A Deluge of rain hit the southern part of the UK before the
start of an eight race card at Fontwell. Standing water clearly in evidence as
race by race horses were being scratched due to the ‘aquatic’ going.
Newbury, with a quality flat two day meet had already
been abandoned, leaving the Sussex course to fend for itself through the rain.
The going started off at good to soft, soft in places which
was commendable to the ground staff at Fontwell, but by the third race and the
rain falling very heavily the going soon changed to heavy. Jockeys coming in
from the races mentioning very soft/heavy ground but sloppy so horses were
getting through it.
The first race a two mile one furlong handicap hurdle, seven
went to post. Colin Tizzard sending Sartorial Elegance, a runner twice here in
recent months. Both times in the winners enclosure off at favourite.
Sartorial Elegance,Red Devil Star
But it was local trainer Suzy Smith who saddled Red Devil
Star to take the race,beating the favourite four lengths back in third.
Michael Nolan the jockey mentioned how he felt the horse to
be a little easier to ride this time out from his run last time out at
Chepstow. ‘He felt not easy at all in behind at Chepstow, but I have tried to
pop out on him today and he felt at little easier.’
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| Red Devil Star, Micheal Nolan |
The jockey out of the stable of Phillip Hobbs seems to be getting his slice of the winners at present said,
’ things are hard when your injured and have to get things starting from scratch again, but at the moment things are going my way which is good.’
Trainer Suzy Smith said ‘a lot of people tell me that Beneficial sired horses like to better ground, but this horse is the exception, and loves this wet sloppy type of going.’
Four runners in the next, a three mile one furlong novices
chase. Two finished the course as the rain lashed down.
Paul Nichols still chasing the leading trainers crown and
having a fantastic week prize fund wise, sending 11/4 shot Saint Rogue to post
to beat the only other finisher Restless Rebel by twenty seven lengths.
The ten year old pulled up in his last run at Doncaster, was
left well out in front with plenty left as the Nicky Henderson horse Lessons in
Milan un- shipped Peter Carberry four out when well out in front.
The Nichols team with a good weekend on the northern tracks
seem to be pressing all the right buttons at present and slowly closed the gap
on the Mullins team, regaining the lead in the leading trainers championship,with the winner of the Scottish
National.
The winning horse today though may have a summer jumps campaign
ahead of him to keep him fresh for next jumps season.
Paul Nichols was also successful in the next, a two mile
five furlong handicap hurdle.
Red Hanrahan, also ridden by Connor O’Farrell came home to beat
the Suzy Smith trained favourite Clondaw Cian by seven lengths.
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| Leith Hill, Red Hanrahan
The five year old by Yeats, not the easiest of rides,’ he
was hanging with me the whole way, but he won it well really, despite being a
hard ride.’ Mentioned O’Farrell ‘he has gone through the ground well, but I
have had to hold his hand a bit with the jumping, telling him to come up. If I
hadn’t he would of possible got himself wrong into a few.’
The horse up the run
in, hung right to the stand side running rail. The jockey doing his best just to keep him going forward,
but the jockey always in control, and certainly earning his fee.
Red Hanrahan,Connor O’Farrell
Top Fontwell jockey Tom Cannon had the winner of the next, a
two mile five furlong handicap chase.
Don’t do Mondays, trained by David Bridgewater, ridden out to
take the race thirteen lengths in front of Howlongisafoot bidding to become a
Paul Nichols three timer.
The nine year old, last time out at Fontwell in November
when third. Stayed on well from the second last to take his race, but jockey Tom
Cannon said ‘they have given me a nice chance to get him into the race, the
trainer allowing me to get on with it.
It helps when the trainer used to ride
because he understands a little more of what goes on in the race.’
Don’t do Mondays, Tom Cannon
Cannon in his fourth season as top jockey at the Sussex
course mentioned this year it hasn’t all been all his way, but living in Guildford
not too far from the course he is more than happy to keep supporting the track.
The fifth race a two mile five furlong handicap hurdle saw a
16-1 shot take the race in the shape of the Tom O’Brien ridden, Michael Roberts
trained Snipetydoodah, beating the 5/1 Neal Mulholland horse Highbury High by ¾
of a length.
