With 43 runners on heavy ground Fontwell Parks Sunday meeting was a damp affair for those that attended.
Though I felt a good sized gate despite the weather came to see National Hunt racing at it's messiest.
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| Lisp Angle of Harlem |
The three year old now on 2 wins from 6 outings was destined to run at the abandoned Plumpton meeting at the beginning of the week was quickly turned around by the master of Barbury Castle who has now had a brace of wins from ex charlie Hills trained gelding.
Jockey Wayne Hutchinson on the the three year old mentioned,' he's a likable sort and improving and fingers crossed can continue to progress.'
The ground an issue for those watching who could clearly see the Sussex turf flying as the horses cover the figure of eight track, Hutchinson mentioned,'It's hard work for them for sure but safe.'
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| The three year old now on 2 wins from 6 outings was destined to run at the abandoned Plumpton meeting at the beginning of the week was quickly turned around by the master of Barbury Castle |
If not the weather was making the bookies miserable on the rails, the pay out from another short priced favourite sent shudders down the dripping wet backs of the bookies.
The Jeremy Scott trained Native Robin took the second race of the afternoon, the 2m3f handicap chase by an eased six length victory from the Seamus Mullins trained Jarlath.
Ridden by Nick Schofeild who told me,'In these conditions you may have a tendency to look better than you actually are, we have had the run of the race were he has gone on this type of going whereas the rest of the field haven't, winning that has probably put him at the top of his handicap to be fair, it's now things may just will get a little more difficult for him/'
The seven year old now on thirteen runs, four of those finishing with a trip to the winners enclosure has another entry on the 27th at Uttoxeter, 7lbs the worse off. But in the heavy ground may just find out the horses not liking the conditions again.
Certainly not too much of a battle for the gelding at Fontwell could see this one on a quick turnaround. Not a vast amount of cash to be made off him but a possible winner could be on the books. to give the trainer his 40th winner in chases from 180 starts.
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| Native Robin |
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| Fourth Act puts a smile on Harry Cobden's face |
The eight year old by Kings Theatre made all of the distance, knocking the hurdle six out and a mistake at the fourth but stayed on well to take the race from the Nick Gifford trained Theo's Charm.
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| 'we wanted really to see how he has come out of a wind operation, so we chose a small field and wanted to see where he was at. ' |
Kim Tizzard standing in for her father today mentioned,' we wanted really to see how he has come out of a wind operation, so we chose a small field and wanted to see where he was at. The ground was a bit of a concern but he certainly went through it and I'm delighted for him.'
A good win after a 78 day lay off should see this one go in again, with better ground on offer as the ground drys out this one could be one to note to take a few more winners garlands home to Sherbourne as the season progresses.
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| Fourth Act |
The 11 runner 3m1f handicap chase saw for once the favourite beaten, a seven length second for 9/2 fav For Carmel from the Paul Henderson yard saw Tom Scudamore and Neil Mulholland take the race with the seven year old Mount Oliver, the geldings first win from nine starts.
Putting 'Scu' on the floor at Ludlow in October the gelding still making the jockey work over his fences stayed on well towards the finish forging clear from the rest of the field.
'The ground is taking a lot of getting, he has done this well today, winning off a mark of 77 he has appreciated the ground and could be looking at more days like today. It's good just to come here for one and it's a winner.'
The trainer mentioned he jumped and travelled well in the ground, 'he was a much happier horse today and it would be hoped the horse could go on an win a few more off the back of that for the owner Mr Hallahan who actually bottled fed the horse as a foal, the mother died at birth so he had to feed him after that, he came over from Ireland today to see him win so I'm very pleased for him.'
A nice story to warm the cockles of a rather chilled heart and anything else to matter, on the back of that it would be nice to see this one put in a few more.
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| Goring One For Carmel Mount Oliver |
The Injured Jockeys fund Novices hurdle, four runners went to post giving the bookies another bashing as the 1/10 shot Melrose Boy went in a distance winner from the rest of the field.
Ridden by Noel Fehily, trained by Harry Fry the five year old only ever being out of the top placing once in his seven runs finishing 6th in his inaugural bumper in 2016 looked a very novice in the heavy ground and the figure of eights twists and turns. Four from home he took hold of the race to stay on well from Now Listen here 50 lengths back in second.
