Green has girl power on Fontwell's Ladies' Night

The upand-coming rider made it five wins from nine starts on the track with a success on 7/1 favourite Dorset Naga for trainer Anthony Honeyball in the ABP Port of Southampton Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Thousands of race-goers poured through the gates foe one of Fontwell’s biggest meetings of the year and its first card for two months.

Ladies got out their best outfits in the hope of winning the £2,000 prize for being best-dressed.

The market leaders were not far from the winner’s enclosure all night.

Nick Scholfield, one of Fontwell’s most consistent performers this year, took the Yeomans Honda Handicap Hurdle on 13/8 favourite On The Bridge.

The favourites were also second or third in three other contests, including the Courtesan Boutique, Worthing, West Sussex Handicap Hurdle, won in superb style thanks to a late charge to the front by Brendan Powell junior riding The Lemonpie (6/1) for his dad Brendan senior.

The meeting got off to the perfect start for trainer Tim Vaughan - who had a four-timer at the corresponding fixture last year - when he saw Michael Byrne take the Q Hair And Beauty 40th Anniversary Novices’ Hurdle on 9/2 shot Ivan Vasilevich.

Kevin Jones rode Zhukov (17/2) first over the line in the Anthony Ward-Thomas Master Remover Handicap Chase.

There was some familiar Sussex success for trainer/rider pairing Gary Moore and son Jamie with Gigondas (12/1) in the House of Q Hair And Beauty Juvenile Hurdle.

The last, the Northover Fuels Home Heating Oils, Sussex Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race, went to Jack Quinlan on 6/1 chance Petie McSweetie.

Fontwell’s next meeting is another Thursday evening card, on August 30.

Reaction and pictures from Fontwell Park’s Ladies’ Night ... in the Observer next week (August 23).

STEVE BONE