SEVEN RACES TO SEE THE POINTING YEAR OUT AT COTTENHAM

On ground that would not turn a hair in the late spring, or early summer. Cottenham staged seven races for the Cambridgeshire Harriers Hunt club meet with only a few hours left of 2016.

Ground stated as good to firm, most riders saying it was good jumping ground though gave some quality racing, with quality horses and speedy times.

The first race the supporting hunts members race a good sized field of ten went to post, a number of horses already making trips to the winners enclosure this season. Treacyswestcounty a winner at the opener at Barbury and Porlock Bay, with a win and a second already this season under the guidance of Luke Harvey and ridden by Darren Edwards.

Porlock Bay, 

The nine-year-old took the race from the fore mentioned by a good seven lengths giving his owner great joy, not only winning on the last day of the year, but also a year his horse won at Lockinge on his 50^th birthday.

‘This horse owes me nothing and has been a joy to look after,’ mentioned the one time national hunt jockey, who indecently managed to gain the services of another one time flat jockey Jason Weaver to lead the horse up.

The 5/2 favourite now on ten pointing runs, four wins and five seconds may need to see if he can step up, but is defiantly loving his zest for running at the moment, and is as joy to watch, just like his owner..

‘This horse owes me nothing and has been a joy to look after,’

The Morgan family who love their pointing and certainly love the East Anglian track took on the final day of 2016 to deliver a double for the enthusiastic pointing crowd.

Extreme Appeal a horse winning on the first day of the season at Cottenham went up through his gears with great surety to take the Restricted race by four lengths from Andrew Pennock’s Scorpion Star.

‘He is bred for the flat and certainly shows great ability,’ mentioned the trainer. ‘He now qualifies for the Subaru restricted final at Strafford on 9^th June and I’d would say that would suit him ideally.’ 

Jockey Sam Davies Thomas with one ride at the track before making the long haul to Warwick races agreed mentioning the horse is very economical over his obstacles and for a five-year-old has to be put right for very few.

Extreme Appeal and Scorpian star over the last together

This young horse can only improve and on current form would look like one to watch pointing or hunter chasing.

Davies Thomas on the first day of the season had success on another Morgan horse Lough Inch, this time in a novice rider race and under the steerage of ex rugby player turned jockey Rory Bevin took the race in fine style by fifteen lengths from Victoria Pendleton on her horse Vesperal Dream.(left)

Note should be made for Pendleton on Vesperal Dream who had a crashing tumble or ‘whoopsie’ as trainer Alan Hill puts it at Larkhill who gave great courage and determination to improve heself and her steed.

‘She is one of the nicest, hardworking people your find,’ mentioned Hill, ‘and was determined to improve and get this right. She hates letting people down, that’s why she is a gold winning Olympic medallist.’

The ex-David Nicholls  horse looks the type that will grace a winners podium soon and I must have to say all hats off to Victoria when she gets there.

Lough Inch took the Countryside alliance club members race for novice riders, Rory Bevin on board the nine year old.

Trainer Tommy Morgan mentioned,’ this horse is fantastic to have in the yard, he has won six times around here know and is a great horse to teach a young jockey his craft, Jack Andrews has won on him so I was happy to put Rory up who is a fantastically hard working jockey and it would be hoped we can help him onto the top novice riders spot.’

The jockey not so forward thinking mentioning,’ It’s great to ride horse like this one, Tom probably talks about being top novice rider more than me, so we’ll see how it goes, when we have had more of the runners out we can see where we stand before we go looking to far forward.’
The jockey the size (well height wise) of a scrum half is looking positively onto the forthcoming 2017 sighting the new year resolution as ‘giving up fudge’ as a mark to novice championship stardom.

The jockey not so forward thinking mentioning,’ It’s great to ride horse like this one.'

Extreme Appeal (rail side) and Scorpian star (No9)

Lough Inch

The men’s and Ladies open gave the Oxfordshire trainer Alan Hill great joy as two of his stable stars took the races in blistering form.

