A double at Windsor provided the perfect start to 2026 for a team.
Fountains Blenhein and Easy Love both won tidily before Bailly’s Comet completed a rewarding afternoon by finishing a close third in a highly competitive junior bumper at Cheltenham.
That took the prize money earned by our horses this season to just shy of £500,000.
Fountains Blenhein was the first to strike at Windsor in the colours of the Fountains Partnership with a pleasing success from the front in a £15,000 novice handicap hurdle over two miles, six furlongs.
He has been in seriously good order at home and though a bit novicey at his hurdles he kept on strongly to beat Assertive Walk by three lengths.
He has plenty of ability and is a brother to Fountains Windfall who reached the lofty mark of 157 as a novice chaser.
Fountains Blenhein was well ridden by Gavin Sheehan who completed a quick double on Easy Love in the next race, a £17,500 mares’ handicap hurdle over two and a half miles.
She had run a stinker on her previous start but we think she just had an off day as various tests on her were all clear. It’s also possible that she had a harder race than we realised the time before at Cheltenham.
Whatever the reason, it was lovely to see her bounce back in style at Windsor, jumping well in the lead and racing with great energy on her way to a decisive victory by four and a half lengths.
I’m now considering aiming Easy Love at a Grade 2 Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Sandown in February while Bailly’s Comet is on course for the £100,000 Goffs Bumper at Newbury in March.
