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| 12 year old Goring One winner of the Lawrence Handicap Chase at Fontwells Boxing day meeting |
Though the East Sussex track offered a bright and cheery start to its seven card meeting, the well forecasted rain and wintry showers soon enveloped the figure of eight track, that by the last race darkness near fell on the turf offering soft going, heavy in places.
The first race the 2m 3f Southern Cranes and Access Conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle saw nine to post. Cirecester based Jenifer Mason sending her six year old Oskar Denarius to post the 6/4 fav.
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| Oskar Denarius |
'James King rode him at Catterick on his win a few days back and it's the first time i have sat on him today,' mentioned the young man hailing from the New Forest.
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| 22 year old Ben Hicks |
The horse may have a little break but the Conditional based with Warren Greatrex in Lambourn was delighted to get a win under the belt, and was quick of the mark to show respect to his Jockey coach Nick Bentley after the win.
The ex point to point rider who had four wins between the flags showed that point to point, the 'grass roots' of the national Hunt game is certainly pushing out not only equine success but also in the riding front.
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| 'I was always looking to be positive on him as has been known to be very keen in his races, but he has jumped well and has hung on at the end.' |
The two mile Hurdle for the juveniles saw a small field of five to post, Olly Murphy sending top weight Oxford Blue to post the 7/4 fav. But its was Gary Moores Aiguille Rouge with Son Jamie on board who took a keen hold throughout the trip to claim the race by four lengths from Spirit of Rome from the Harry Whittington yard.
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| Aiguille Rouge |
The young filly certainly showing connections The Winning Hand Partnership great hope as now on two wins, and three placed runs from eight starts shows this filly has a bright future.
Jamie rushing off to sort himself out for the next quickly mentions this horse jumped a little better than his eight length victory at the beginning of the month, the mud loving filly certainly showing good signs of improvement.
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| Aiguille Rouge on her second win in less than a month at Fontwell tracks second placed horse No5 Spirit of Rome throughout the race |
A filly certainly to note on the softer ground and it would be interesting to see if the French bred filly by Falco can show more improvement in races with a little more class.
Three races in a row for the hurdles saw thirteen runners take to the track for the 2m 1 f novices hurdle, trainer Chris Gordon sending top weight Highway One O One to post the 8/11 fav.
James Bowen on board a young professional stemming from the point to point ranks were he was leading novice rider last season took the five year old on the outside of the rest and two out showing dominance as the eased the horse know on three wins from five starts to the front to take the race by twelve lengths, the runner up giving the winner 7 lbs.
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Chris Gordon sending top weight Highway One O One
to post the 8/11 fav.
James Bowen on board
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'He has done that really well for me there and has acted on the soft ground nicely, I ran the track earlier and I though the ground was even all the way through, but by the time this one raced the outside rail was the place to be and it was proved right by the way he won.'
The jockey calling this one a progressive sort and looking at form the horse would be certain of better days at the races in the way he took weight and ground on.
Note should be taken the last time the gelding was at Fontwell at the beginning of November Bryony Frost was on board that time finishing second to Bowen on one of his boss's (Nicky Henderson) horses. It was Bryony at Kempton a few minutes after this race took the Grade one Kauto Star Chase at Kempton, remarkable enough Bryony also a top novice rider between the flags.
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| Highway One O One |
The first race over the fences took the shape of a 2m1f handicap chase, six runners to post the favourite being from the Nick Gifford yard Brown Bear, Leighton Aspell realising the top weight with 12 st 1 lbs was struggling in the heavy ground pulling up three from home.
This left the front running Bredon Hill Lad who showed a few signs of reluctance on the stable bend to stay on well to beat James Bowen and Chris Gordon with Atlantic Roller by two lengths.
The winner trained by Susan Gardener and ridden by Lucy Gardener seemed game in the mud of Fontwell. ' He is such a monkey to ride in a race as well as at home but with nine wins (from thirty one starts) you can't knock him really, I mentioned to mum I would love a pair a blinkers on him, he just knows were all the exits and run outs are and makes you work hard to keep his mind on the job, but he really jumps well and sticks it out to the end.'
The trainer with not a thought of putting head wear on the ten year old is happy with the hunting ground that is Fontwell, a win with the gelding back in March on good ground shows without the test in character this versatile chaser may have been into double winning figures by know.
Still as Christmas is all about family it was good to see a family affair taking the spoils in I'm sure what Lucy would of mentioned would of been an eventful ride.
The richest race of the afternoon was the £4111 to the winner 2m 1 f handicap hurdle. Eight runners to post.
Again another family concern and a double for the afternoon for the Moore family with Gary and Jamie bringing home Knocknanuss a seven length winner from Nick Gifford's Notre Ami.
The 5/4 fav ridden wide for the better ground by the jockey well versed in the In's and outs of the Sussex figure of eight track had to work a little to keep the seven year old by Beneficial on the straight and narrow but the gelding stayed on well on this nice type.
The horse now with six runs to his credit, three wins and three runners up spots looks a promising sort for Cisswold stables and is a nice win in a class three type hurdle on testing ground could and may see this one step up in class, proof now in the pudding and not of the Christmas variety that is, that if the weather remains inclement and soft ground on offer the horse should be taken seriously if seen out in fine company.
The second of only two chase races saw seven runners take to the figure of eight track for the 3m 2f Lawrence Handicap chase.
Tom Weston sent his Silent Man down to the start the 15/8 fav but was made silent by the twelve year old Goring One from the Anna Newton-Smith yard who is a firm favourite at the course to come home the four and a half length winner from Comers Hill. The favourite back seven lengths in fourth.
