By Peter Moore at Sandown Park 8th December 2023
The Skelton family Brother Harry and Dan took the honours on Betfair Tingle Creek Friday day at Sandown Park.
The duo completed a double on a day of high class jump racing with a healthy crowd in attendance.
Harry Skelton was on board Mount Tempest in the second race of the afternoon a 2m handicap steeple chase. The gelding who was wearing blinkers for the first time was victorious under Skelton to beat Greenrock Abbey by one and a half lengths.
Thirty minutes later Skelton picked up his and Dan’s second winner of the meeting when Deafening Silence won the 2m 3f novice hurdle race at the odds of 6-1 with Insurrection in second place.
The opening race on the card was won by the odds on favourite Castelfort under David Noonan for trainer Jane Williams.
The three year old followed up his fine second at Chepstow 55 days ago with victory over Ithaca’s Arrow by a head after a photo finish.
The main race of the day the Betfair Esher Novices Steeple Chase over3m went to the Paul Nicholls trained Stay Away Fay who won the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival back in March.
The six year old followed up his season debut win at Exeter a month ago with a superb round of jumping to outlast Giovinco by a length and a half.
The small yard of Suzy Smith won the Betfair Exchange Handicap Steeple Chase with Gavin Sheehan on board the seven year old Animal.
Sheehan who yesterday had a 14 day non-trier ban overturned had a super ride on the gelding to win by four and a half lengths from the Emma Lavelle trained My Silver Lining.
The final race of the afternoon went to the Jim Boyle trained Classic Anthem who was making his handicap debut.