WILTSHIRE trainer Neil King scored the biggest win of his training career when his five-year-old hurdler Lil Rockerfeller won his first Graded race at Fontwell yesterday, when taking the National Spirit Hurdle in tremendous style, ridden intelligently by Trevor Whelan.

He waited until he had cleared the second last obstacle before drawing clear and sending him on to win by nine lengths from Ubak, trained by Gary Moore and ridden by son Joshua.

National Spirit Hurdle winner Lil Rockerfeller with connections in the winner’s spot Photo: Jeannie Knight

Previous winners of this two mile three furlong £80,000 Grade Two race in recent years have included the French top hurdler Baracouda ( Francois Doumen  2001) and My Way De Solzen ( Alan King 2006).

The five-year-old has progressed well winning four races since he has been sent out in cheekpieces. Neil King was delighted with this victory, worth over £45,000 for connections and said:” “Trevor gave him a smashing ride and he won it nicely. This horse takes his racing well so we will certainly now think about Cheltenham, though he could go to either Aintree or Punchestown.”

There was a disappointing entry for the opening Josh Gifford Memorial Novices Steeplechase. Despite a total prize fund of £20,000, the track in good condition and the going soft, only three horses took part in the race.The only finisher of three in the race was Orbasa, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Noel Fehily.

Nick Gifford and his niece Isabella Cook present the Josh Gifford Cup to the owner of Orbasa Photo: Jeannie Knight

Nick Gifford- and many others- expressed disappointment at the woeful lack of support by trainers for the race in memory of his father, who had both ridden and trained many winners at the track. He presented the trophy, along with his niece Isabelle, his sister Kristina’s daughter, to winning connections of Obasa after the race.

Trained by Lydia Richards, the 11-year-old grey  Venetian Lad is a course and distance winner and had not run for some time because of unsuitable going. But he was as gutsy as ever, and held on to clinch second place from the Gary Moore-trained Golanova, to the delight of his owners.

Venetian Lad following his victory
Photo: Jeannie Knight

The Novices’ Hurdle Race was won by King Cool, sent out by Gary Moore and ridden by son Jamie- and the Horsham trainer believes this horse is a chaser in the making. Minehad trainer Philip Hobbs took the Foxhunter Trial with Mendip Express inder a good ride from amateur rider David Maxwell while trainer Charlie Lonsdon’s Wells De Lune, with Richard Johnson on board was never headed in his easy victory in the handicap hurdle.

The National Hunt Flat Race at the end of the meeting saw an impressive win for 6-1 shot King Uther, ridden by Tom Cannon. This is a nice-looking six-year-old which improved on two previous seconds in bumpers, winning by 23 lengths in this race.

West Sussex veteran point-to-point rider Marcus Gorman, who intends to retire at the end of the season, is hoping to ride another winner at the Crawley and Horsham Point to Point at Parham on Saturday March 12- to add to the numerous victories he has already clocked up.

Marcus will ride The Crafty Butcher in the Hunt Race, trained by his wife Carolyn at their impressive new premises on the outskirts of Dial Post.  He will partner this horse a couple more times this season before finally hanging up his boots.

Marcus Gorman with The Crafty Butcher, his wife Carolyn and son George Photo: Jeannie Knight

The Crafty Butcher, a 16.1hh bay gelding aged nine, has all the right credentials. He was bought from Ireland, where he had been trained by Michael Hourigan, and won almost £60,000 in prize money Under Rules. His outings had also included a run in the Irish Grand National.

Carolyn said: “Hopefully he will be good enough.  You could put a kid on him at home. He has already hunted twice and will hunt twice again before having a week off before the point-to-point meeting. Also I hope to run him at Plumpton at the beginning of May in a 0-130 race over two miles four furlongs if all goes well, when out son George will ride him. He is an easier ride than some of our previous point to pointers,” she added.

George is a conditional jockey under Rules, based with Horsham trainer Gary Moore.  He first made a name for himself in point to points as an amateur with a highly successful partnership between the flags with She’s A Cracker, trained by his mother.

