Fontwell Park got its 2016 year underway a little later than
planned. With two meetings abandoned due to waterlogging, the Sussex figure of
eight racecourse put on a six race card, billed as ‘Discover future stars.’ And
possibly, one or two could have been on display.
On talking to Head groundsman Paul Mant he said ‘to prepare
the ground has been a lot of work. We were nearly there in January, the ground
was fine, but two days of rain put pay to that. And this meeting, we have just
about got there, but we have saved some fresh ground for the National Spirit
race day.’ This is the next big meeting to be held at the track in a week's’ time. Where the £80’000 National Spirit hurdle is on the card.
The ground classed though as heavy for the day, was a test for a lot tired horses.
The first race, a two mile one furlong novice’s hurdle saw
five runners to post. Top trainer Paul Nicholls, not in attendance. Sent his very nice looking six
year old Alcala to take the race.
Sent to post the 2-1 on
favourite the Turgeon gelding looked all the winner at the second last as Sean
Bowen sent his mount on to take the race. The only other contender to stay with him
was the Oliver Sherwood trained The Fresh Prince.
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| Alcala, The Fresh Prince
In heavy ground and with the slight inclined finish from the last, Alcala took over and stayed on to take his race well by two lengths, despite
edging left towards the finish.
The second placed horse would be one to watch in the future,
Leighton Aspell his jockey dismounting not too happy that he got beat, the horse
looking like with a run would benefit.
The ex Irish Point to pointer, would surely
aim to go chasing.
Paul Nichols not at the Sussex track for the afternoon.So
plans for this impressive winner could not be found, but the master of Datchet would have something up his sleeve, and would be one to take
note of. The rest of the field not in contention at all from the front two,
being twenty four lengths back at the finish.
Only two chases on the card for the afternoon. The first
being a two mile one furlong handicap. Six runners to post, Gary Moore sending
Agincourt Reef to post the 11/4/ fav.
Cloudy Beach
The pace of the race was not to not set too much alight, jockey Joshua Moore, seemed to have to persuade his mount Agincourt Reef to run in
the going.
Trainer Venetia Williams sent the nine year old Cloudy Beach across country from Hereford, looked the winner as
taking the race up six out. Moore and Agincourt Reef in chase. ‘I’m really
pleased for this horse, and the owner. It’s been a long time coming,’ mentioned
the trainer. ‘He got a little jarred up in his first run at Sandown In
December, the plan is know, to get him home and decide where next.’ But in
testing ground and beating a younger horse with 1lbs weight difference by six
lengths, you’d be sure the trainer would be happy to place this horse well for
the future.
Cloudy Beach
A seven runner two mile five furlong novice’s hurdle saw
seven runners go off. The Warren Greatrex trained, Gavin Sheehan ridden
Chef D’
Oeuvre the 2/11 fav.
This nice looking five year old by Maraline, in only his
fourth run of his career, making it a 50% strike rate to the winner’s
enclosure. ‘I probably wouldn’t run him at Cheltenham, as he has had a few runs
know over four months. Possibly a Punchestown festival horse, we’ll have to
see, but i really like this one,’ mentioned the Lambourn trainer.
Chef D'Oeuvre
The winning distance was twenty one lengths, the surprise
being the second placed horse the Mattie Batchelor ridden Norman the red
trained by Jamie Poulton coming in for each way backers at 100-1.
The feature race of the afternoon The Buy a Georgie Smith
Horsebox Handicap chase, over 2 miles, five furlongs saw only three horses to
post.
Showboater trained by Ben Pauling going off the 4/5 fav due to the fact
he had won at the course on Boxing Day, on heavy ground. This time though the
distance being a little more testing.
As the pace picked up the field lost Black Narcissus six
from home. The favourite, tiring from two out. Golanova, ridden by Joshua Moore and trained by his father Gary,
going on to take the race by twelve lengths.
The eight year old in his 22nd
run of his career, taking only his fourth win for owner Mrs Elizabeth Kiernan,
whose long association with the Moore family stretches back to her having
horses with Gary’s father. Asked the trainer if he had thought the horse was
fancied, he said.’ All I said to Joshua was to make sure he got him home so we
could claim place money.’
The favourite showboater running to the line very tired, Nico De
Boinville dismounting the seven year old swiftly after crossing the finish.
 
Golanova
The two mile three furlong handicap hurdle saw seven runners
take on the 15/8 fav Lee side lady, a
winner at the track back in August. The Neil Mulholland trained six year old
ridden by Noel Fehily kept on a good stride over the last to take the race by
five lengths from Ashkoun.
Lee Side Lady, Eco Warrior
The six year old by Mountain High owned by a large
contingent calling themselves ‘The affordable Partnership’ all local to the
track coming to support their charge who had only run ten days previous at
Fakenham in a two mile four furlong event on soft ground, finishing second.
So today’s
difference of a furlong less in distance, and 3lbs less to carry in tacky ground
had given the horse a five lengths advantage.
Lee Side Lady
The last race of the afternoon also went to the Mulholland
team. Admiral Kid, ridden by conditional Shane Quinlan made very easy work of
the one mile five furlong distance to beat River of Intrigue from the Nicky
Henderson yard by two lengths.
 
Admiral Kid
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Quinlan had to hardly move on the five year old in the
closing stages, while the rest were hard at work, and going nowhere in the testing
conditions.
Again a multi group ownership known as the Equi ex Incertis
Partners (roughly translated, uncertain horse) were delighted with their charge. One of them, tongue in cheek asking about the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham to
the trainer. His advice though a little more down to earth saying ‘the lads at home
were telling me this had been working well, but I think we have to be content
with a race here, rather than bigger climbs.’
On saying that, Cue Card, a contender at next months Cheltenham festival, and the
reigning King George champion started his winning debut at Fontwell.
In a
bumper, 2010.......
So in 2020 could Admiral Kid be on everybody’s lips...... Time
will tell, and if so, you heard it here first.
More blogs and images of point to points and Fontwell park meetings can be seen at.