Broken Eagle who last year set the East Anglian area alight with his dominate front running and superb jumping took the men’s open by a commanding twenty-five lengths from Archie Wright on, It was me.

The nine-year-old looked the winner soon after jumping the fourth as he commanded the field with a a dazzling display of front running and jumping.

Broken Eagle

‘All credit has to go to dad really, ‘mentioned jockey Joe Hill.’ He has produced him just right today and he looks so well, he is such a good horse to ride, we will now have to go back and plan his season, a hunter chase will be on the cards to see how right he would be for the Foxhunters at Aintree but he is an exciting prospect for sure.

The trainer also paid tribute to the owners Caroline and Jake Exelby mentioning,’ they both put so much into the game over the season, their first horse with me had a bad injury the first time it ran so it’s great to give them something back.

This horse with his jumping would relish the Aintree obstacles, and if the ground was to his liking could give the Irish that usually love to take the foxhunter prize back across to the Emerald isle a run for their money.

The ladies open again was taken by a short-priced Hill favourite. 4/11 shot Sharp Suit ridden by Gina Andrews who rode her 150^th winner in the week at Chaddersley Corbett in the ladies’ open took the race in fine style, Gina mentioning that it was one of the best feels she has had from the nine-year-old by Milan for a long time.

Beating Husband Tom Ellis’s horse Roberto Pegasus by eight lengths the horse who Gina rode a superb race to finish second to Bound for Glory on the opening day meet seems the type that all has to go right for him to perform his task well.’ He is no way a ingenuine horse,’ mentioned trained Alan Hill.’ But he is the type that it must be right for him all the way, but he is the type that gives his owners Mr Mann great joy to watch.’

Sharp Suit

A horse with quality and intelligence can be too much of a good thing sometimes, but if all is well in the land of Sharp Suit he is a hard act to beat, that also combined with the dominant force of Gina Andrews you could only marvel at what a team.
One to watch over the next few months in the East Anglian area, back against the pair at your peril.

‘All credit has to go to dad really, ‘mentioned jockey Joe Hill.’ He has produced him just right today

’ He is no way a ingenuine horse,’ mentioned trained Alan Hill.’ But he is the type that it must be right for him all the way.'

Both novice races gave good accounts of themselves, something for followers of the sport to note for future gains.

Mr Maclennane ridden by Archie Wright took the open maiden by five lengths form Phil York’s Miss North Light.
The ex-Irish Pointer showing very little from whence he came showed to the Cottenham faithful a good turn of foot coming to the last easily sprinting past the York’s seven-year-old mare.

‘We knew he was well in himself and we knew what sort of horse he was,’ mentioned jockey Archie Wright whose new year resolution was to be nicer to people..’ What we didn’t know was how quick of a turn of foot he had.’ 

Mr Maclennane ridden by Archie Wright

The Jockey delighted by the efforts of the five year old is certainly looking forward to the new year mentioning that he has some nice horses from the yard to come, It was me finishing second to the in formidable Broken Eagle and  le Fou Royal who the jockey mentioned would have been very close to winning the last race of the afternoon if he hadn’t made a small mistake at the last.

That race was the Open maiden for  four, five and six year olds, that went to Andrew Pennock’s Somme Boy ridden by Evan David.

Somme Boy

The five-year-old, fourth on the opening day to Extreme Appeal must of relished the form improvement of the Morgan horse who was twenty five lengths his better on that day.
‘He’s a nice horse with a positive future, I’ll have to chat to Andrew on what next for him but he is a nice horse to get on.’

The jockey from Tim Vaughan’s yard in Aberthin Cowbridge, making a trip across country for his ride said,’ I have a ride at Fakenham tomorrow so  I’ll stay over here to go onto the races tomorrow.’ No new year celebrations for this young jockey who closed the winners curtain for the 2016 point to point season.

‘He’s a nice horse with a positive future,

2017 here we come, the next meeting for me will be the Larkhill Racing Club meet at Larkhill. If 2016 is to go by then we are in for one hell of a ride.