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| Melrose Boy Boola River |
' He is still very much a big baby, and in the ground it was never that easy, but he has done that well today, we have few options for him but Jason (Maguire) and Harry ( Fry) will look into that and we will go from there.' Cheltenham in mind? 'It wouldn't be the be all and end all this season to be fair but a possibility further on I would say,' mentioned the Irishman.
Owned by Paul and Clare Rooney the six year old with more experience under the belt could be a name to remember, showing even on very heavy ground and running green the gelding could still get the job done.
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Melrose Boy |
Melrose Boy Boola River & Ruggeriero
The last chase of the afternoon, in fact the last race over any of the obstacles was The Racing Welfare Handicap chase over 2m 1f
Four runners to post and again the favourite at 6/4 ran in a three and a half length victory for the local yard of Chris Gordon ridden by the in form jockey of the moment young James Bowen.
Driven well out on the run in by the young jockey the 10 year old Atlantic Roller improved off his 2 length second at course and distance on Boxing day.
'He has come on a lot from his run on Boxing day, Chris told me to make it a test for the other runners as he knew he could stay further, he did jump left a bit but on the heavy ground you could excuse him for that.'
The young jockey very gracious in his continued good form mentioned if you told him five months back what he was achieving now he would not have believed you.
The horse, well no planned entries but if you see this gelding now on two wins from twenty four starts over a further distance he may well need to be looked at, and i would guess a trip to Plumpton or back here at Fontwell would be the location for the horse whose trainer loves to support his local tracks.
On a track now well pitted we come to the final race of the day. Six runners for the 1m5f national hunt bumper saw Gary Moore send The flying sofa to start the 4/9 fav, bookies cowering to the though of another well backed favourite.
But Fontsanta from the Emma Lavelle yard had other thoughts under the steerage of Leighton Aspell who made all, and commanding the race in the final stages to take the race from Bang on by half a length.
'I think it was a great idea from the clerk of the course to run inside of the hurdle track, the ground was wet but fresh that really helped my fella out. He ran from the front well as he dose everyday back at home, Emma said to make sure he ran in that way and he took it on well.'
The yard of Emma Lavelle, who i had the pleasure to tour a few days previous, certainly suits the types of nice big national Hunt horse she attracts.
A fast and well maintained set of grass gallops who the great Lester Piggot once quoted in saying were the best he had ridden on, really strengthens the horses and it could bee seen in this four year old on his inaugural run today.
'We really like this one at home, he is a big nice raw horse who we may see one more time this season before going hurdling next season.' mentioned the trainer who was little concerned in running the gelding on the heavy ground.
'He is by Flemenfirth and his progedy love a bog, and the ground though heavy is wet so they are getting through it, I'd say it was better than the heavy ground from the last meeting, that was drying out and making it difficult for the horse to get through.
Driven well out on the run in by the young jockey the 10 year old Atlantic Roller improved off his 2 length second at course and distance on Boxing day.
'He has come on a lot from his run on Boxing day, Chris told me to make it a test for the other runners as he knew he could stay further, he did jump left a bit but on the heavy ground you could excuse him for that.'
The young jockey very gracious in his continued good form mentioned if you told him five months back what he was achieving now he would not have believed you.
The horse, well no planned entries but if you see this gelding now on two wins from twenty four starts over a further distance he may well need to be looked at, and i would guess a trip to Plumpton or back here at Fontwell would be the location for the horse whose trainer loves to support his local tracks.
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| Atlantic Roller |
On a track now well pitted we come to the final race of the day. Six runners for the 1m5f national hunt bumper saw Gary Moore send The flying sofa to start the 4/9 fav, bookies cowering to the though of another well backed favourite.
But Fontsanta from the Emma Lavelle yard had other thoughts under the steerage of Leighton Aspell who made all, and commanding the race in the final stages to take the race from Bang on by half a length.
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| Bang on and Fontanta lead the field in the Early stages |
The yard of Emma Lavelle, who i had the pleasure to tour a few days previous, certainly suits the types of nice big national Hunt horse she attracts.
A fast and well maintained set of grass gallops who the great Lester Piggot once quoted in saying were the best he had ridden on, really strengthens the horses and it could bee seen in this four year old on his inaugural run today.
'We really like this one at home, he is a big nice raw horse who we may see one more time this season before going hurdling next season.' mentioned the trainer who was little concerned in running the gelding on the heavy ground.
'He is by Flemenfirth and his progedy love a bog, and the ground though heavy is wet so they are getting through it, I'd say it was better than the heavy ground from the last meeting, that was drying out and making it difficult for the horse to get through.
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| Fontsanta |
