FONTWELL PARK EVENING MEETING 6TH JUNE 2017

On ground ranging form good to good to soft on both hurdle and chase tracks Fontwell park put forward seven races for an attendance that really is not justice for a friendly, entertaining racecourse set in the Sussex countryside. Fair enough the summer weather or for the past few days lack of it is not helping, but some good opening season summer National Hunt racing was on offer, to keep those into the jumping game well fed for their sport.

The first race a seven runner conditional handicap hurdle over the two miles five furlongs saw Linda Jewell's Kayflin take the race by half a length from Neil Mulhollands willyegolassiego, the 11/4 favorite.

Kayflin

' A lot of questions have been answered, the rain has helped her a bit and the shorter distance and they went off a a slow pace turning into a sprint at the end.' mentioned the stable representative. 'She was very eager to get on with it today which was a good sign.'
The finished caused the stewards to look at the nine year olds eagerness to come across to the stand side, but felt this did not hamper the Mulholland horse enough to cost her the race.
The stable mentioned that chasing would not possibly be the mares game as she is a bit of a nervous type, but time will tell, certainly over the hurdles with a bit of a cut in the ground she could be one to note.

Three runners for the next a two miles one furlong novices chase. Paul Nicholls sending Black Corton to post the  2/9 favorite. Tracking the leaders for most of the way Sam Twiston-Davies just had the one mistake from the six year old to contend with around the figure of eight track.

Black Corton

'He was set in a beautiful rhythm all the way really, really stretching over his fences, the one little mistake came as I asked him to put in a big one,' mentioned the jockey.'He is a very clever horse and hopefully we can put a little sequence of races in for him throughout the summer.'
Seven lengths separated the the winner from second placed Remind me later from the Gary Moore yard, which would say to me this horse may pick up an early autumn decent novice race as the season continues. One to certainly watch and follow i would say.

'Hopefully we an put a little sequence of races in for him throughout the summer.'

Again the favorite came in fine style in the two mile five furlong novices hurdle Colin Tizzard sent Tempestatefloresco off at 8/13, Harry Cobden on board.

'He was probably the best horse in the race and has got his win really well, he has had a good bit of work today to keep him sweet and it wouldn't surprise me if he went back over the fences next time out, but today we have kept his interest up, kept him sharp for a nice race next time.'
The nine year old able over both disciplines looks like the type that would relish  the win and one certainly to take note of next time out. Beating the second placed horse by thirteen lengths, Harry Fry's Steel Bob, who himself has two wins from five outings but unable to justify top weight on this evening outing.

Tempestatefloresco off at 8/13, Harry Cobden on board.

 The five year olds and upwards Handicap chase over the two miles five furlongs saw again the favorite storm home by a good distance, Sonofpresenting out of the Kim Bailey yard ridden by David Bass off at 15/8 took his third race from nine starts the gelding by Presenting  backed up his last win at Market Rasen back in September 2016 with a eight length win from the Gary Moore's Jay Are.
'The ground was just right for him really, and he was fresh and well and in the end has taken the race in good form, he has come in  a bit bigger and stronger than last year so was impressed with his improvement, he a type that will need time and to be fair his owners will allow him that.'
Not uncommon for Presenting offspring that, but his prodigy certainly ones that have good success in chases. Again one to note I feel.

Sonofpresenting

The bookmakers, like the weather having a rather gloomy time of it at Fontwell, had a touch of a bright spell as 20/1 shot Moon Trip  from the Geoffrey Deacon yard took  the distance three mile one furlong handicap hurdle by eight lengths from Bostin from the Daniel O'Brien yard.

Moon Trip

Ridden by Dave crosse who mentioned,'He is an old flat horse that has to be on a going day, today was that day, it's the first time I have ridden him and I watched his last run with Mark Grant on board, he gave him a bit of room in the race which is the way to ride him.' The eight year old with five wins from thirty eight runs, most of them on the flat seemed to jump well, though Crosse mentioned the bends of the figure of eight track he found a little more of a challenge.

