HAZEY DAYS OF SPRING PEEPES THROUGH AT A HEAVY FONTWELL

RAYS OF HOPE FOR SPRING AT FONTWELL

A glorious days racing at Fontwell fine weather and for once i did not have a hat or pair of gloves in sight. Great spring is around the corner, but rain the week before still unsettled racing heavy ground at all meetings up and down the country,39 runners throughout the whole card at Fontwell still showed that winter still has a grip though weakening on the National hunt season, still Cheltenham soon on it's way...............

Anyway, six races to look at, The six runner two mile one furlong juvenile hurdle. A surprise entry from the master of Kingsclere more usual to be seen in the heights of summer at Goodwood just down the road Andrew Balding sent four year old son of Sea the stars Night of Glory to post the evens money fav.

Under Paddy Brennan, fresh from a schooling session on the great Cue Card who he reunites with at Ascot this weekend ( or today as i write this) the gelding with 2 wins from 9 on the flat and only three runs over hurdles two of those being through the third spot made hard work of the heavy figure of eight surface.

' It's very hard work out there, so he is probably a better horse on better ground at a better track, but he loves to jump and I'm just happy racing is on, all us jockeys want to do is get meetings on. It;s safe out the but borderline.'
Happy to be back on the great Cue Card he mentioned the horse schooled well and he was delighted and thankful to trainer and owner to be put back on a horse with such great esteem.

Back though to this young four year old who  only got up on the line by a neck from the Fontwell master trained Gary Moore's Kapdad. No future entries to see planned but i would say one to note on the flat as well as over obstacles, we now know he has heart though, the prints up the run in from the leaders going in deep

 Night of Glory with two wins from nine on the flat and only three runs over hurdles two of those being through the third spot made hard work of the heavy figure of eight surface.

Seven runners for  the two mile one furlong novices hurdle, Gary Moore just missing out on beating the favourite in the first sent to post 4/9 fav Distingo but again his five year old could only manage a three and a half length second to the Mark Bradstock trained Jaisalmer.
The six year old under Nico de Boinville with seven runs under rules with now two wins stayed on well in the heavy ground while making most of the running.

Distingo 

'We haven't gone a very quick pace no one really wanted to take me on, i hope he hasn't had too much of a hard race because it was a bit of a sprint in the end which took a lot out of him. But he is a gutsy horse and we used the all weather section to our advantage to quicken the pace.'
The jockey is convinced he would be a better horse on better ground, but winning on two different styles of tracks the last time Plumpton, on the heavy going some would question that.
Sarah Bradstock on PR duty for husband Mark mentioned they were delighted with the second win with him.
Don't be put off then if you see this six year old on the better ground through the spring, you may also get a better 2/1 price offered here at Fontwell if the bookies feel this gelding is a mud lover.
You have been warned...........

The jockey is convinced he would be a better horse on better ground.

The first race over the larger obstacles saw only three runners tackle the two mile one Handicap chase. Local trainer Chris Gordon saddling the 8/11 fav Rothman to take a eight length second to 9/5 shot Bramble Brook from the Colin Tizzard yard making a 97 mile trip to the Sussex course.
Three lengths a drift two out some may have said no chance, but sound jumping and a strong hold on up the inclined Fontwell finish saw Harry Cobden catapult to the front not really to be challenged.

Bramble Brook

 Listening to the jockey, ' It was only a three runner event, but he is a nice horse and has done it well, he has taken a good hold three out and has jumped the last three giving them too much height really, but i feel he is an improving type and would prefer the better going, time will tell.'

The trainer on the first part of a good double for the afternoon mentioned,' coming around the bend and looking at the way Chris Gordon's horse was travelling I though we'd be happy to pick up second spot, but he has jumped the last three giving them height and has pulled away well, but a three horse race in heavy ground that's what you get really.'



Two wins now from eighteen starts for the son of Kayf Tara this one may be one to watch for a few months, winning here at Fontwell and nearby at Plumpton it would not suprise me to see him back at this course at the next meeting in a few weeks time. One to watch i would say.

Bramble Brook with owners Brocade Racing

Nine runners for a two Mile three handicap hurdle saw Neil Mulholland send the 4/7 fav Minellatillmorning to win the race by six lengths from the Gary Moore who must be by now sick of looking at the number 2 trained The Green Ogre.
The five year old grey son of Kings Theatre on now 2 wins from 6 runs tracked the field well under Noel Fehily leading two out staying on well on ground drying out, still heavy making it hardier for horses to get through as the meeting goes on.

Minellatillmorning

The jockey mentioned about the horse now on back to back wins,' It's hard work out there, but he jumped well and is a very likable sort of horse.'
The horse last out at Taunton eleven days back under Phillip Donovan looks like he could go out a win again soon, both wins on heavy ground the trainer will be mindful to catch the ground before the hopeful turn of conditions as Spring takes hold.

Minellatillmorning last out at Taunton eleven days back under Phillip Donovan looks like he could go out a win again soon.

The penultimate race an eight runner two mile five handicap chase eight went to post, another favourite in the winners enclosure, trained by an old mucker of mine from the point to point ranks. at the moment champion point to point trainer from last season who over the summer last year not only got married but turned his sights on taking out a rules permit, Jack Barber sent Redmond off at 5/2 to take the race by five lengths from Linda Jewell's Itoldyou.
Making most of the running the eight year old under Nick Schofield held on well to take his maiden victory from eight runs.

Redmond 

The jockey mentioned he thought the horse has come on from his Southwell run back in December,    'He is a big type but handled the track well, and relaxed better today than at Southwell that has helped me place him better today, on better ground he would be a better horse.'
Formally with Venetia Williams and a third placed ridden by the recently retired Liam Treadwell the grey seems to be on the up, second at Southwell,now a win in heavy at Fontwell could be one to watch.

'He handled that well and a different ring bit helped Nick settle him more.'

Th trainer mentioned,' My first winner here which is nice, we were worried about the ground but he handled that well and a different ring bit in his mouth, helped Nick settle him more, I'd say he is a big boy now, but next year maybe not bigger but certainly he'd be stronger.'
The handicapper may have a say where we could see this improving grey out next, impressive and the trainer certainly knows how to train horses to win races. One to defiantly look out for.

The final race a mile five furlong bumper saw Colin Tizzard take two winners home to Sherbourne with  a four year old  Jaytrack Parkhomes winning by a neck from Neil Mulholland's Looks Frozen but looked impressive in the winners enclosure and in the geldings presence made the hairs on the back of my head stand on end.

Jaytrack Parkhomes(farside) won by a neck from Neil Mulholland's Looks Frozen (nearside)

Half brother to Gentleman Jon from the Tizzard yard who massed over £58'000 over 38 runs this horse looked like it may be something for the future.

Ridden by the boy in form James Bowen who mentioned ' he is a nice horse that tried all the way to the line, one for the future possibly.'
The trainer happy with his double said ' it was a long time ago when we had our last bumper winner here but this one was probably the cheapest one we have had in the yard for a while we tend to invest in our bumpers, but he looked the winner at the finish and ran well'
As Cue card takes his final grade one Ascot chase at the weekend (yes i know today as i write) it could not be helped for most to mention his name who took his maiden bumper at Fontwell.
'I don't know if we can mention Cue Card in the same frame as this one,' mentioned thet trainer who placed us all back on planet earth.

Jaytrack Parkhomes

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