Andrew Thornton in the saddle now 45 and has been riding since the early nineties worked hard and with great knowledge of a local track to ask the horse on his 43rd run and 9th win to take and retake the lead holding on well at the last and beyond.
'I'm really please with the win on this one, its a great tonic for his owner George Goring is not that well at the moment,and I love this horse to bits. He still attacks the first fence like a five year old, i have won about seven on him but he is a diamond of a horse and one I love to get on.'
The jockey with only two rides for the busy boxing day mentioned that he wold love to say see you here next year but who knows,'my wife and child are not here so it still goes on from today, when you see both of them at the races and me on winner that might just be the day I say no more, but we'll see.'
The jockey who took his 1000th winner just a year ago certainly showed no signs of lack of enthusiasm and has to go down in the National Hunt history books as one of the UK's elite riders, when he will give up, well not today that's for sure the story continues.
The final race of the afternoon was the 2m 5 f handicap hurdle, light fading fast nine went to post Neil Mullhollands Molly Carew went off the 3/1 fav, the field not hanging around to get the race over and done with Harry Teal setting a strong pace in front with Marienstar from the Neil King yard.
The pace playing into the hands of top weight Ellens Way from the yard of Jeremy Scott who from three out dominated the strong pace to win easily at the finish beating Olly Murphy's Undefined Beauty by fourteen lengths.
Ridden by Matt Griffiths who mentioned,'It was a good performance really in that ground off top weight, we have always though a lot of her she has just taken a long time having broke her pelvis it has taken time to get her back into the swing of things, she is better over three miles to be honest.'
Two wins from six starts this five year old mare certainly looks the chasing type, the jockey agreeing but he mentioned would not be until next season.
But all in all an impressive win from a progressing mare who would do not harm to be carefully watched over the months to see which way this horse goes.
Well that's it for another year at Fontwell, again good quality, heartey national hunt racing, which reamins one of my favorite courses to attend.
More hopefully in 2018, but if you want to see 2017's bolgs take a look at
This left the front running Bredon Hill Lad who showed a few signs of reluctance on the stable bend to stay on well to beat James Bowen and Chris Gordon with Atlantic Roller by two lengths.
The winner trained by Susan Gardener and ridden by Lucy Gardener seemed game in the mud of Fontwell. ' He is such a monkey to ride in a race as well as at home but with nine wins (from thirty one starts) you can't knock him really, I mentioned to mum I would love a pair a blinkers on him, he just knows were all the exits and run outs are and makes you work hard to keep his mind on the job, but he really jumps well and sticks it out to the end.'
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| Bredon Hill Lad |
Still as Christmas is all about family it was good to see a family affair taking the spoils in I'm sure what Lucy would of mentioned would of been an eventful ride.
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| Bredon Hill Lad trained by Susan Gardener (centre) and ridden by Lucy Gardener |
Again another family concern and a double for the afternoon for the Moore family with Gary and Jamie bringing home Knocknanuss a seven length winner from Nick Gifford's Notre Ami.
The 5/4 fav ridden wide for the better ground by the jockey well versed in the In's and outs of the Sussex figure of eight track had to work a little to keep the seven year old by Beneficial on the straight and narrow but the gelding stayed on well on this nice type.
The horse now with six runs to his credit, three wins and three runners up spots looks a promising sort for Cisswold stables and is a nice win in a class three type hurdle on testing ground could and may see this one step up in class, proof now in the pudding and not of the Christmas variety that is, that if the weather remains inclement and soft ground on offer the horse should be taken seriously if seen out in fine company.
Knocknanuss
The second of only two chase races saw seven runners take to the figure of eight track for the 3m 2f Lawrence Handicap chase.
Tom Weston sent his Silent Man down to the start the 15/8 fav but was made silent by the twelve year old Goring One from the Anna Newton-Smith yard who is a firm favourite at the course to come home the four and a half length winner from Comers Hill. The favourite back seven lengths in fourth.
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| Goring One |
Andrew Thornton in the saddle now 45 and has been riding since the early nineties worked hard and with great knowledge of a local track to ask the horse on his 43rd run and 9th win to take and retake the lead holding on well at the last and beyond.
'I'm really please with the win on this one, its a great tonic for his owner George Goring is not that well at the moment,and I love this horse to bits. He still attacks the first fence like a five year old, i have won about seven on him but he is a diamond of a horse and one I love to get on.'
The jockey with only two rides for the busy boxing day mentioned that he wold love to say see you here next year but who knows,'my wife and child are not here so it still goes on from today, when you see both of them at the races and me on winner that might just be the day I say no more, but we'll see.'
The jockey who took his 1000th winner just a year ago certainly showed no signs of lack of enthusiasm and has to go down in the National Hunt history books as one of the UK's elite riders, when he will give up, well not today that's for sure the story continues.
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| 'He still attacks the first fence like a five year old, i have won about seven on him but he is a diamond of a horse and one I love to get on.' |
The pace playing into the hands of top weight Ellens Way from the yard of Jeremy Scott who from three out dominated the strong pace to win easily at the finish beating Olly Murphy's Undefined Beauty by fourteen lengths.
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| Ellens Way |
Two wins from six starts this five year old mare certainly looks the chasing type, the jockey agreeing but he mentioned would not be until next season.
But all in all an impressive win from a progressing mare who would do not harm to be carefully watched over the months to see which way this horse goes.
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| Ridden by Matt Griffiths who mentioned It was a good performance really in that ground off top weight. |
More hopefully in 2018, but if you want to see 2017's bolgs take a look at