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FONTWELL PARKS SEVEN ROUND BOXING DAY BASH

After a day of festive feasting, Fontwell was awash with boxing day racegoers who  treated the family to a festive bash to keep the yule tide frolicking in good cheer from the day before.

Seven packed races, which showed the quality of prize on offer from the Sussex course, this attracted good size fields, with an abundance of racing on offer up and down the country this must have been a sight to behold for the hard-working staff at Fontwell Park.

Two doubles were notched up for a trainer and jockey on the day.  Top stable Alan Kings yard continued his festive feast not only with a double at Fontwell but winners elsewhere, notably at the top card at Kempton Park.

And Nick Scholfield, who probably had to watch his Christmas dietary needs, making it pay off with a brace of winners both from different Yards.

‘He has missed a few to be sure,’ mentioned the jockey.

Bishops Court trained by Neil Mulholland took the first of only two chases on the card in an exhibition of not so great jumping but of quality horsemanship to take the two mile one handicap Chase. 

‘He has missed a few to be sure,’ mentioned the jockey. ‘But the last four he has jumped well, and deserves to win, Neil mentioned he would make a few blunders on his way round but would not be far away and he was right on that one.’

The six-year-old point to point winner looking every part to the eye a chaser has been looking for his win since his last placed effort a third at Ffos Las, picking up this fair decent £7000 handicap beating horses such as Mercian King and Bertenbar, horses with form to their names, and the eleven-year-old Venetian Lad from the Lydia Richards yard, though back in fourth this time who notched up his seventh win at the Sussex track in April.

Has this gelding finally found out what it is all about? probably his next outing will tell, but he certainly looks the part and would be one to watch.

Scholfields second winner of the afternoon came after the excitement of the King George at Kempton and extra race shown live at Fontwell, on Jeremy Scott’s Kid Kalanisi.

‘He has made a few niggly mistakes and would have to brush up on his jumping.'

The second of two chases again over the two miles one the five-year-old came on well from his previous run a crashing fall a few weeks back at Huntington his chasing debut, enough to put anyone off. 

‘He has made a few niggly mistakes and would have to brush up on his jumping if he wants to go to the next level, but he has done well after Huntington and it’s a good win for the trainer also, he is about at his mark now.’

The jockey with a positive Boxing day double, mentioning that it was his Christmas present to have two winners, also paid tribute to the goings on at Kempton in the King George, ‘the public has to be lucky to watch a race of that quality with two great horses, it doesn’t happen that often but when it does it’s great for racing.’

Bishops Court

Kid Kalanisi over the last with second place Itoldyou

A trainer well in form over the Boxing day racing extravaganza was Banbury Castles Alan King. 

A double at Kempton with top hurdler Yanworth in the Christmas hurdle and a possible other top hurdler in Elgin who won the opening novice hurdle at the London track, the trainer sent Rainbow Dreamer who found his pot of gold at the end of the race in the two miles one furlong juvenile race.

 ‘I rode him at Wetherby in good ground to a third place in October, the good to soft ground has suited him more today.'

Ridden by top Fontwell jockey Tom Cannon the three-year-old now on three wins from twelve starts and a course and distance winner at the Sussex track twenty days ago, made well his 11/10 favouritism with the Christmas punters.

 ‘I rode him at Wetherby in good ground to a third place in October, the good to soft ground has suited him more today has stayed on well despite his mistake at the last.’

With some quality hurdle events at Fontwell in 2017 it would not be a surprise to see this novice back at the Sussex track over the next few months, a horse to be noted.

The next race a two mile one furlong novices hurdle also went to the Marlborough trainer when Bastien ridden by five pound claimer William Featherstone beat the2/1 favourite The Mighty Don by six lengths in the £6000 event.

‘It was a big, competitive field,’ mentioned the Jockey. ‘Sometimes it was hard to see the bottom of the hurdle in front of you, but the pace of the race suited him and from two out he has ran on well.’

Bastien ridden by five pound claimer William Featherstone beat the2/1 favourite The Mighty Don by six lengths in the £6000 event.

