Winner comes into Vision for an impressive finish in richest race
It could be next stop Cheltenham for Fontwell’s big-race winner – and a number of other victors could be festival-bound too.
Tom Scudamore guided Vision Des Flos to victory in the £80,000 National Spirit Hurdle on a sunny afternoon when a large crowd saw Fontwell at its very best.
The Colin Tizzard-trained six-year-old (7/2) was a lengthand-a-half winner of the track’s richest race of the year – beating past winners Old Guard and Lil Rockerfeller in the process.
Lil Rockerfeller, the 2016 winner, looked to be in with a chance – leading on the final circuit but ending third behind 13/8 favourite If The Cap Fits. The Jeremy Kyleowned Old Guard, the 2018 winner, was fourth.
Vision Des Flos was immediately made 14/1 by Paddy Power for the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, having been 20/1 before this victory, which kept up a fine record in the race for the Scudamore family.
Delighted Tizzard said of his winner’s Cheltenham options: “I’ll leave him in the Champion Hurdle in case there aren’t many left in but I’d think he’ll go for the Coral Cup.
“Two and a half miles is fine for him, he’s just been getting outpaced by the likes of Buveur D’air and Grand Sancy last week. He’s had trouble with his wind and he’s run three times in a month so should be fit for Cheltenham.
“Two miles was a bit sharp around Wincanton for him last time. The fitter he is, the better he will get. He stayed on well – he travelled really well.”
Winning jockey Scudamore said: “He deserved that as he has been running good races against top horses. He only had 2lb to find with If The Cap Fits and he travelled well. It’s been a good race for the family as I have won it three times now and dad (Peter) won it twice as well.”
Earlier the Josh Gifford Memorial Novices’ Chase, was won by Nico de Boinville on evens favourite Whatswrongwithyou, with the trophy presented by training legend Josh’s Findonbased trainer son Nick.
Whatswrongwithyou could be seen again in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham.
The Fontwell meeting, run in lovely spring sunshine in front of a crowd of 2,000plus, opened with the Guido James Zammit Handicap Chase going to 11/1 shot Kings Monarch, ridden by Jamie Moore for Kerry Lee.
The Netbet Boosts Novices’ Hurdle was won by Oliver Sherwood-trained Tarada (9/4) under Leighton Aspell.
Paul Nicholls had success in the Netbet Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Hurdle when Bryony Frost rode Ostuni (4/1) to a comfortable eight-length victory.
Nicholls completed a double when Hugos Other Horse (9/4) won a thrilling Netbet Betmaker Maiden Open National Hunt Flat Race with in-form Harry Cobden on board.
Shantou Flyer, a 10//11 favourite, lived up to his name with a 35-length win in the Netbet Open Hunters’ Chase for David Maxwell and trainer Richard Hobson. He is likely to go in the Foxhunters’ Chase at Cheltenham.
Next up at Fontwell is an afternoon card next Wednesday (March 6).