'He is an old flat horse that has to be on a going day, today was that day,'

Only three runners for the final race over obstacle's for the evening, and it was back in with the favorites when Jeremy Scott's Day of Roses swooped in with an eleven length win over Golden Investment from the Donald McCain yard.
Ridden by Nick Schofield the eight year old on his tenth run made most of his 4/7 price as he claimed his second win.

Carrying 10 st 12 lbs, the other two runners off a 12 st mark the gelding was happy to sit and wait before pouncing four out to take the race on.
'To be fair the other two off a heavier weight on this ground found it hard to compete with the weight they were giving us and that has paid in our favor, he may struggle after today i should reckon though.
The handicapper will more likely hike this one up another 7 lbs for his win which will test the horse off his next mark, but the second win at the Sussex course in a matter of a fortnight will give his owners some cheer if he cannot find more off a higher weight.
Time will tell, but one maybe to watch the next time out.

Day of Roses

The final race of the evening was the  two mile one National Hunt flat race, nine to post and the evening ending with a cheer for the long odds backers.
Amanda Perrett's Annie Angle going off the 8/15 favorite beaten into third place four length behind the 33/1 shot winner Liz's Dream from the Laura Mongan yard, ridden by Josh Moore.

The lad of the winner jubilant in saying to all how he was sure before the off 33-1 was a generous price for a filly going so well at home.

The Dick Turpin four year old filly ridden out in the final furlong managed to get her nose in front of second placed horse White Valiant, the lad of the winner jubilant in saying to all how he was sure before the off 33-1 was a generous price for a filly going so well at home.
The Epsom based trainer who last year trained Harbour Law to win the St Ledger, the first female trainer to do so mentioned,' She is a really nice filly, she has done nothing wrong at home and now on the racecourse, fingers crossed she can go on, we haven't put her over any obstacles as of yet but we'll take her home, see how she comes out of the race and go from there, but at the moment i can ask nothing more of her.'
The family behind the filly certainly likes the cut in the ground and with hopes high on this one would be one to watch. The trainer not shy of the big races and Fontwell with a good reputation of debutante bumper horses, Cue Card winning his first race at the course, this one is to be watched for sure.

Liz's Dream
WWW.MJAYPHTOGRAPHY.CO.UK

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY AFTERNOON EIGHT AT ROYAL WINDSOR

Eight races at Windsor on a Monday afternoon  treat for the punters attending the Berkshire racecourse.
The weather as anyone would expect not the greatest for a Bank Holiday meeting, but the races certainly did it's best to cheer up a gloomy sort of a day.

The first race an auction race over six furlongs eleven went to post, and as it was time for a picnic, the Picnic partnership picked up a three length win with Optimum Time from Zabletaswansong out of the Richard Hannon yard.
The maiden winner coming from the Eve Johnson-Houghton yard was ridden into the middle of the course from a furlong out by Charles Bishop who said.

The maiden winner coming from the Eve Johnson-Houghton yard was ridden into the middle of the course

'He is a horse we like a lot at home, and I was quietly confident we would get the win today, I had to pull out to the middle as I was bit worried we would get stuck. But he will come on from that for sure, we just don't know how good he is yet.'
The yard who have been in good form lately are happy with the progression of this young colt by Manduro, and look like a horse that would act of most types of surface, the trainer mentioning that the Chesham stakes at Royal Ascot could be the test for the two year old, time will tell, but one certainly to note.

Optimum Time

Ten runners to post for the next race, a five furlong dash for maidens.
Favorite Fair Cop off at 9/4 out of the Andrew Balding yard, Andrew Probert on board took the race running on well in the final stages to take the race by a couple of lengths from Beck and call and Fergus Sweeney.
The three year old by Exceed and Excel may have hung a little off the rail but looked a good type, jockey Probert mentioning.