The five-year-old only with three runs under his belt must be one to take serious from a yard that seems to ooze quality hurdlers, beating a horse from the Nick Gifford yard who in his only four runs has not been out of the first three, one to watch.

Rainbow Dreamer 

Bastien

Local trainer Mark Hoad had something to give him Christmas cheer as Sober Sailor took the opener at Fontwell as the nine year old took the two mile three furlongs conditional riders handicap hurdle, Kieron Edgar on board.

Stan Sheppard on 11/4 favourite Café Au Lait made it a strong pace but could find no more on the run in as the 9/1 shot took up the race from the last to take the race by six lengths.

Sober Sailor took the opener at Fontwell 

‘The pace of the race and the ground has suited my horse well,’ mentioned the young jockey. ‘Mattie Batchelor was here and rode him to a fourth here in November so was on hand to give me a bit of advice about him, but it was good to get a win, a nice horse.’

With twelve runs under the belt and only one win  this horse could go on, and would be one that I feel will grace Fontwell and the trainers other local tracks such as Plumpton over the next few months.

Top seven Barrows trainer Nicky Henderson with ten runners over three different courses over the Boxing day period took the £10000 two miles one furlong handicap hurdle with Divine Spear, ridden by another five pound claimer Ned Curtis, a graduate from the Pony racing circuit. 

‘I’ve been at the guvnors for about a year now, and have ridden this fella at Cheltenham back in April, he has done that well today just getting his head in front.’

The race was between Ian Williams’s Cool Sky and Divine spear at the last, the Henderson five-year-old just getting his head in front at the post.

‘I’ve been at the guvnors for about a year now, and have ridden this fella at Cheltenham.'

In the colours of Middleham Park racing this must be one of the biggest winners for the young jockey that has the trust of the Maestro trainer having but him up on several occasions over the past month, this time a horse and jockey to note.

Divine spear

Trainer Kerry Lee could have a cracking Christmas if eithier Mountainous or Bishops Road takes on the Coral Welsh national at Chepstow today, as Happy Diva took the two and a half miles’ mares only Handicap hurdle by a commanding eighteen lengths form Easter in Paris.

Happy Diva

Seven pound claiming amateur Richard Patrick mentioned ‘She has been a little unlucky in her previous runs, and I’m so grateful to Kerry for putting me up today, she is a nice sort.’

The trainer standing close by, making sure the young jockey gives little away about  the five year old mentioned,’ She has just got the conditions today to suit her really, and to be honest I'm surprised she has pulled out that well today as there was few in the race that I thought would take all the beating, but she is a lovely filly and is owned by Will Roseff, owners of  Mountainous last year’s winner in the welsh national, so a possible good omen there.’

The yard on good form at present with three winners over the past week looks in good shape to take the £85000 prize at Chepstow again with Mountainous running to make it two Welsh nationals in a row, Kerry ever hopeful that her pair will make good accounts of themselves, the ground being possibly against the Presteigne trainers duo.

‘She has been a little unlucky in her previous runs, and I’m so grateful to Kerry for putting me up today.'

As mentioned previous a cracking way to end 2016 at the Sussex track, with more quality racing to come at the figure of eight course in 2017.

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LARKHILLS OPENER OF THE SEASON WITH TRIPPLE H

As I pulled up to the racecourse that usually has  superb views across the Wiltshire countryside, I was met with a solid blanket of early morning mist. 

But as the kick off time of 11.30 approached the blanket was lifted, as if Mother Nature was only just keeping her baby under wraps until the final moments to allow the new season to start at Larkhill.

The first race was for the Hursley Hambledon Hunts Members and subscribers race, three went to post. Six-year-old Tommo and Oz Wedmore did his best in well making sure the remaining two Shantou Breeze and Upham Running could only see his tail jump the fence in front. 

Coming out of the dip and up the incline four from home the leader ran out of fuel leaving the winner Shantou Breeze well in front Lance Madgwick in the saddle.

