Magnificent seven wow the Fontwell crowds

BUMPER crowds rewarded Fontwell Park's excellent seven-race programme on Sunday and they were treated to a superb day out.

Top trainer Paul Nicholls fielded nine runners at the meeting but he certainly did not have everything his own way.

He came away with just two winners: Alfie Sherrin in the opening novice hurdle, and Royal Auclair, whose presence in The Fuller's London Pride Foxhunters Trial was undoubtedly responsible for the low entry of only six runners in this amateur riders' event.

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Highlight of the day was the National Spirit Hurdle Race, for which Fontwell is renowned. Lough Derg, ridden by Tom Scudamore was the popular winner of the race for the second successive year.

Straw Bear, trained at Findon by Nick Gifford and ridden by Tony McCoy, had looked a big danger, looming up around the bottom turn and a major contender approaching the final flight, but appeared to tire on the uphill run to the finish.

For full story see Sussex Horse World, West Sussex Gazette February 25

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