Fair Cop

'She has got away with the softer ground today, but like her family she has a lot of speed to her credit, she has a good attitude to her work also so she will progress from this for sure.'
The filly on her third run has acted mostly on the firm going, apart from her maiden outing on the all weather, and got the job done well on a more testing surface that would give more power to her elbow.
The trainer mentioned that drop drop back to the five furlongs had suited the filly well and would be one to take care on for the future, coming from a master that has a few 'nice ones' in at present his words should be taken very readily.

'She has got away with the softer ground today, but like her family she has a lot of speed to her credit,'

Five runners went to post for the one mile three furlongs fillies handicap. Turning the Tables from the Dave Simcock yard bidding for back to back wins at the Berkshire course going down at 4/6 favorite.

Coming back up the course, a different matter in the softer ground finishing tailed off. The winner Perfect Summer trained by Ian Williams and ridden by Richard Kingscote winning her fifth race from thirty four starts.

' From four out I didn't think she could win, the others had a bit more toe than my filly,' mentioned the jockey. 'But as we went on, the others stopped and my girl found a little bit more, but she liked the ground and I know she stays so I rode her at the start with that in mind.'

Possibly not going to get the ground for this High Chaparral filly for a while yet, but if we do get a deluge and the going changes, this filly entered, it may be one to take note.

Perfect Summer trained by Ian Williams and ridden by Richard Kingscote

Back to the sprinters, this time for the qualifier for the Windsor sprint series championships held at the course in August.

Robert Cowell sending 4/1 three year old Evergate to post under the steerage of Kieran O'Neil.

Again by Exceed and Excel the three year old off one win from ten starts took on the race in final stages well ridden by O'Neill who mentioned,' He tried hard for me today despite hanging a little for me at the start. But he has done that well for me and you can ask for nothing more really.'

The gelding with more seconds to his name than wins, if going for the finale of the series would have to bring his A game to the table, but with the £12'000 handicap up for grabs certainly has earnt his corn taking the qualifier for sure.

 Evergate

With already one winner in the bag in the opening race, and another at Leicester. Eve Johnson-Houghton sent Toulson to post the 6/4 favorite for the  one mile two furlong handicap.
Ridden again by Charles Bishop the four year old Champs Elysees gelding was hard ridden in the final furlong to beat Get back in Paris out of the Richard Hughes yard  by a head.

Winner Toulson (right)   second place Getback in Paris (left)

'It was a bit of a messy race really, and they have started coming back to us just after the racecourse junction,' Mentioned the jockey.' They have gone a good pace for this progressive horse, fingers crossed he could be something nice for the future.'
The trainer mentioned the horse didn't really go in the ground but had done enough to get his head in front.
Note should be taken that the jockey had said the horse is a progressive type, and could be something special. With horses flying out of the Oxfordshire yard of Johnson-Houghton at present would be one to note

' Fingers crossed he could be something nice for the future.' Mentioned Charles Bishop

John Gallagher trained the winner of the six furlong handicap, five year old Major Pusey under Fergus Sweeney took his fourth win from twenty five starts.

The gelding who seems to like the softer going last win was at headquarters last June made all of the running pulling well clear of the field from the two furlong pole beating Bahamian Dollar by two lengths. 

Major Pusey

'The handicapper has treated him well for this race really,'mentioned Sweeney.'He has appreciated getting his toe in the ground at this weight and I have ridden him like he was going to stay, but he has done that well today and paid up in the trainers confidence in him.'

Not a great deal of market movement for the son of Major Cadeaux, off at 10/1 from 11/1  which would show the confidence in him with recent form. A good win for sure for the Gallagher yard, conditions would have to be favorable I feel for a repeat performance.

Major Pusey under Fergus Sweeney took his fourth win from twenty five starts.

The penultimate race of the evening was a mile handicap split into two divisions, the first of those  going to the yard of John Best with a three year old by Dream ahead, Chance to Dream.