Shantou Breeze

‘It is a difficult race to read when one goes off like that and there are only three of you, but he was ready for the race and well deserved the win.’

The nine-year-old trained by Michael Madgwick was fourth twice to leading winning point to pointer horse Premier Portrait last season at Larkhill, Portrait again on winning form with the opener at Black forest lodge and at Wadebridge at the weekend. The form I feel speaks for itself with Shantou.

The nine-year-old trained by Malcom Madgwick was fourth twice to leading winning point to pointer horse Premier Portrait last season at Larkhill,

Trainer Jack Barber with 50 winners to his credit last season opened his tally with a fine crop of declared entries.

Aikideau ridden by Bryony Frost took on the race to beat Grand Gold and Paige Fuller by ten lengths to win the Ladies open.

A good classy race on paper the nine-year-old looked well and pulled away with ease from the final two fences.

 ‘You know if you’re on one of Jacks, especially one as good as this one your onto a winner,’ mentioned the jockey.

Aikideau leads Grand Gold 2nd and Trueflyingcolours 3rd

Aikideau

The horse now on seven wins from ten starts certainly likes the Wiltshire turf, and is also versatile on what ground he runs on. 

A nice looking sort and it would be no surprise to see this one out again at the Chaddersly meeting on the 27^th December to make it two in a row.

Half way through the meeting, the ground good, good to soft out the back straight,a class field went to post for the men’s open over the Larkhill three miles.

To post Lilbitluso a horse from last season a class act, winning on the opening day of the season at Cottenham, finishing off with a second in the Champion hunter chase final at Stratford. Via a win in the Red mills intermediate final at Cheltenham Hunter chase meeting.

Coming to the last,the two horses at the fence Lilibitluso and the eventual winner Real Milan. Champion jockey will Biddick looking for his first win back of the new campaign, deputising for the injured John Mathias came to a crashing fall leaving Real Milan and Jack Jones to take the winning post with no opposition.

Real Milan 

‘It’s so scary just how good this horse is,’ mention the 21 year old jockey riding for his father Nicholas Jones. 

‘We have one horse and a few hunters, this one being dads pride and joy, he is happy to do it all on his own as he is more relaxed that way.’

Again, another versatile sort by top pointing stallion Milan from last season showed this sire can breed them to stay and jump. In fact, the second Barel of Laughs and Caesar Milan also being by the coolmore resident.

‘We have had so much fun with this horse and it’s great to see both horse and son home safely,’ mentioned the trainer.

Lilibitluso up looking fine from his spill which made it a little easier for Joseph O’Shea to take. Jockey Will Biddick having the rest of the afternoon off from the fall. We hope to see both back soon.

‘It’s so scary just how good this horse is,’

Jockey Martin McIntyre started off his double winning afternoon off well with a bit more work to do on Peter Hammersley’s Coolharbour Joe, taking the Restricted race by a length and a half from Jack Barbers Amzac Magic.

The eight year old trained by someone who you may more likely to see on the Arab racing circuit seemed a tough sort showing that his maiden win in Ireland at Bellurgan was no fluke, the horse to stand near seemed a big strong sort, only a eight year old and will surely come on from that run.

Coolharbour Joe,

‘He’s a good sort and I got the call to ride this one in the week courtesy of one of my old colleagues at Enda Bolger’s so it was a good one to take, I knew the horse in second as I have ridden him to win at Chaddersly so knew what I was up against.’

A horse to take note of as the Barber racing team thing a lot of Amzac Magic who will defiantly come on from his spin.

Titans Approach 

McIntyre’s second of the day came in the last race on Ben Clarke’s seven-year-old Titans Approach in the open Maiden. By high Chaparral this horses breeding would not look out of place on a flat racing field. 

‘He has been placed at Fontwell over two and half miles,’ mentioned the trainer with his first runner and winner of the season. ‘so, we knew what we had with him, we bought him for a new partnership at Doncaster and knew we could place him in on the lowest grade in a maiden to start him off, even with his experience.’  The trainer with nine horses under his charge near Crewkerne his Christmas will be a little more of a settled affair. 

