Day to remember for father and son Gillard at Plumpton


By Peter Moore at Plumpton Monday 21st October 2024

Father and Son combination Mark and Fergus Gillard teamed up for a 155-1 double with victories for Clinton lane and Kilcummin on an afternoon of continuous rain at Plumpton on Monday afternoon.

Trainer Mark saddled Clinton Lane to victory in the opener on the card, defying top weight to hold on by a neck from the Chris Gordon trained Goodwin face.

The team were back in the winners enclosure again after landing the Mighty Trotter Handicap Hurdle over 2m. The four-year-old went two lengths clear approaching the last before a mistake saw the horse just manage to hold off the challenge of Saligo Bay.

With the withdrawal of a couple of horses due to the ground, the 2m 3 and a half furlong Nick Embiricos Memorial Handicap Chase- the race, named in honour of the owner of the 1981 Grand National hero Aldaniti, was the highlight of the Bob Champion Cancer Trust day, but was left with just three runners to contest the first prize of £7,000. There was little to choose between the experienced War Lord and Menaggio approaching the last before a blunder from the nine-year-old War Lord allowed Menaggio on his chasing debut to take advantage to pull clear to win by nine lengths for Banbury Castle trainer Alan King.

Paul Nicholls sent two fancied horses down to Plumpton with good chances for both Roman Roy and Touquet. Roman Roy started a long odds on shot in the opener but ran green to finish well behind eventual winner Clifton lane.

Despite Roman Roy’s defeat,  Nicholls had some compensation when Touquet overcame greenness to storm seven lengths clear in the other division of the 2m novice hurdle.

Tapley, was a popular winner for Littlehampton trainer Suzy Smith in the Bet Goodwin Handicap Hurdle over 2m.

The seven-year-old, owned by the Plumpton Party, produced a flawless display of jumping to win comfortably from Man Of The Sea by four and a quarter lengths.

To round of a successful day for Sussex trainers, Nick, the son of Josh Gifford saddled River Tyne to win the penultimate race on the card.