www.mjayphotography.co.uk: NEW YEAR AT FONTWELL 2018

With forty three runners spread over six races Fontwell park opened it's gates to a new year of racing.
The deluge of rain the week before had the course holding a couple of inspections due to standing water on the course at the weekend,the inspections left the course raceable but with a heavy,tacky going.
One must admit though, the addition of the all weather surface on the home bend saved the course that over the years without the new surface the meeting would of surly been abandoned.
. As one jockey mentioned when questioned about the state of the going that is was the best thing the course as ever placed on a racecourse, and it would be a good idea if some other courses followed suit.

On to the racing, the 4 year old + maiden mares hurdle eight went to post Jonathan Burke on the Charlie Longsdon trained Scorpion Princess going off the 5/2/ fav.
Anthony Honeyball though had other thoughts, the 3/1shot My Dance ridden by Aidan Coleman tracked the front runner on a moderate paced 2m3f race and with a blunder when asking the horse to take on the lead kept on well to take the race by two and a half lengths.

'She is a very straightforward sort of mare,the ground on the rail was okay for her, I asked the groundsman before racing and he said the inner or middle of the racing line was the better ground, she wanted to hang onto the rail so i let her and it suited her fine.'

Fourth at course and distance before Christmas, and a win today the ex point to point mare certainly seems to be heading in the right direction for owner Michael Fiddy and would be one to watch for sure out of the Honeyball yard.

My Dance ridden by Aidan Coleman

The Racing Welfare maiden hurdle a furlong over the two miles saw again eight go to post, and another beaten favourite to keep the bookies warm on a cold January afternoon
.Chris Gordon with the 7/2 fav Be Daring just missed out by a neck as the 6/1 Jeremy Scott trained Blue April scrapped his way to the line.

Blue April over the last, the grey he 7/2 fav Be Daring in behind

The stewards enquiry as the two went over the line seemed to come close to one another held the placings, Tom Cannon on the runner up mentioning it was his horse going into the winner more than the other way around. On board Nick Scholfield mentioned,'This horse has kept on going so he has done that well, Jeremy doesn't really give me any instructions on him but in this tacky ground i have had to get after him a bit, he was idling when getting to the front a little, the ground though is not making it easy for him.'
The French bred seven year old on his first win from fifteen runs is probably not one to place too much faith in, blinkers on and as the jockey mentioned still being a little idle in front I think the owners were grateful just to get the win into him, I'm not too sure though what this indicated for the ones behind.

Blue April

The first chase of the six race card at Fontwell went in the way of a 3m 1f Handicap. Only five to post and backers of the favourite were given a bit of a fright, five out the 11/10 shot Greyed A ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies seemed to overjump, land on his nose only his forward momentum keeping the horse from falling all the way over and maintain his front running pace.
The course and distance winner from the beginning of December kept on the pace,forging forward two out to take the race by five lengths from the John Flint trained LacSacre.

Greyed A

'It's hard to be rude about this one when he has gone and done what he has just done, but sometimes he really doesn't help himself when jumping, he is the same schooling but all you have to do is trust him really.'
The seven year old on his 12th run and 3rd win is truly a type that will do what he wants to do.
Trained by Dr Richard Newland who the young jockey has had a good relationship over the past few seasons this one could be back at course and distance in February to make it three on the bounce, if the ground is still heavy I'd say he would be in with a chance.

The jockey now riding well after a slight lay off with a broken arm early on in the season mentioned how the facilities offered by the Injured Jockey fund ( CALENDERS OF THE BIG REVEAL FROM THE LADY POINT TO POINT RIDERS IN AID OF THE IJF STILL AVAILABLE) really helped him gain fitness to come back in good form.

Greyed A in front of third spot horse Allchilledout

De Rasher Counter

The Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap hurdle saw another favourite go in at 11/4 and give Nick Scholfield a double for the afternoon when on board the Emma Levelle trained De Rasher Counter.
The six year on on his fifth run two of the runs being through the winners enclosure seemed to take the 2m3f in his stride, making headway on the eight runner field three hurdles out, taking up the running and keeping on from the second last to beat Morianour from the Evan Williams yard by three lengths.

'He is a nice type this one I have managed to give him a squeeze two out and he came alive, but he has performed well and could be one to go on.' Mentioned the jockey enjoying his time this season as a freelance.
The trainer mentioned how versatile the six year old by Yeats is 'He can go on any ground and I feel he will get a fence but that will not be until next season.'
The gelding will maintain hurdling this season over the 2m4f and may be aimed for a payday event before his chasing career begins, but be sure to note this one though winning on heavy here will go to other venues on better ground and still show his worth, bred well and should be one to watch.

'He can go on any ground and I feel he will get a fence but that will not be until next season.'

Six went to post for the 2m 3f handicap chase a strong run from the Charlie Mann trained Cody Wyoming saw Harry Bannister bring home the 12 year old by seven lengths from the Seamus Mullins trained Jaraith.
'He has done that well today, you sort of have to let him do his own thing on the course really but he has kept on well when headed and for his age has shown a good appetite.'
On forty two runs and eight wins the syndicate known as The Neardowners surly have had some fun with this gelding.

'He is a game sort as he can sulk mid race but he is a nice one to get on.'

The trainer mentioned that the figure of eight track would probably suit this horse,'You just do not know what he is going to do until he gets to the races really, but he has been good to us and it's great these veterans races are about so these horses in the latter part of their careers can race against each other rather than with the younger horses.'
This one will more likely be out next season and with eight races under his belt would not surprise anyone if he were to take a few more trips to the winners enclosure before retiring.

Jaraith Cody Wyoming

The final race of the day The Happy birthday Tom Maiden hurdle saw another beaten favourite into second place.
Nick Gifford sent Puppet Warrior to post the 6/5 fav, but it was the 7/2 shot Seaston Spirit that took the races from the Oliver Sherwood string, Leighton Aspell steering the five year old home to a two and a half length lead. Despite a few blunders this improving sort now on his third run.
'The mistakes are all part of his learning really, he has never run in this type of going before and that will help him to strengthen his character, I'm sure he's a type that will take all of what he did out there on board and seems a good improving sort.'
The horse looked like he raced well on the heavy going, though not a massively strong pace it showed true grit for the maiden to go well enough of testing ground.