She’s A Cracker, a talented mare,  was sold to Ireland, and the family keeps in touch with the people who bought her, and receive regular updates.

There are extensive facilities at the family’s new base and Carolyn has old point to point  favourites Merry Vic and Cape Stormer under her wing, who have been show jumping and hunting, respectively this year.  Merry Vic was also third in a Retraining of Racehorses  points league.

Marcus Gorman with Frosty Coulthard Z
Photo: Jeannie Knight

Cape Stormer, now 21,  enjoys being active and may turn to show jumping while another horse there, Frosty Coulthard Z ( now 12) is the final member of the team. He previously competed at top level in show jumping taking part in the Sunshine Tour in his younger days.

He is now active again after a lengthy absence, and has been hunting with Marcus, thanks to Jenny Quinn of Chanctonbury Osteopathy who helped Carolyn get him back to fitness.

Meanwhile the Crawley and Horsham Point to Point, which celebrates its 62nd birthday this year, takes place on Saturday March 12, at its splendid track at Parham.

At the point to point on Saturday March 12,  gates open at the track at 11.30pm and three pony races start at 12.15pm with the first horse race of the day at 1.45pm. There will be plenty of exciting racing, food outlets, stalls and other attractions for all the family.

Buy discounted tickets for £13 with free racecard on arrival at track from www.parhamptp.co.uk or on the gate at £15 including racecard. Access to the course will be well signed on the Storrington to Pulborough road and there is plentiful parking,

A NEW pre-training, rest and recuperation centre, predominantly for racehorses, has opened at Angmering Park estate. The new facility is supervised by Graham Mays, whose extensive skills and expertise were honed over the years by the late Lady Herries, who trained a host of exceptional winners.

Graham took over the licence following the sad death of Lady Herries, but the more recent death of her sister Lady Sarah Clutton, left only Lady Mary Mumford as a family owner. Three months ago it was decided that the fine registered facilities should be put to good use to benefit other racehorses.

Angmering Park Stables

The yard itself is superbly maintained and equipped with every possible facility and extensive stabling. There are two associated sets of all weather, downland gallops, the longest of which is 1.5 miles, but the key facility for this new venture is the surrounding land with 300 acres, where several large paddocks, as well as ten individual turnout areas, all with post and rail fencing, are available for use.

It is these multiple big paddocks which offer the ideal turnouts for resting and recuperating horses, or as a pre-training facility, situated as they are in peaceful and private surroundings.

Graham Mays with retired racehorse Laugherne      Photo Jeannie Knight

Owners and trainers have peace of mind because Graham’s extensive skills enable him to deal with individual problems, leg problems and ensure general recuperation for all horses there, giving a perfect solution for owners who don’t have facilities at home for their horses when temporarily out of training.

Racehorses enjoying a winter break in the fine facilities Photo: Jeannie Knight

One successful trainer, whose horses have benefited from the facilities during the winter break in Flat racing is Pulborough-based David Menuisier, who already has an early winner to his credit for 2016.

He said: “These are world-class facilities at Angmering Park. Five of my geldings have enjoyed a winter break there, and one is still there. Everything is spot on. It means horses can put their heads down and graze, benefiting from a relaxing break in excellent surroundings. Not only that but they are given a good brush down every evening and pampered. We are fortunate to have such a fine facility in this area.”

Graham has the back-up of three full-time experienced staff and two who work part-time, as well as experienced secretary Fiona Burness.

Enjoying retirement at Angmering Park- Cotton King ( left) and Hyperion Du Moulin and Photo: Jeannie Knight

Enjoying turnout in a sunny paddock of their own recently were Cotton King, and Hyperion Du Moulin (21), a winner who still holds the two-and-a-quarter mile hurdle record at Fontwell Park- both owned by Lady Mary Mumford.

They are just two thoroughbreds fortunate to enjoy a splendid retirement with top class care in these excellent surroundings. Another is old favourite, Honour High, a winner at Fontwell Park before wind problems forced an early retirement.