‘He maybe out again at Chaddersley on the 27^th we’ll see how he comes out of this one, the last thing we want though is to run any of them not ready and break them before the season really kicks off.’

'I knew the horse in second as I have ridden him to win at Chaddersly so knew what I was up against.’

'He maybe out again at Chaddersley on the 27^th we’ll see how he comes out of this one,' 

Two horses that already have been out and running in good form battled it out for the Conditions race, the penultimate race of the afternoon.

Anquetta, third to Lough Inch at Cottenham on the opening day of the season and Porlock Bay a winner at Black Forest lodge on the same day were well ahead of their remaining rivals coming to the last.

Anquetta (right) Porlock Bay (left)

The eventual winner (nearside) in the well-known colours of Robert Waley-Cohen rolled a little to his left allowing the Luke Harvey trained Porlock Bay ridden by Gina Andrews to challenge at the line.

A length separated the two the twelve-year-old Anquetta taking the prize.

Jockey Sam Waley-Cohen mentioned. ‘He has run on really well, the three miles here always going to stretch him,but he has enjoyed himself out there, probably a little too much coming over towards the horsebox park side.

Both horses doing nothing wrong in their first two runs of the 2016-17 campaign, both to be sure to be in the winners enclosure again soon.

Anquetta

No pointing next weekend, a chance to lick wounds or prepare a little more before a 27^th December meet at Chaddersley Corbett. 

The next meeting for me to Podcast and write. and take pictures, will be the Cambridgeshire Harriers meeting at Cottenham on New year’s eve.

Don’t forget you can hear my podcasts and view images and reports from all my meeting attended at

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FONTWELL FESTIVE JUMPERING FESTIVAL

Anyone wanting to earn a bit of extra Christmas cash should have been along the very competitive early December card at Fontwell park.

Not only £500 to the best dressed Christmas jumper on display for the afternoon, but high priced horses also ‘jumping ‘into the winner enclosure.

 The mood started well with 40/1 shot Bohernagore from the Zoe Davidson yard beating the favourite Nick Gifford’s Cashanova by seven lengths back in third in the class four handicap hurdle.

‘ He could of gone round again really, the plan was to make the running because that’s where he settle’s best.'

Ridden by the young nineteen-year-old claimer and graduate from the pony racing circuit Frankie Penford the eleven-year-old on his debut win from eleven starts made mostly all the two mile one furlong of the Sussex track.

‘ He could of gone round again really, the plan was to make the running because that’s where he settle’s best, and he helps you out so much to, so you can actually concentrate more on race tactics.’ 

The jockey was full of admiration for the horse out of the East Grinstead yard where he is based, the trainer delighted with a win, a long time coming with only 3 wins from 117 runners so far in 2016.

Bohernagore 

The second race of the afternoon, a three mile one furlong novices chase went to local Winchester trainer Chris Gordon’s The Chuckmeister. Off at tapes at 11/1 the seven-year-old on his first win from eight starts took up the race before the last keeping on well up the Fontwell incline to take the race by seven lengths from Suzy Smiths King Charlie.

‘The horse had something to prove with his jumping,’ mentioned the trainer. ‘It’s good to get one in for a local owner too, Tom has done what I have asked him and to concentrate in getting him jumping rather that to race and jump and it’s seemed to have worked.’

‘The horse had something to prove with his jumping.'

The Chuckmeister

Jockey Tom Cannon also delighted to get a win on one of his local tracks, a track in the past has always been lucky for him on the winner front.

The third race was a very competitive juvenile hurdle over two miles one furlongs. Alan King with Rainbow Dreamer took the race, this time making the bookies pay out as the Wayne Hutchinson ridden three-year-old went off the 10/11 favourite. 

Only being out of the winner’s enclosure in some way or form for two of his eleven starts the three-year-old was in touch all though the race, taking up the lead just before the last.

Volpone Jelois

The Paul Nicholls’s charge Volpone Jelois three and a half lengths back in second is a horse  

The Ditcheat trainer likes the ex-French flat runner. Running on at the last but did appear to have needed the outing, and one certainly to underline for future trips out.