Only on his fourth run, the gelding under the steerage of Kieran Fox stayed on well in the final furlong after tracking the leaders for most of the distance.

'He is a big type of horse and has taken time to come into himself,he has had a bad draw so i have had to tuck him in but we have had a bit of luck and pricked his ears at the line.'

The three year old only getting up to beat Badenscroft and the 2/1 favorite Rita's Man by a length and a half, the trainer mentioning,' he's a nice horse and we have always like him, never flashy at home but he has good stride to him, he has gradually improved and still I feel got more to come.' The horse would possibly not be out again until the ground is to his liking, but the trainer is confident he will improve and on the softer ground must be one to take note of.

The three year old Chance to Dream only getting up to beat Badenscroft

The second division Rod Millman and William Carson took the race by a short head on 5/2 favorite Sir Plato.

Two wins from eight starts the Sir Prancealot three year old just managed to hold on from taking the race up from three furlongs out with a spirited run from Peloton ridden by Kieran O'Neil.

'I have probably gone a bit too soon on him to be fair, his last win here when Oisin was on him he allowed him to go on, but he has gone up since then , hopefully he won't go up too much after this win and for sure he'd be competitive around here again.'

The handicapper may not take too much notice of his tight win and towards the end of the Windsor season when the ground can get on the softer side in October would be one to note.

Sir Plato (right) takes up the race from second place Peloton (left)

WWW.MJAYPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK

BERKS & BUCKS AND STAFF COLLEGE & RMAS DRAGHOUNDS MEETING AT KINGSTON BLOUNT 28TH MAY

Finally after a busy week I have managed to get my blog/podcasts published from the last meeting in at Kingston Blount for the 2017.

Six races on offer on a track that still looked good from it's Anglo-Irish meeting a few days previous.

The first race the hunts members race only saw one horse declared Merrydown  Vintage from the Phil York yard. Phil stood down by the doctors after a fall at Dingley the day before, rode the horse at this meeting last year to notch up his 300th winner gave the ride up to Chris Dennington.

We chat to Chris about his season after the race.
https://soundcloud.com/mark-pugh-850602593/chris-dennington-on-his-season-and-win-on-merrydown-vintage-at-kingston-blount-28-5-18

Chris Dennington on Merrydown  Vintage 

The next race was a 2 mile 5 furlong novice riders race. Nine year old Creepy trained  by Claire Hardwick and ridden by Charlie Dee took the race by 7 lengths from Ravethebrave the evens money fav.
Listen to what the jockey has to say about the horse and his season.
https://soundcloud.com/mark-pugh-850602593/charlie-dee-on-his-win-on-creepy-in-the-ppora-members-race-race-kingston-blount-28-5-17

Creepy trained  by Claire Hardwick and ridden by Charlie Dee

Jack Andrews on Dynamo Frankie took the Intermediate from the Martin Wanless yard.

We have a chat with Jack about the 10 year old and his reflection on his 20th winner of the season.
https://soundcloud.com/mark-pugh-850602593/jack-andrews-on-his-win-on-dynamo-frankie-in-the-intermediate-race-kingston-blount-28-5-17

Jack Andrews on Dynamo Frankie

A good attendance a fine and warm Sunday afternoon saw only two go to post for the mixed open. Breaking the Bank from the Sarah Case stable and Little Legend from Cynthia Woods yard.

It was the 8 year old Breaking the Bank that took his fourth race on the bounce under Charlie case. We manage to chat to Mum and son Sarah and Charlie after they received their prize.
https://soundcloud.com/mark-pugh-850602593/sarah-charlie-case-after-breaking-the-bank-wins-the-mixed-open-race-kingston-blount-28-5-17

Breaking the Bank from the Sarah Case stable, ridden by her son Charlie Case














A few more runners, seven to be exact in the penultimate race of the afternoon the Restricted.
Nick Meek riding the 6 year old The Drone the 5/2 fav took the race by four lengths from Claire Hardwick on Brake Hill.

