a smile on their faces
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| Mr Bachster |
The last race of the meeting over obstacles was a three mile one furlong handicap hurdle. Maidstone trainer Linda Jewell sent out Maccabees the 11/2 fav. But it was bottom weight General Girling, ridden by James Best and trained by Caroline Keevil, who took up the lead three out and duly won the race by an impressive twenty four lengths from the favourite.
This Ex point to pointer, who loves the mud looks a nice big sort, and must be destined for the bigger obstacles. ' He was just a bit novice at home over fences' said the Motcombe trainer ' so a run over hurdles was aimed, a confidence booster, and the steady pace and going suited him.' One to watch in the future i feel.
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| General Girling |
If you read my Blogs regularly. You'd of noticed that recently i visited the yard of Suzy Smith. Nestled in the ruins of the old Lewes racecourse. This promising young trainer, with a small string compared to most, a few meetings ago at Fontwell, saddled home Jenifer Eccles to win a bumper, a few days before i graced her yard.
Today, another winner. With another bumper, this time Clondaw Claw, ridden by Tom O'Brien. Beating favourite William H Bonney (the sundance kid to those who can remember their cowboys) trained by Alan King.
Smith liked this ex point to pointer when she showed him off at her yard, and he duly paid back her faith in him by taking this event. ' We might not find another bumper for him so he may have to see his luck over obstacles next time' said the Lewes based trainer. But the five year old by Gold Well stayed on well in the near dark and churned up ground to take his race by a length. Keep an eye on this one, he is sure to pick up a race over the jumps soon if the ground is soft.
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| Clondaw Claw |
The second of the trio of meetings at Fontwell in November is in as little as a weeks time. And it holds the Southern National over the figure of eight track. Some work to do for the ground staff beforehand, but a meeting well to look forward to.
More blogs and images from Fontwell can be seen at