 
Snipetydoodah,
Tom O'Brien
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The eight year old mare by Kings Theatre has not had the
greatest of form in the past, but the jockey mentioned, she has had a wind
operation that has seen her come right. Before she used to panic a bit in her
races, but know she can breathe a bit more easily it really helps.
The ground not really in the mares favor, held on
well to beat Highbury High and Dennis O’Regan,
‘ I tried to save a bit up my
sleeve for the finish as I was a bit unsure what with her breathing problems, but
she has done it well really.’
The mare nearly retired after her operation to mend broken
bones in her face preventing her to breathe properly, was given another chance
to shine on the racecourse.
And what a great decision and call, as due to the
going change the horse was nearly one of many that was going to be scratched from the card.
Division two of the Handicap hurdle was again taken by an
outsider 25-1 shot, Zoe turner trained Frank N Fur ridden by young eighteen year
old Frankie Penford on his first winning ride made sure of the victory by
beating Surf in September by twenty five lengths.
‘It was so nice, she jumped
so well and went through the ground a dream.’ The young jockey who cut his
teeth race riding with pony racing at a young age. ‘I had forty rides at the pony
racing Circuit, with seven winners.’ The young jockey not that much of a
stranger to the winner enclosure. Also being a champion as south East champion pony racing jockey a few times.
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| Frank N Fur,Frankie Penford
In his fourth ride, two as an amateur and
two as a professional the young jockey who was escorted to the weighing room to
make sure he weighed in said. ‘ I rode out a lot when I was at school in
professional yards, an experience I would advise all those starting out to
take. I then had to come to the decision of, go to University or stay in
racing, so stay in racing I did. I then though I may well as get my
professional licence out, and have never looked back. I love it.’
Those who follow the racecourse pony racing series sponsored by Charles
Owen may well remember the young jockey being placed in the final 2010 on
Push the Button, a pony still racing and winning.
Frank N Fur,
The eight year old mare that the young eighteen year old
from Gatwick will always remember, seemed to love the ground and jumped for
fun, 'she really stood off the last, scared me a bit as I was so far in front.’ The young up and coming was every bit please with the media attention and the presentation, despite
being covered in mud.
To follow on from the debut success, was another jockey
looking for a first. His first 100 winners.
Andrew Thornton, nine more to go
Andrew Thornton who replaced Aiden Coleman on the Lawney
Hill trained Bertenbar, looking for his fourth win at Fontwell.
As with last
time the twelve year old made the race a fight up the straight beating the 9/4
favourite Withy Mills by 2 ½ lengths, and showed how much spirit this son of Bertolini has.
Thornton now only nine winners from the century seemed
really pleased with the win, as much as the emotional trainer and owner.
Bertenbar
Trainer Lawney Hill mentioned, ‘we will have to see how much he gets noticed by
the handicapper know, to where we send him next.
We have been entering all
these 0-100 handicap races but may have to look beyond that, it’s up to the
handicapper really.’
Bertenbar. Andrew Thornton
Whatever the race, if one can be found be sure we could see
this veteran on for a five timer at Fontwell at some stage.
one mile five furlong national hunt flat race
The final race of the day a one mile five furlong national
hunt flat race, Seamus Durack sent out the favourite 6/4 Hahnenkam to complete
a brace of wins in these types of races, as he won impressively with another
racecourse debutante, Alfredo a few weeks ago.
But on this day Durack had to settle with a second as the
Gary Moore charge Knightly Pleasure, ridden by son Josh Moore, won easily by
nine lengths, pulling away from his field from the furlong marker.
Knightly Pleasure, Joshua Moore
The nine year old by Kayf Tara on his second run, the first
run being at the course and a shorter distance last October, when he could only
finish 7th of 11 runners to the impressive Suzy Smith horse Jennifer
Eccles.
No give away on how much they think of this horse from the
Moore team, but to win impressively from the much fancied Hahnenkam is proof
enough how well this gelding stands.
One to watch and see if it takes it’s chances again in this
seasons campaign, or returns hurdling later on in the year.
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