Kempton and Fontwell

With the weather not getting any better more and more meetings got postponed due to bad racing conditions, luckily Kempton went ahead so thats where we will start.

The Grade 2 Pendil Novices Chase, this saw Commanche Red go off favourite, he was looking to record back to back wins at Kempton after winning well on Boxing Day. Master Tommytucker led throughout the race jumping well, hoping to do better than he did last time here were he fell. Unfortunately that wasn’t to be the case as he fell once again when holding a 2 length lead, hampering Pistol Whipped in the process. Turning in for home with 3 to jump it was between Who Dares Wins and Southfield Stone, they were neck and neck up the run in, with Southfield Stone just having his grey head in front jumping the last. But it was Who Dares Wins who landed with the momentum and ran on well to win by 3/4s of a length. He’s been a brilliant horse for connections over the years having now won over fences as well as hurdles and on the flat.

The Adonis hurdle was next, last season won by Fusil Raffles, the same owners had another short priced one for this renewal with Fujimoto Flyer. But this was was ultimately about one horse and that was the Paul Nicholls trained Solo. He disputed the lead with Fantastic Ms Fox, till Harry Cobden decided to take it up after the 4th. Turning in for home with 2 to jump he easily kicked clear leaving Fujimoto Flyer to try and chase him home, but she was never catching him. He went on the score eased down by 13 lengths. This was an impressive performance which saw him go from 14/1 for the Triumph straight into 3/1 top of the market. He will definitely have a say come Cheltenham as the race could suit with the the 3 strong front runners, but I’d still be fancying Allmankind to get the job done.

Next was the rescheduled Kingwell Hurdle, Ch’tibello was looking to make it 3rd time lucky in this race having finished 2nd twice previously. It looked like it could well be his day, travelling well before getting stuck in on the rails turning for home. He managed to get clear and started to chase the leader Diego Du Charmil up the run in. Eventually neither of them was the winner as Song For Someone who looked outpaced 2 out rallied well under Aidan Coleman to get up on the line and win by 1/2 a length.

The final Grade 2 of the day was the Dovecote Novice hurdle, this saw the Nicky Henderson trained Buzz go off a short price favourite, but he could only finish 4th in the end. The winner was the Chris Gordon trained Highway One O Two who has now made it 3 from 3 over hurdles. He raced keenly making all before pulling clear in the home straight. Being chased home by West Cork who couldn’t get any closer and winning by 4 3/4 lengths.

The last race I’m gonna talk about at Kempton is the Betway Handicap Chase, the race was won by Colin Tizzard’s Mister Malarky who managed to get his first win out of novice company. He was always with the leaders before Jonjo O’Neill Jr made his move at the 14th kicking clear approaching the last. He was chased home by the Nicholls pair in the ever reliable Black Corton who finished 2nd under top weight and Sametegal. It was nice to see Mister Malarky get back to winning ways even though my money was on Black Corton. 

At Sunday at Fontwell Grand Sancy got off the mark over fences as would of been expected being the 1/5 favourite, he made all and jumped well to win easily under Sam Twiston-Davies.

Next was the National Spirit Hurdle there was a little bit of drama at the start with Quel Destin seeming to get spooked by the tapes going up and jinking away, but he soon recovered and tracked the leaders who were Thomas Darby and William Henry. William Henry soon became outpaced and fell back to last after 3 out, leaving Thomas Darby and Quel Destin to dispute it. The pair pulled well clear with 2 to jump as Quel Destin started to come out on top, going a length up over the last. But he and Thomas Darby then looked to have no more to give and kept on at the same pace. All of this allowed William Henry to swoop late on and take up the lead at the line. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this weeks blog, weather permitting we will be back again next week to cover Doncaster, Newbury and Kelso.