OKTOBER BEST FOR FONTWELL PARKS DUAL MEETING

The opening race of Oktoberfest the James Todd & Co Juvenile Hurdle 

With the seasons and leaves turning as summer waves it's goodbye, heads start turning away from the flat season to concentrate more on the jumpers.
A two day festival of thirteen good quality national hunt races is what's on offer at Fontwell park as they play host to their Oktoberfest meeting.
Six races on offer for the first day, the opener an interesting little juvenile hurdle over the two miles one furlong. Nine runners to post, the Gary Moore trained three year old Sussex Ranger coming home the eight length winner making all of the running from the Alan King 11/8 favorite Kozier.

Sussex Ranger  and Jamie Moore

His jockey Jamie Moore mentioned, 'I've watched this one on the flat quite a bit, as a two year old you would not have been wrong getting excited about winning a bumper on him, dad ( Gary Moore) got him quite cheap really as he was bit of a box walker, he has gone out there today looking about him like it was his first time. He schools pretty well at home, but he is a nice big sort that will come on from that run.'
The trainer also pleased with his lot lately with a 13% strike rate of winners mentioned,' I thought he would run a good race today in that class of event, the French horse from the Nicholls yard was  my only worry (Risk and Roll) i suppose we will have to find him a same type race without taking on too much of a penalty next time,but i'm pleased with him today for sure.'
A master of finding the right type of race for the right type of horse this one may be one to note next time out, Juveniles from the Moore stable finding form at present. More like if conditions suit back here or Plumpton may be a port of call for this Tongdean Partnership three year old.

'He schools pretty well at home, but he is a nice big sort that will come on from that run.'

The first chase of the day, a six runner two mile five  Novices chase saw a good few horses come past the line that would have to be penned in the form book.
Paul Nicholls saddled the  4/6 favorite Adrien Du Pont, Sam Twiston-Davies in the saddle for this five year olds first time over fences. ' He came here today to learn his craft, i said to Paul if we get beat we get beat, but he had a good attitude in the race today and his jumping though not the finished article yet was good. He will get tougher days in races than this for sure but it was a good start for him today.' Last seen at Fontwell in the Game Spirit hurdle in February, that day pulling up, the gelding worked his race well coming through the field to take the race by four lengths from second place Pickamix and third placed horse Mister Whitaker, two horses again that should be watched depending on the  on-going form of the Nicholls winner.

'I was a little bit worried that we were going too soon with him really today, but we had to see what he was about really, and these types of races/courses give them a chance to see where we are at and give them experience. He we will come on from that run for sure.' Mentioned the trainer.
The horse showed pure class and is one to watch, Wincanton could be his next outing in  a rising stars race, races that the trainer has had success in the past.
If  as quoted there is only one way to go with the winner notes also should be taken of the second and third placed horse. The Charlie Mann trained Pickamix and Mick Channon trained Mister Whitaker, both look promising types, the Ditchat master certainly liking the winner it may show good form for the runners up,

Mister Whitaker

Pickamix

Pickamix and Harry Bannister lead over the eventual winner of the Novice chase Adrie Du Pont

The two mile one furlong handicap hurdle saw thirteen very useful looking types go to post, the 3/1 favorite from the Richard Newland stables  Caid Du Lin defied his top weight of 12 st 1 lbs  to take up the race from two out, striding out under the steerage of double winning jockey Sam Twiston- Davies who mentioned. ' He ran well enough at Market Rasen last week, just getting knocked back after he started to make a run. So it was good to get him here today, work on his confidence on good ground.'

Caid Du Lin on his way to winning the James Todd&Co Ltd Handicap hurdle upsides for company Coeur Tantre

The grey beating the Irish contender in Summer Storm from the John 'the Shark' Hanlon yard who had bought a number of runners to the two day meet by four and a half lengths showed promise as he was giving over a stone in weight to the placed horse, and maybe one to note picking up now a nice looking class three handicap, all the while gaining experience and strength.

