By Peter Moore at Fontwell Park Monday 17th March 2025
Local trainer Gary Moore continued in his impressive recent form by making it 11 winners from his last 42 runners after completing a double on St. Patrick’s Raceday at Fontwell Park on Monday.
On a day for the Irish it was appropriate that the two winners from the Moore’s yard are both Irish bred.
Diplomatic Ash got the ball rolling in the second race of the day after backing up his previous course win 11 days ago to take the 2m 1 ½ f handicap chase by 1 ¾ lengths from A Moments Madness.
The ease in the ground certainly benefited the six-year-old as it did for Edward Sexton in the bumper who had been placed at both Sandown and Kempton before getting the better of Catchintsavo for rider David Dunsdon.
The pairing of Jamie Snowden and Gavin Sheehan has been working to perfection this season with Snowden already training 50 winners.
Dwight K Schrute made it 51 with another super ride from Sheehan who had the six-year-old nicely in the mix before pulling away from the fast finishing Twist Of Fatecatch.
The father and son double act of Martin and Freddie Keighley struck again with bottom weight Continuance taking the 2m 1 ½ f handicap hurdle.
The four-year-old led all the way and displayed an excellent round of jumping to win by a cosy 7 ½ lengths.
There was an exciting finish to the BetGoodwin Best Ofds Guaranted Handicap Hurdle with Military Tycoon just getting up on the line from Ivane to score for the Neil Mulholland yard.
Robert Walford enjoys raiding the smaller tracks with a successful strike rate which continued when Leading Swoop prevailed in the penultimate race on the card.
The nine-year-old has been placed in all his four visits to the Sussex track this season without getting his head in front.
Today was his day as he broke his maiden victory by winning from Elpologreg by 1 ½ lengths.