The Drone took the race by four lengths from Claire Hardwick on Brake Hill.

We have a chat to Nick about this promising horse for next season after the race.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pugh-850602593/nick-meek-jockey-after-the-drone-wins-the-restricted-race-kingston-blount-28-5-17

The final race of the afternoon was a seven runner open maiden. This was taken by a bold front running performance by Thyne for Ruda, ridden by Evan David and trained by Andrew Pennock.

Thyne for Ruda

I have a chat to both trainer and jockey after the race, about a horse with an interesting story from it's last outing at Dingley.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pugh-850602593/andrew-pennock-evan-david-as-thyne-for-ruda-wins-the-open-maiden-race-kingston-blount-28-5-17

Thyne for Ruda,  Evan David and  Andrew Pennock.

LISTEN TO MORE PODCASTS AND BLOGS AT

WWW.MJAYPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK

ANGLO-IRISH CHALLENGE POINT TO POINT KINGSON BLOUNT 26 TH MAY 017

The teams for the Anglo-Irish Challenge

Christmas comes but once a year, also the Anglo Irish challenge meeting a feast of top point to point riders from Ireland and Great Britain battle it out over four races.
Two teams, each containing four girls and four boys from the amateur ranks.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pugh-850602593/alex-edwardsclaire-hardwickire-ladies-team-derek-oconnor-tabitha-worsley

We start by having a chat to Alex Edwards

Claire Hardwick

The Irish ladies and Derek O'Connor

and Tabitha Worsley

All in anticipation to get on with the four races to hand.

The first event was taken by the Irish and Derek O'Connor riding for Alan Hill on Hunters Lodge

  Listen as we chat with Derek after the race.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pugh-850602593/derek-oconnor-after-winning-hunters-lodge-mens-conditions-race-anglo-irish-meeting

Gabby Hill leads up her new project Hunters Lodge

The ladies up next and Maxine O'Sullivan takes the ladies Open  on Martin Weston's 

 Cut the Corner.

 

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pugh-850602593/maxine-osullivan-after-winning-on-cut-the-corner-in-the-ladies-open-race-anglo-irish-meeting

We have a chat to Maxine after the race and with the Irish winning half of the challenge so far give an update of the scores.

 Maxine O'Sullivan takes the ladies Open  on Martin Weston's 

 Cut the Corner.

The 2 mile 5 furlong 4,5,6 year olds maiden was taken in fine style by Francesca Moller's  Ka Maresco, ridden by the one of the great amateurs riding Jamie Codd

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pugh-850602593/jamie-codd-after-winning-on-ka-maresco-in-the-456-year-olds-maiden-race-anglo-irish-meeting

Listen as we chat to Jamie about the challenge and his winning ride at Kingston Blount.

Francesca Moller's  Ka Maresco, ridden by  Jamie Codd

A clean sweep for the Irish with the winners for the evening.

Liz Lalor rides Harris Garden for Alan Hill, a double training achievement to the hard working trainer who has put major work into getting a team together and producing this evenings event.

We chat to the jockey Liz Lalor.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pugh-850602593/liz-lalor-after-winning-on-harris-garden-in-the-ladies-intermediate-race-anglo-irish-meeting

 And to the trainer Alan Hill after the event.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pugh-850602593/interview-with-alan-hill-after-the-anglo-irish-meeting-at-kingston-blount-26517

Liz Lalor rides Harris Garden for Alan Hill

So listen to the final scores for the day.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pugh-850602593/7-after-the-event-anglo-irish-meeting-kingston-blount-26517

We also have a chat to Richard Pugh who puts together the Irish side of the challenge about the meeting and it's progression, Irish Pointing and some young Irish jockeys to watch.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pugh-850602593/interview-with-richard-pugh-after-the-irish-winning-anglo-irish-meeting-at-kingston-blount-26517

Don't forget you can listen to Podcasts from the entire season of pointing, with a possible few more to come at

WWW.MJAYPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK