FONTWELL PARK EVENING MEETING 6TH JUNE 2017

On ground ranging form good to good to soft on both hurdle and chase tracks Fontwell park put forward seven races for an attendance that really is not justice for a friendly, entertaining racecourse set in the Sussex countryside. Fair enough the summer weather or for the past few days lack of it is not helping, but some good opening season summer National Hunt racing was on offer, to keep those into the jumping game well fed for their sport.

The first race a seven runner conditional handicap hurdle over the two miles five furlongs saw Linda Jewell's Kayflin take the race by half a length from Neil Mulhollands willyegolassiego, the 11/4 favorite.

Kayflin

' A lot of questions have been answered, the rain has helped her a bit and the shorter distance and they went off a a slow pace turning into a sprint at the end.' mentioned the stable representative. 'She was very eager to get on with it today which was a good sign.'
The finished caused the stewards to look at the nine year olds eagerness to come across to the stand side, but felt this did not hamper the Mulholland horse enough to cost her the race.
The stable mentioned that chasing would not possibly be the mares game as she is a bit of a nervous type, but time will tell, certainly over the hurdles with a bit of a cut in the ground she could be one to note.

Three runners for the next a two miles one furlong novices chase. Paul Nicholls sending Black Corton to post the  2/9 favorite. Tracking the leaders for most of the way Sam Twiston-Davies just had the one mistake from the six year old to contend with around the figure of eight track.

Black Corton

'He was set in a beautiful rhythm all the way really, really stretching over his fences, the one little mistake came as I asked him to put in a big one,' mentioned the jockey.'He is a very clever horse and hopefully we can put a little sequence of races in for him throughout the summer.'
Seven lengths separated the the winner from second placed Remind me later from the Gary Moore yard, which would say to me this horse may pick up an early autumn decent novice race as the season continues. One to certainly watch and follow i would say.

'Hopefully we an put a little sequence of races in for him throughout the summer.'

Again the favorite came in fine style in the two mile five furlong novices hurdle Colin Tizzard sent Tempestatefloresco off at 8/13, Harry Cobden on board.

'He was probably the best horse in the race and has got his win really well, he has had a good bit of work today to keep him sweet and it wouldn't surprise me if he went back over the fences next time out, but today we have kept his interest up, kept him sharp for a nice race next time.'
The nine year old able over both disciplines looks like the type that would relish  the win and one certainly to take note of next time out. Beating the second placed horse by thirteen lengths, Harry Fry's Steel Bob, who himself has two wins from five outings but unable to justify top weight on this evening outing.

Tempestatefloresco off at 8/13, Harry Cobden on board.

 The five year olds and upwards Handicap chase over the two miles five furlongs saw again the favorite storm home by a good distance, Sonofpresenting out of the Kim Bailey yard ridden by David Bass off at 15/8 took his third race from nine starts the gelding by Presenting  backed up his last win at Market Rasen back in September 2016 with a eight length win from the Gary Moore's Jay Are.
'The ground was just right for him really, and he was fresh and well and in the end has taken the race in good form, he has come in  a bit bigger and stronger than last year so was impressed with his improvement, he a type that will need time and to be fair his owners will allow him that.'
Not uncommon for Presenting offspring that, but his prodigy certainly ones that have good success in chases. Again one to note I feel.

Sonofpresenting

The bookmakers, like the weather having a rather gloomy time of it at Fontwell, had a touch of a bright spell as 20/1 shot Moon Trip  from the Geoffrey Deacon yard took  the distance three mile one furlong handicap hurdle by eight lengths from Bostin from the Daniel O'Brien yard.

Moon Trip

Ridden by Dave crosse who mentioned,'He is an old flat horse that has to be on a going day, today was that day, it's the first time I have ridden him and I watched his last run with Mark Grant on board, he gave him a bit of room in the race which is the way to ride him.' The eight year old with five wins from thirty eight runs, most of them on the flat seemed to jump well, though Crosse mentioned the bends of the figure of eight track he found a little more of a challenge.

'He is an old flat horse that has to be on a going day, today was that day,'

Only three runners for the final race over obstacle's for the evening, and it was back in with the favorites when Jeremy Scott's Day of Roses swooped in with an eleven length win over Golden Investment from the Donald McCain yard.
Ridden by Nick Schofield the eight year old on his tenth run made most of his 4/7 price as he claimed his second win.

Carrying 10 st 12 lbs, the other two runners off a 12 st mark the gelding was happy to sit and wait before pouncing four out to take the race on.
'To be fair the other two off a heavier weight on this ground found it hard to compete with the weight they were giving us and that has paid in our favor, he may struggle after today i should reckon though.
The handicapper will more likely hike this one up another 7 lbs for his win which will test the horse off his next mark, but the second win at the Sussex course in a matter of a fortnight will give his owners some cheer if he cannot find more off a higher weight.
Time will tell, but one maybe to watch the next time out.

Day of Roses

The final race of the evening was the  two mile one National Hunt flat race, nine to post and the evening ending with a cheer for the long odds backers.
Amanda Perrett's Annie Angle going off the 8/15 favorite beaten into third place four length behind the 33/1 shot winner Liz's Dream from the Laura Mongan yard, ridden by Josh Moore.

The lad of the winner jubilant in saying to all how he was sure before the off 33-1 was a generous price for a filly going so well at home.

The Dick Turpin four year old filly ridden out in the final furlong managed to get her nose in front of second placed horse White Valiant, the lad of the winner jubilant in saying to all how he was sure before the off 33-1 was a generous price for a filly going so well at home.
The Epsom based trainer who last year trained Harbour Law to win the St Ledger, the first female trainer to do so mentioned,' She is a really nice filly, she has done nothing wrong at home and now on the racecourse, fingers crossed she can go on, we haven't put her over any obstacles as of yet but we'll take her home, see how she comes out of the race and go from there, but at the moment i can ask nothing more of her.'
The family behind the filly certainly likes the cut in the ground and with hopes high on this one would be one to watch. The trainer not shy of the big races and Fontwell with a good reputation of debutante bumper horses, Cue Card winning his first race at the course, this one is to be watched for sure.

Liz's Dream
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