 Caid Du Lin winning jockey San Twiston- Davies on a double for the afternoon 

The feature race of a quality days racing was the two mile five furlong handicap chase, with a total prize fund of £18500.
Eight runners to post in a highly contested event, not only on paper but on racing also, the pace a strong one and taken on by the eventual victor in the Jonjo O'Neil trained Go Conquer owned by paul & Clare Rooney.
Aiden Coleman in the saddle again a jockey on his way to a double for the afternoon took on the race but left enough to get home on the 4/1 shot, beating the 2/1 favorite in Paul Nicholls As De Me.

'This horse must be one of the best jumpers i have ever ridden,; mentioned the jockey. 'He was of good quality last season but he seems to have improved since then. He jumps so well you can give him breathers in between fences knowing he makes lengths when jumping. I have to say i was disappointed in the Topham last year at Aintree i really fancied him for that, he just got behind one at the Canal Turn that went wide and made a mistake and that was it race over for him. But he is exceptional really for a handicapper like him to jump so well from start to finish.'

High praise indeed from a jockey that has sat on a few good ones in his time i'd say. So, what about the national this season. The jockey would not be drawn to that one so early on. 'He needs to settle a little more to get a national trip, we need to look at something a little closer than that to be sure, wherever he goes i'm happy to ride him anyway.'

Go Conquer 'This horse must be one of the best jumpers i have ever ridden,; mentioned the jockey

Could this be a talking horse for the worlds most watched horse race in April, time will tell. But a firm underline should be noted in this top class jumper, who knows have we seen the Grand National winner already? and it's only the start of the winter game, time will tell.

The penultimate race on day one of this superb two day festival was a race for the conditional jockeys, a handicap chase over the longer distance of the day three miles two furlongs.
Seven to post for again a race that did not spare the gas, the jockeys up front setting a strong pace from tapes up.
Colin Tizzard sent to post the 13/8 favorite in Wizards Bridge ridden by 3 lbs claimer Mitchell Bastyen, and you would not be wrong in thinking that two out the favorite would of been beaten as William Featherstone on board Shockingtimes took up the running with what looked plenty in hand four out.
A mistake three from home saw the leader part company, leaving Lawney Hill's Velvet Cognac all but the victor up to the line, Bastyen pulling out a last gasp finish to get the eight year old to take his sixth race in twenty eight starts.
'I knew i had something underneath me coming around the home turn despite looking the beaten favorite, he had a bit of a rough time of it going around but he stuck to it and battled brave coming up the hill.'

Colin Tizzard sent to post the 13/8 favorite in Wizards Bridge ridden by 3 lbs claimer Mitchell Bastyen

Note should be taken by the unfortunate Velvet Cognac from the Lawney Hill yard who jumped well prominently throughout jockey Charlie Deutsch backing his luck as Shockingtimes faltered, but more was to come over the next twenty four hours for the Oxfordshire trainer, as a hard luck story on one day turns itself about the following day.

The final race of an encouraging afternoon to what was to come over the two day meet was the three miles two furlongs James Todd Handicap hurdle.
Trainer Colin Tizzard just getting over a win in the previous race saddle 7/1 shot Buckhorn Timothy to take on six other competitors over the distance to take a length and a quarter victory from Young Dillon and Sam Twiston- Davis hungry for a treble back in second. Third placed horse and favorite  Scoop the Pot at 11/8 and length further back.

Buckhorn Timothy Harry Cobden takes the Jame Todd Hanicap Hurdle, Young Dillon takes the last with him, Scoop the Pot back in third.

'I'm delighted for the connections really, they have been really patient with him. He had a little injury at the beginning of last season that has seen him sidelined, i didn't want to commit too early but when asked he has ran on well for me.' mention Harry Cobden the man in the saddle.
A competitive handicap for the time of year Scoop the Pot back in third from the Philip Hobbs yard and owned y J.P McManus must be a horse to note, also Doing Fine from the Neil Mulholland yard a head further back in fourth a horse staying on well in the Bet 365 Gold Cup back in April, shows the winner of the race should be taken seriously. The yard of Colin Tizzard in good form at present, Harry mentioning,'I ride out there every Wednesday. And the horses are fit that's for sure and at the moment running well, let's hope i can ride a few more like this one.'

Buckhorn Timothy 

With six races down and a good mood at the track much is to be looked forward for another seven races on the card the following day, with plenty of  Weibweirst and Schweinshaxe on offer, plenty to look forward to with the blogs from

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