With 32 runners over a six race card and it's second time of asking the East Sussex track offered soft ground for it's runners at a Fontwell that had been through the eye of the beast from the east and come out the other end with an offering soft ground that all runners had to trawl through some would say like wading through treacle.
With only six days to go before the gods meet at Cheltenham, Fontwell started off with a preview on the festival with the likes of trainer Colin Tizzard in attendance before the first race.
That said first race being a very nice five runner Novices hurdle over 2m 5f a bonus for the runners in the first, fresh ground awaiting them. It must be said though the ground staff at Fontwell over the past few meetings have had to deal with a massive amount of work each time to get the ground back to raceable conditions, and goes to show the backroom staff, lads and lasses make a massive part of the whole picture to the industry
Onto the race, Boreham Bill from the Ben Pauling yard off at 13/8 fav made most of the running ans seemed to find the ground not to his liking making mistakes and jumping left throughout, surprising since the six year old has won on heavy at Southwell last month.
That way of running left the 7/2 shot Reikers Island to take the race on the line by a neck from the Pauling trained gelding to take his fist win from two, the only other run falling two out with every chance at Exeter in February.
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| Reikers Island |
Ridden by champ Richard Johnson who, showed with the ride just why he is where he is in the standings took a path on the outside running very keen throughout before being asked to challenge through the Fontwell mud.
' We are delighted with the horse this week, he just frightened himself a bit a Exeter but came back well today jumping the last two very well and showed good attitude.' The jockey mentioned that the ground is very testing and would show a strength of character in all the races today,
By the four time Ascot Gold cup winner Yeats, this one at five could be one to watch as he progresses with confidence and strength, the fall may just be an unfortunate learning curve blip, if this was his first run then a little more excitement may be have been the tune from some.
Not i. I do feel the horses in second and third Boreham Hill and the impressive looking Golden Sunrise may show good form that will make this son of Yeats something to watch.
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| Boreham Hill |
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| Boreham Hill |
You have been warned...........Reikers Island
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| By the four time Ascot Gold cup winner Yeats, this one at five could be one to watch as he progresses with confidence and strength, the fall may just be an unfortunate learning curve blip |
The second, a five runner Racing welfare handicap chase over the two miles one. Dan Skelton sending Citadel out the even money favourite, brother Harry in the saddle happy to track leaders until the 7th when crashing through to give both a nasty looking fall, both up after and as I'm aware non the worse for wear.
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| Citadel a the 7th |
Leaving three to run you would not of thought the horse Spiritofchartwell that has not been out of the first two over five runs would be showing any part in the race. Veteran point to point rider Phil York who also trained the ten year old throwing all bar the kitchen sink into his charge going out with a circuit left.
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| Phil York |
'I knew he had stamina, but did not like the ground, and who can say many do but he jumped well and though switched off behind i knew when asked he would pick up,'
The jockey with over 300 pointing wins under his belt and seven times a rider in the Cheltenham Foxhunters ( nothing to go this year though)
The trainer and jockey, his wife being the owner knew enough about this one to make sure he rode the race tac tic perfect,' If you chase him too soon he won't get home he races too competitively, so to bide your time that's the way in these small fields.'
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| Spiritofchartwell |
The jockey mentioned that the new all weather really helps get this horse home and a possibility of quick ground over a further distance would also see the horse in positive mood.
Back to reality at the weekend, runners at Kingston Blount for the jockey were he has a few entered.
Any as good as this one in the pointing field would be one to take heed of for sure.
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'I knew he had stamina, but did not like the ground, and who can say many do but he jumped well and though switched off behind i knew when asked he would pick up,' |
Eleven runners for the four years and up maiden hurdle over the 2m1f. The favourite from the Phillip Hobbs yard Casterly Rock off at 11/10 seemed to find the going energy sapping looking a second placed horse at the last to go back an eleven length third to the Sam Thomas The Cannister Man, the winner a further seventeen lengths in front from the Oliver Sherwood yard Euxton Lane in the famous colours of Trevor Hemmings.
Ridden by Leighton Aspell, 'we always have liked this one,' mentioned the jockey. 'He has had a few runs now and seems to have relaxed a bit in his races but we hope this could be one for the future.'
By Kings Theatre the six year old at home seems to have character about him but has the eye of both trainer and jockey now with his first win from five starts could try to take life a Little more seriously. As serious as it may be said that this son of Kings Theatre out of a Saddlers Hall mare should be one to track over the next few seasons. We know the owner is aware what a good one looks like, could this be the next Trevor Hemmings star???
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| Remember the name.....Euxton Lane |
The champion jockey now on 152 wins for the season seems to be reeving the engines before the Cheltenham showdown next week. One winner already in the bag in the first, this time riding for Warren Greatrex he bought top weight Dicosimo home the five length winner at 20/1 making most of the running.
Giving the second placed horse well over a stone in weight the seven year old on five wins from twenty five starts had to be hard rallied by the champ to make his mark.
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| Dicosimo |
'He is a better horse than his mark today to be fair and has come down a bit in class to get the win, but after his wind operation, today has certainly helped him, we are taking one race at a time with him and if the handicapping gods are kind you would think he would be there or there abouts next time out.'
The gelding that looks like he can get further would have to be tested on the better ground but in all fairness looks like he could go on. Another end of season pointer? i hear you ask, well yes i believe so Richard speaking very favorably about the seven year old.
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| Top weight Dicosimo home the five length winner at 20/1 making most of the running. |
Pens at the ready.... yes this one Dicosimo,Euxton Lane,Boreham Hill, Golden Sunrise and Reikers Island. All should be noted from today's small midweek card. Who said midweek racing is boring???????
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| 'We are taking one race at a time with him and if the handicapping gods are kind you would think he would be there or there abouts next time out.' Richard Johnson on a double for the afternoon |
The penultimate event a two mile three furlong handicap chase saw four go to post, and saw another favourite beaten, this time Colin Tizzards Sandy Beach another Trevor Hemmings owned horse had to settle to a three and three quartet length second to a Neil Mulholland trained seven year old in Master Burbidge, jockey Noel Fehily knocking up his 97th winner of the season.
'He has done that well despite the mistakes and dose not seem to mind swapping from flat, hurdle to fences.' asked with a good wind behind him he could knock up his 100th of the season at the festival, 'look, that would be great but the plan would to be to keep in one piece before and through the festival and the rest will take care of itself.'
Wise words from a jockey that has seen it and and got the T shirt for the big events.
Four runners for the final race of the afternoon a 2m 1f open bumper, not the usual charge of horses but enough for 4/7 fav Irish Odyssey again trained by Neil Mulholland and ridden by Noel Fehily making a quick fire double for the combination.
The five year old by Yeats out in his maiden voyage was soon rallied clear about three furlongs to go, but fourteen lengths in between him and second placed Dancing Doug.
The 98th winner for the jockey ever so closer and a gelding the trainer mentioned, ' we really like this one and feel he could be something a little special, he has done that well today not being 100% ready to go forward, we just want to go quite with this one, one more run in a bumper then put away for the summer ready for next season.'
A good well bred raw type of horse for the Mulholland team and one to put in the note books. Fontwell seems to be the place where good horse come out to make their first entrance to the racing game......... Remember Cue Card 2010?????
Apologize for the late production of this Fontwell blog, due to IT/equipment issues a few things went a little south, but better late than never.
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