UNITED HUNTS MEETING AT FONTWELL PARK

Apples Queen

Fontwell Park hosted the United Hunts Spring evening meeting last Thursday, a chance for punters to see point to pointers and Hunter chasers in a meeting entirely designated to the amateur sport.
The ground on offer was good, though jockeys coming in from the first though it was riding more of the softer side. Most horses that have been running in point to points over the last few months were treated to more give in the ground than they have been used to, and this showed slightly with the lack of runners on display throughout the evening. disappointing not only for the course, but the meeting. The owners ARC possibly looking at the meeting to continue without the inclusion of participants and entrants.

 we were not too sure on the ground today but she handled it well

The first race of the evening a four runner event, a Mares open hunter chase over three miles one furlong was taken by Victoria Collins Queen Olivia a 9 year old ridden by Sam Davies Thomas. The 5/2 shot beat the 2/5 favorite Frelia by one and a half lengths. The jockey on the winner mentioned.
'I probably over raced her at Garthorpe last time, but when contested she runs on, we were not too sure on the ground today but she handled it well, she jumped well, and took to under rules fences which was no surprise.'

Queen Olivia ridden by Sam Davies Thomas

The second race of the evening a two and a half miles Open ladies Hunter chase was taken by a family that are deeply  involved within the point to point sport, the Marshall's. Never Complain owned by the Glebe House racing club and ridden by Tabitha Worsley the younger jockey picked for the Anglo-Irish meting at Kingston Blount on the 26th May.
The 9 year old won by a distance from a horse that has been running from the beginning of the point season Bound for Glory from the David Fitch-Peyton yard.

The winner that ran in the Aintree foxhunters, unseating Charlie Marshall, relished the smaller under rules fences of the Sussex track.under the jockey that is riding well at present under rules as well as point to points.
Charlie Marshall mentioned,' we may run him again in a novice riders race for my sister Izzie at Garthorpe in a few weeks time.
Tabitha mentioned about the horse.
'I was so pleased to get the ride on him today, he is so economical, when you want a long stride he'll give you one and if you want to get close to a fence he comes up short, he is a pleasure to ride.He needs the right distance more than the right ground, this going is okay for him, but he has really ran on well for me in the end.'
Though the rain kept falling the ground seemed to be soft on top only and not going too deep into the turf, the horses coping well enough, holding the rest of the meeting in good stead.

 Never Complain

The third race of the meeting the three miles one furlong novice Hunter Hunter Chase, seven runners went to post. Reining champion lady point to point rider Gina Andrews  on the favorite  getting well beaten by Alan Hill's Supreme Danehill going to post at 10/1, good odds as the nine year old has been running well n Hunter chases and points over he season.
'We were very surprised to see his odds in the morning papers an knew he was in with a chance  as the going would of been in his favor.' Mentioned the trainer.
Joe Hill the trainers son, one of the most promising riders on the Point to point circuit mentioned, 'Dad bought this horse solely to give Victoria Pendleton  experience last year, he done that job, and it was good we could keep hold of him this season, if it was a point to point race today he would of started favorite for sure.'

Joe Hill leads the field in the novices Hunter chase

The gelding made most of the running on the figure of eight track, his only faultier was jumping left at the second last, but ell in front that it did not bother he horse placing to take him to the last and up the Fontwell hill.

Supreme Danehill

With rain continuing to fall, the hose managing to get though the rain soaked ground, the fourth race The Grassroots hunter chase over two and a half miles was taken by last years novice hunter chase winner at he meeting Curraigflemens.
Trained by David Kemp the nine year old who has been at the fore font of some good point top point races during the season was ridden by Sam Davies Thomas, a double for the jockey for the evening, Ironically the horses regular jockey Shane Roche, riding a double last year at the course not being able to attend the meeting at he was in the midst of his category B amateurs riding licence training.

The 11/10 favorite  had only four other to beat and made the hose maintain a good pace throughout to test his competitors and take the race by five lengths from Swallowshide.
'He needs better ground than this really,'mentioned the jockey on a brace for the evening. @But didn't get it, but they are going through the top of the ground well enough, it was only at the bottom bend the are finding it hard work.'

Curraigflemens,trained by David Kemp the nine year old who has been at the fore font of some good point top point races during the season was ridden by Sam Davies Thomas

The fifth race of the evening went to a pair also gunning or a double for the evening, Alan and Joe Hill. Man of steel giving a gutsy performance in the Champion Open Hunters chase beating the 4/6 favorite from the Paul Nicholls yard Mon Parrain ridden by David Maxwell back eight lengths in third.

Man of steel 

The jockey riding his first brace under national hunt rules mentioned,'he is a funny sort of horse really and this coarse has suited him well, he will always try for you and he kept on going this evening.
The trainer with two wins in the bag mentioned,'he has won five hunter chases with us know, and has given us a lot of fun, we are not too sure if he'll go to Stratford for some of the finals their, but to beat Mom Parain who is a nice type we will celebrate that for know.'

Alan Hill congratulates horse and son for a double during the meeting.

It was not long though before David Maxwell could get back his Mojo for the evening, beaten with the favorite in the last race he was on board 5/2 shot Darwin's Fox in the four runner Open Hunters chase over two miles and a furlong

Darwin's Fox takes the last from Can Mestret

The eleven year old, 6th in this years Aintree Foxhunters when ridden by Brendan O'Neil too a keen hold with Maxwell throughout but managing to stay on by our lengths to beat Gina Andrews on Can Mestret.

'He was bit strong for me really, but David (Christie) told me to let him bowel along so i did an he went on well for me and he had plenty in the tank, he is not great going left handed but once on the straight i knew we had the race won.'
The owner/jockey ho as a daytime job with property in the City puts a lot into the pointing game, you ill very early see him on a poor horse and always one to watch what he is riding.

 Darwin's Fox, David Maxwell

The final race of the evening, with most of the punters heading for the exit was  the two and a half miles hunters chase for maiden horses.
Seven runners to post the 5/4 favorite from the Welsh borders Spencer Moon under Byron Moorcroft took the race well winning by eleven lengths from Creative Inerta.

Spencer Moon 

'He has been running well all season for us,' mentioned the jockey. 'Jumped well for me an has taken the softer ground, to be fair he acts in most types of going really.'
The horse possibly now going for another point to pint race, could see is next hunter chase in the Subaru Final at Stratford in June.

Spencer Moon under Byron Moorcroft

Later than expected, i know this blog, but has probably taken me that much time to dry out.
I hope this meeting continues, when fully attended and with good weather is a must for all local pointing fans, the cores well designed to entertain the followers of the sport.

More blogs and pod casts from the season can be seen at

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