Alan King mentioning,’ You know straight away if they are going to work.'

Cheek pieces applied to the horse for the run seemed to make a mark difference to the horse Alan King mentioning,’ You know straight away if they are going to work, we schooled him in them last week and he went really well so we were hopeful today.’

It looked in this race the first three home could have a nice races in them this season, the third horse placed East Indes from the Gary Moore yard, all to highlight in the notebooks.

The yard of Alan king all set for a good week approaching, continuing his consistent form. Cheltenham and Doncaster being the climax at the weekend, Doncaster being the favoured track.

Rainbow Dreamer

The combination of Jonjo O’Neil and Aidan Coleman took the main chase of the afternoon, a three mile one furlong handicap chase. 

Adam Du Breteau led the five other competitors from four fences out, and ran on well to beat Gary Moore’s Leo Luna by four lengths. 

One his third win from twelve starts the six year old showed easily why winning all his races at different distances makes the six year old stand out., Aidan mentioning. 'This one has improved on his performances and has been kept in good form.’

'This one has improved on his performances' 

Adam Du Breteau

This horse if placed well, would have a nice race in him. 

The concern now for the Cheltenham trainer would be where and what distance to take on next. 

 One to watch I think.

Dual training licence holder Hughie Morrison took the next, a two mile three furlong mares only novices hurdle. 

Star Rider ridden by Tom O’Brien kept on well at the last to beat Flints Legacy from the Nigel Hawke yard by five lengths.

The four-year-old Cape Cross filly who only a few months back was bagging a smart two mile event at Newmarket seems to be learning her craft

‘She has a big engine this one,’ mentioned the jockey. ‘All she needs to do is sharpen her jumping up a little as she steps up in grade but she has stamina for sure and could be a nice horse.’

The four-year-old Cape Cross filly who only a few months back was bagging a smart two mile event at Newmarket seems to be learning her craft, from a yard more known for their flat horse production and seems to have a few nice horses to come out over the winter months.

 Sister Cybil and Major Mac being a few O’Brien seemed to mention.

Star Rider

Eight horses to post for the penultimate race of the afternoon, a two mile three furlongs’ handicap chase. 

Lambourn trainer Sam Thomas giving a leg up to his old weighing room pal Jamie Moore on Jamrham. 

Off at 9/2  the horse took on the race two out and pulled away from second placed horse Micquus by eight lengths to claim the prize.

Jamrham No7

‘I’m made up for Sammy to get a winner today, I’ve missed him in the weighing room as I have known him for a long time, so I’m pleased to see him here today.’

The trainer not long moved to Upper Lambourn mentioned,’ We seem to be learning as we go on, moving to Lambourn has been the right move there is so much going on there and this one should be one to have fun with if we keep performing in the way he has been today,but you just forget how much you don’t know how a horse works when you’re riding, training opens your eyes to so many aspects of the industry.'

‘I’m made up for Sammy to get a winner today, I’ve missed him in the weighing room.'

Again, from the home of Jump racing, Lambourn trainer Dominic Ffrench Davis sent out 8/1 shot Whatthebutlersaw, Mark Grant on board to beat favourite Shaddai by four lengths. 

The seven-year-old gelding stayed on well up the finish and take on the favourite Shaddaii in his second win from ten starts.

Shaddaii,Whatthebutlersaw,Kingston Mimosa

‘This horse could do with going a little further really,’ mentioned the jockey. ‘The race suited him really as they went on and then stopped in front of him, so he has outstayed them really, but he is sure to win again.’

The Arcadio gelding seemed to have needed his run a month back at Exeter and has shown to have come on from that. 

Note would have to be taken if this one comes out over more of a trip and would be one to highlight.

A good win for a small trainer, not a festive jumper in sight though, most having their fill from bumper packed seven race card before Christmas.

Whatthebutlersaw

Next jumping here at Fontwell on a busy Boxing day meeting, all to be blogged by.

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