Comfortable win for Not Never
Fontwell Park had perfect conditions for jump racing at this popular track on Monday January 14 when a good crowd enjoyed competitive racing at this highly popular West Sussex racourse with fine facilities.
The opening handicap hurdle race, over two miles three furlongs, was won by Not Never, sent out by Horsham trainer Gary Moore, and ridden by son Jamie. This seven-year-old chestnut gelding had been useful on the Flat but has been even better over jumps, since transferred to handicap hurdles.
He was in fine form at Fontwell when taking the race comfortably, beating runner-up Wind Place and Sho, trained by James Eustace at and ridden by Kielan Woods. Third place went to Rough Night, sent out by Alex Hales, based at Edgecote.
Trainer Oliver Sherwood was delighted with the win in the Maiden Hurdle Race by six-yearold bay mare Millarville, ridden by Aiden Coleman.
He revealed the mare had suffered from a soft palate, which had been cauterised successfully.
“Aiden held her up early on and she jumped the last well,” he said.
Bryony Frost continues to impress as a jockey and she was in fine form in the handicap steeplechase over three miles two furlongs, partnering Midnight Bliss, a 5-1 shot, to a half-length victory. The winner is trained by Caroline Fryer at Wymondam. Runner-up Cucklington ridden by Harry Cobden for trainer Colin Tizzard was sent off favourite and Robinroyale (Johnny Farrelly and Tom Cannon, was third.
The Maiden Hurdle race over two miles and three furlongs saw a field of 12 runners take part and an unfortunate incident at the start saw some long-priced results.
The 1/2 favourite French bred Umndeni, trained by Philip Hobbs and ridden by Richard Johnson, was bumped into at the start, unseating Johnson. 66-1 shot, My Destiny, which won by a nose, was trained by Brendan Powell at Upper Lambourn and ridden by Brendan Powell Junior.
Colin Tizzard’s Carrick Road, owned by Brocade Racing with Harry Cobden up, was the unfortunate runner up, beaten only by a nose, while Crossley Tender was third, trained by Paul Henderson and ridden by Nick Scholfield.
The two mile three furlongs handicap chase was comfortably won by Night Of Sin, sent off at 3-1, trained by Nick Williams and ridden by Harry Cobden.
The final race, a handicap hurdle, was won well by the 10030 favourite, Sky Full of Stars, a nine-year-old gelding trained by Chris Gordon and ridden by Tom Cannon.