FONTWELL EASTER MEETING, NOT A FOOL IN SIGHT 1-4-16

Seven races billed for a glorious day at the East Sussex racecourse. The event well attended, catered for the younger audience, saw the place buzzing with picnics and chocolate filled youngsters.

The first race a two mile three furlong novices hurdle eleven ran. 

The favourite Evan William’s it’s a steal well beaten back in fourth ten lengths’s by Neil Mulholland’s Champagne George.

Champagne George.

Jockey Noel Fehily mentioned the six year old by Acambaro stayed and jumped well which was needed around the figure of eight track.

 The second placed horse Laugharne joining the winner over the last, the winner asserting his authority up the straight. 

Champagne George over the last with Laugharne.

Fehily said that he had his final schooling session on his national ride Siliviniaco Conti mid week and  the drying ground would suit his ride, as the schooling session went well.

The next race over the larger obstacles saw six runners to post.

Jockey Marc Goldstein made all with the Diana Grissell trained Here I am, beating by five lengths his nearest rival Guanciale, who could make no impression on the nine year old gelding.

Marc Goldstein on Here I am

‘This was my first winner back from a five week layoff,’ mentioned Goldstein who was sidelined due to an injury sustained at Plumpton. ‘It’s a good ride to get for a comeback as he was a good jumper. He was surprisingly relaxed today, he can be quite gassy. But he is a nice sort of horse and deserves the win.

This was a good local winner for the course, Diana Grissell training a stone’s throw from the course.

Here I am

A two mile five furlong handicap hurdle was won by 7/2 favourite Sartorial Elegance, trained by Colin Tizzard, ridden by Paddy Brennan.

The five year old by Kayf Tara did his best to throw the race by making a hash of the last hurdle. 

‘He lost concentration at the last, he was possibly in front too soon,’ mentioned the jockey whose ride in the national Saint Are is well before the event. ‘He doesn’t really need to school over national type fences, he’s been round the Beecher's twice, so he is experienced, we would like to get the two lengths back from Many Clouds from last year, so should go close.’

Sartorial Elegance

The next race over fences saw the eleven year old crowd favourite Venetian Lad take on five other runners for the two mile five furlongs handicap.

Venetian Lad

Taking the start at 8-1 the grey well in at the weights at 11st 3 lbs and with Jockey Marc Goldstein in the saddle, gave a gutsy performance rallying on up the finishing straight to beat second placed horse Arquebusier and James Banks by a length.

 ‘He knew were the line was and never gave up,’ mentioned the jockey on a double for the afternoon.’ He was up for it today, and pulling my arms out, he loves it here, the course really suits him.’

Another local winner, Lydia Richards training in Chichester mentioned the lad’s in the yard fight to get on this one he is so popular.’ His next race is possibly Plumpton, and then back here for June meeting.’ The 8-1 outsider certainly put Easter cheer on the local crowd that supported this well napped veteran.

Venetian Lad, Marc Goldstein on a double

Anthony Honeyball had the winner of the next. Royal Salute owned by a vast syndicate of the Anthony Honeyball racing club beat the 2/1 favourite Antiphony by four lengths. 

This very nice looking six year old by Flemensfirth is a very nice addition to the Honeyball yard.’ I let him find his way in the race all the way round’ mention Aidan Coleman, who, as of yet has no ride in the weekends big event. ‘He is a very nice sort, who could jump a fence now but we are in no rush. He is one to look out for though.’

Royal Salute, Aidan Coleman (centre)

These is a very nice horse, the yard speaking very favorably about him, and know winning his handicap should be one to progress further as the season draws to a close.

Royal Salute
Winner of the 2m 1f handicap Hurdle

Coleman had a quick second winner of the afternoon on the Lawney hill trained Bertenbar.

The twelve year old by Bertolini made it two wins in a row at Fontwell, winning a 2 m 1 f event in soft ground in March.

By re challenging for the lead up the straight, beating Gowanauthat by a length and a half.

Bertenbar

Greeted by the emotional owner Mrs C Wyatt , who mentioned the horse  was bred by her late father mentioned how proud she was of the horse fighting back, 

‘ this is such a special day, we bred the horse and also we were responsible for giving Aidan one of his first rides, so this adds to the celebration.’

Both jockey and trainer mentioned that they were impressed by the horses bravery and that he deserves this win.

Bertenbar with Aidan Coleman and emotional owner Mrs C Wyatt 

The second placed horse Charlie Mann’s Gowanauthat was unlucky veering from the rail on the run allowing the winner through. ‘We’re bit gutted really mentioned Tommy Dowling the jockey as he unsaddle the placed horse.

The last race of the day was 1m 5f national hunt flat race.

 All eyes were on the favourite Seamus Durack’s Alfredo.

The four year old by Arcano costing 100’000 gns at the sales showed his worth by winning the event easily from the Aiden Coleman ridden London Prize.

The racecourse debutante a horse with plenty of interest, looked an impressive sort to, and is a horse very much for the future.

Alfredo

Fontwell being a course were horses such as Cue Card cut their teeth on the winning front in bumpers.

So yu have been warned , could we see Alfredo on the front covers of the racing pages in a few years.

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