Honour High
Photo: Jeannie Knight

Also owned by Lady Mary Mumford, at the age of 14 he is enjoying a happy retirement at the stables where he still leads a happy and active life outside racing-enjoying daily hacks around the estate, hunter trials, hunting and competing in Retrained Racehorse events.

For more information about using these outstanding facilities contact Graham or his secretary Fiona Burgess on 01903 871421

Following the success of last year’s bespoke image, internationally acclaimed photographer Ripley has again been selected by Goodwood Racecourse to produce the portrait for the 2016 Qatar Goodwood Festival campaign.

“Last year was the first year I was involved in creating an image for Goodwood, being the inaugural Qatar Goodwood Festival the image was deliberately anonymous.  It was a case of creating something very distinct due to the change in branding, therefore Goodwood House seemed appropriate for the environment in order to make it clear that it was still “Glorious Goodwood”.

Galileo Gold was chosen for this year’s portrait.  He won the Qatar Vintage Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival in 2015, holding off the Charlie Hills-trained Ibn Malik, to seal his first Group success.  Galileo Gold is owned by Al Shaqab Racing and trained by Hugo Palmer in Newmarket.

Galileo Gold depicted by Fine Art Photographer and Artist Ripley  Copyright Ripley www.ripleyfineart.com

The image captures the poise of this winner perfectly against the backdrop of the Racecourse and the Sussex Downs.  Using a variety of retouching skills, Ripley has created an image that, at first glance, resembles an oil painting.  It only becomes evident on closer inspection that the picture is actually a composite of several photographs.

Trainer Hugo Palmer said:”Galileo Gold’s victory in the Qatar Vintage Stakes was cause for an enormous amount of satisfaction.  He had been purchased by Al Shaqab Racing with the Qatar Vintage Stakes in mind.  He was Al Shaqab’s first runner at the inaugural Qatar Goodwood Festival so it was doubly thrilling for him to become their first winner of what was an enormously successful week for Al Shaqab.

“In the same way that the Qatar Vintage Stakes plan worked out perfectly for Galileo Gold, so too has Ripley’s composition.  He has perfectly captured the horse and the stunning beauty of the Sussex countryside.  The picture particularly reminds me of how much Galileo Gold was maturing when he won at Goodwood.  He has improved physically so much in the months since then and I hope that he will continue to be a flagbearer for Al Shaqab this season and, if things go well for him, I would like to think he will find an opportunity to return to the Qatar Goodwood Festival in 2016.”

About Ripley

Ripley is known for his portraiture, automotive and commercial work, and has photographed celebrities including David Beckham, David Bowie, Coldplay and Lewis Hamilton.  A lifelong animal lover, he started capturing horses three and a half years ago.

“What got me engrossed with horses was their personality and psychology”, Ripley, who undertook a three-month course in equine anatomy at Newmarket’s National Stud, explained.  “I’m not necessarily looking for a classic conformation shot – I want to capture character and convey that equine sense of mischief!”

Ripley shoots subject and background separately, often having as little as 10 minutes with the horse.  He has photographed equine stars such as California Chrome, Postponed, Dubday and Big Buck’s, held exhibitions at the Jockey Club Rooms and finished runner-up in the Fine Art-Other Category in the 2014 International Photography Awards.

When Storm Patrol, trained at Lewes by Suzy Smith, ran in her first race recently, the gutsy performance was reminiscent of her dam, Material World, also trained by Suzy.

West Sussex racegoers will remember the remarkable achievements of Material World,  a one-eyed racehorse trained by Suzy Smith at Lewes and owned by her father Robin, who lives near Chichester. This outstanding mare went on to win races at top tracks despite losing one eye in a freak accident.

Material World in her hey-day Photo: John Simpson

She won on her debut at Market Rasen and went on to win and be placed at top courses like Aintree,  Ascot, Cheltenham,Haydock and Newbury.

Storm Patrol in the paddock on her recent debut: Photo:Robin Smith

Jockey Tom O’ Brien talking to trainer Suzy Smith and owners after the race Photo: