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| Easter racing at Fontwell Park |
Good ground on offer again at Fontwell Park for another
meeting that trainers were in two minds to run their charges or not.
And that
came very much apparent as in the first race of seven on an Easter week card
the morning papers favourite for the three mile one furlong novices hurdle Red
Rising was pulled out of the race due to the ground being a little too on the
quick side for the Dan Skelton six-year-old.
Brother Harry mentioned,’ we looked at the going and though
it was for the best to keep a lid on him for another day, which I think is the
right thing to do.’
This left the race wide open for the six to go to the start
Alan Kings Dingo Dollar going off the even money favourite.
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| Dingo Dollar |
The five-year-old the trainer mentioned would make in time a
nice chasing type took Wayne Hutchinson a bit to keep on the straight and
narrow, but when asked went on well to take the race by Nine lengths from
Leighton Aspell on Queens Present.
‘He has enjoyed himself out there really, he has gone on to
do what he has had to do, but had fun which is good for a horse that still is a
little bit of a baby really.’
The gelding that’s seems to have improved in each
of its runs seems to be well liked by the trainer, two wins now in five starts,
this one could be one to watch in the autumn to see if he takes to the larger
obstacles or not.
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| ‘He has enjoyed himself out there really, he has gone on to do what he has had to do' |
The first chase of the afternoon saw only four go to post
for the two and a half miles’ novices chase. Neil Mulholland’s Shantou Village
going to post the 1/5 fav.
Jockey Noel Fehily on board mentioned, ‘He went well today
ran and and jumped brilliant which it’s all about.’ The only glitch in the
seven-year-old impeccable season so far was a tumble in a grade 2 event at
Wincanton in November.
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| Shantou Village |
‘We either go next for a Novice handicap at Punchestown or
at Sandown on the last day of the season,’ Mentioned the trainer. ‘But he would
not want the ground too much quicker than it is here today so we will have to
see.’
But to be sure this gelding will be one to follow for a big scalp next
season on either side of the water, impressive today and would be one to
certainly book for future stardom.
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| ‘We either go next for a Novice handicap at Punchestown or at Sandown on the last day of the season,’ |
Niall (slippers)Madden took the next, a two and a half miles’
handicap hurdle for mares and fillies riding harry Fry’s six-year-old
Goodnitsweetheart.
Beating the pair Mulholland and Fehily into third place on
the favourite Dites Rien. Michael Roberts’s Snippetydoodah in second.
‘She travelled super for me, she has won a point to point so
I knew she was tough enough, but the ground has come for her and she had taken
her race well., she has plenty of scope.’
The Midnight Legend mares owned by the Twelfth Man
Partnership now with a first and a placed in five outings look the type that
early on or later in the season could come out to pick up a few handicaps with
her mares allowance in tow and would be one to watch.
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| harry Fry’s six-year-old Goodnitsweetheart. |
Ottery St Mary based Polly Grundy took the three mile one
furlong handicap chase with Knight of the Realm ridden by James Best. The
ten-year-old with twenty runs and two wins to his credit favoured the ground
more than favourite Bandon Bridge who trailed home to stay, and take the race
well beating Itoldyou by three lengths.
The trainer not afraid of getting her hands dirty leading her
eight year old charge up mentioned, ‘ His best efforts so far have been on
heavy ground so I wasn’t too sure today,
but James has but some belief in him somewhere and I’m delighted he has won, I did mention
beforehand that he was really well in himself so there is no reason why he
should run well, all I wanted was a clear round really.’
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| Knight of the Realm |
Jockey James Best was over the moon with the win, ‘I’m
really pleased for Polly, she has supported me over the years so it was great to
get a winner for her. He has jumped well overall as his form shows that he is
very indifferent, plenty of letters rather than numbers after his name, so the
aim was the clear round, I gave him room to see what he is jumping and to get
him into a rhythm so he is comfortable in his work.’
The figure of eight Fontwell track seemed to suit the horse
the jockey mentioning in these types of tracks you can get a few breathers into
the horse with it's twists and the turns. There was indecision whether to run or
not, but the correct choice was made and a nice little earner for a small yard
was bagged.
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| ‘I’m really pleased for Polly, she has supported me over the years so it was great to get a winner for her' |
Popular duo Dan and Harry Skelton had the next winner as
10/1 shot Gibson Park owned by a new partnership of Rio Gold Racing Club (some
family connection there maybe) beat Harry Fry’s Old Harry Rocks the 11/8 fav by
three lengths.
‘This fella has loved the ground here today, so we bought
him here and hope to continue with this new racing club. Make hay while the sun
shines is what they say.’ Mentioned the Jockey on his 91st winner of
the season in the two and a half miles maiden hurdle race.
The new racing club has about 300 members, with
ten horses, and at present has had 3 runners and two winners so a set up that looks
a sound investment.
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| Gibson Park |
The penultimate race was taken by the pairing of Tom
Scudamore and David Bridgewater as Lakeshore Lady took the two miles three
furlong handicap chase.
In the colours of the Simon and Liz Hunt made famous by
the well favoured The Giant Bolster also ridden by Scudamore.
The 15/8 fav took the race well to beat Easter in Paris by
seven lengths after leading from two out and staying on comfortably up the
Fontwell hill.
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| Lakeshore Lady |
‘She has been a little more eager than she has in the past
but has done that well today, it’s nice to see her reverse the Hereford form
from Easter in Paris, but I don’t think Paddy’s (Brennan) horse has jumped as
well as it did back then, but it was great to get these colours on, colours
that have given me some of my best days in racing.’
The seven year old, are on her fifteenth run of her career
has always seemed to run up to the line in her outings an it has always been
there that she would get in front, the mare know with that experience could go
up a gear on future runs and would be one to watch.
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| the mare know with that experience could go up a gear on future runs. |
The final race of the afternoon was set by for a Conditional
hurdle event over two miles three Sunnytahliateigan ridden by David Noonan, trained
by Ian Williams held on well to the line from Prouts Pub by a couple of
lengths.
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| Sunnytahliateigan |
‘He was sharp and ready for today,’ said the jockey. ‘He has
always been about the front in his races and bumpers, today we have gone a good
gallop and he has seen out his race well so very pleased. He has given the impression
also he would get a little further on that evidence today.’
The five-year-old in his first handicap seems to improve and
is a possible one to watch for the future, but seems well liked by the team
looking after him.
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| 'We have gone a good gallop and he has seen out his race well' |
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