Monday 27 February 2017

FONTWELL GIVE A GRADE 2 AND MOORE POSSIBLE CHELTENHAM POINTERS

PROMISING PROSPECT GOLDEN SUNRISE 4th IN THE NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE

Horsham trainer Gary Moore, you could say had a good day at Fontwell Parks National Spirit Hurdle day. Three winners, all in good form and also picking up the £34’000 Grade two main
hurdle event of the day.

Camping Ground

Seven-year-old Camping Ground gave great account to the stables when making most of the running to take the 2m 3 f hurdle by a staggering 29 lengths from Nick Williams Le Rocher. 
Ridden by Josh Moore who mentioned ‘I have ridden him at home and schooled him a few times over the weeks but the change in scenery has done him good, he has shown that in the race today.’

The Robert Walford former horse had only been at the Horsham yard of Gary Moore for about a month the trainer mentioning, 
'There has been a bit of an issue with the horse in his life for sure, I’m sure Robert would have done the same, but we have all put a lot of time into him, given him what he wants and treated him like a good horse I think he is.’

The horse with Cheltenham entries would if allowed  go to the World Hurdle, the trainer not so sure the gelding would get the three miles. 
'He has a high cruising speed so two and a half miles I feel would be his distance, I would favour the Coral hurdle if anything.’ 
The trainer also sure that the horse would go chasing next season may just keep his powder dry with this potential star.

Camping Ground gave great account to the stables when making most of the running to take the 2m 3 f hurdle
Moore didn’t have to wait too long to visit the winners hospitality area again when Crystal lad this time ridden by Jamie Moore beat 2/1 favourite Sir Anthony Brown in the 2 m 3 f novices hurdle by seven lengths.

‘I’m please for the owner Chris Stedman that this one has come home, our horses haven’t been on top form lately but to have a couple of winners today and especially this one that is a decent type is a good thing.’

The trainer also confirming that he feels he has not had a best of starts to a season mentioned. 
'Our horses seemed fit but just were not finishing their races for some reason, today it’s the first time I’ve seen them actually finish off well the race, so hopefully whatever we had got in the yard is coming to the end.’

‘I’m please for the owner Chris Stedman that this one has come home.'
The five year old chestnut now possible off to the EBF final at Sandown in a few weeks’ time will be looking for the handicapper to maintain a good mark for this horse to be in with a good chance to pick up the grade three event, but certainly would have done his chance no harm getting the sights focused before the race.
Crystal lad

Larry

The Gary Moores third winner came in the last race of the afternoon the 2 m 1f national hunt flat race with debutant Midnight legend gelding Larry taking the race in a tight finish beating Nick Gifford’s  5/6 favourite Puppet Warrior by half a length.

‘By Midnight Legend he has shown he is a battler, his mare who Mr Pipe had Gaspaisie was also very genuine so it was no surprise really,’ mentioned the jockey who confirm the horses in the yard have not been on full form. 

‘We have had one not run so great today so we have to go home and sort that out, but on the whole the entire team has worked hard and it’s paid off here today. 

This well-bred five-year-old may need to be watched and beat some horses that in behind would be possible race winners.
 Form junkies need to keep an eye on several entrants in this race to mark how true to form this race was.

‘By Midnight Legend he has shown he is a battler, his mare who Mr Pipe had Gaspaisie was also very genuine so it was no surprise really,’ 
The Gifford family with a second in the bumper with the promising prospect  Puppet Warrior, should if rights be told been allowed to win a race in which a meeting that held the inaugural Josh Gifford Memorial Novice chase over the Fontwell’s 2 m 1 f.

It was good friend to the late legend of the turf in riding and training Nicky Henderson who lifted the prize with Kilcrea Vale taking the race by two lengths from Paul Nichols As De Mee.

Jockey Jeremiah McGrath mentioned,’ we never put this one in bumper as we though he just didn’t have the speed, today 2 miles around here was plenty quick enough for him, but I knew he stayed well and up the hill didn’t disappoint.’ 
The horse now possibly Aintree bound found the trainer reflecting on the good times with the late trainer Josh Gifford mentioned, ‘we had some good times and tears over a few gin and tonics, I’m actually responsible for him giving up smoking, I had a favoured horse in Aldaniti’s national and mentioned to him, whoever wins this has to give it up, he did and kept his end of the bargain.

A legend in the game himself almost had a tear in his eye as he remembered is great friend, I’m sure if asked he would of said it was the cold wind whipping around the Sussex track.


          Kilcrea Vale taking the race by two lengths from Paul Nichols As De Mee.





























The two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase Colin Tizzard sent Wizards Bridge to post the 2/1 favourite to come home four lengths ahead of nearest rival The Italian Yob from the Nick Williams yard. 
Tom O’Brien on board the eight-year-old mentioned, ‘he has had a bit of look about in front but has ran well enough in the end to keep on to the line.’

Wizards Bridge ,King Of Glory, Rothman






The horse now with five wins from twenty five starts,the last win  in a novice event at Chepstow. 
A soft ground lover having a few more runs in between before taking to the winner’s circle again and maybe the type again to watch and see where he is entered before taking fancy to him again. 

A winner yes, but a sort of horse that I should reckon needs the right pace right time syndrome before taking the winner’s patch again.





Five runners for the 3m 1 f Hunters open steeplechase saw Paul Nicholls send David Maxwell’s Mon Parrain to post the 1/3 favourite, the eleven-year-old showing all his quality to always have the four-other runners in his sights and he made headway two out to take the race by twenty-six lengths from Current exchange.
‘He has run about four times in my colours,’ mentioned the jockey who purchases his point to pointers and hunter chasers well for him to ride in some top-class events. 
‘He has great ability this one, and could have had really someone to have taken him on a bit more in the end as his jumping was getting a bit untidy, but I should reckon this is what he is so we will look to find some more Hunter chases for him and have some fun.’


Mon Parrain
The jockey who loves the sport as an amateur can often be seen most weekends at local point to points mentioned how he loves the sport. 
  Coming to tacks like Fontwell and winning good races makes it even more special, especially if the trophies are the best you would see all meeting at the Sussex track.
I should reckon this is what he is so we will look to find some more Hunter chases for him and have some fun.'

Promising rising star jockey Ciaran Gethings took the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle on board Paul Cowleys Seas of Green beating Norman the red well by thirteen lengths. 
The ten-year-old mare very intermittent in her form took up the race two out after not being as fluent in her work a few hurdles before. 
‘she is what she is really, ‘mentioned the jockey. ‘She gives the owners a lot of fun, wins a few races which she has done and has given her chances as a broodmare some good wining again today.’

Seas of Green
The mare who runs well fresh should be out again soon in a few weeks’ time and may be one to note, a hardy sort, versatile on the ground, so through the Spring could pick up a few more races making her suitor to a stallion even more of a quality choice.

‘she is what she is really, ‘mentioned the jockey. ‘She gives the owners a lot of fun, wins a few races which she has done.'