A double at Wincanton on Tuesday took our score for the season to twenty three.
We came tantalisingly close to a treble on the day with Smart Casual nabbed on the line in a handicap hurdle at Fontwell by Thirtyfourthirty after looking all over the winner on the flat.
BABY SHALLY was the first to score at Wincanton in the colours of Eric Jones in a mares’ novice hurdle over two miles, five furlongs.
She won her point-to-point in Ireland impressively and is a sister to three winners by a sire SOLDIER OF FORTUNE who I like a lot.
BABY SHALLY didn’t run too badly on her debut for us in a bumper last month and showed a lovely attitude as she finished with a determined run to catch and pass the odds on favourite Don’t Rightly Know close home.
She jumped well, seems to be ground versatile and has loads of options for the rest of the season.
CREST OF FORTUNE then completed a fine day for the team with a pleasing success on his racecourse debut in the junior bumper in the colours of Crest Racing V1.
We ran three in the race with OAKLEY’S WAY, who started favourite, a respectable third and DARK MATERIAL finishing last which was disappointing as he is definitely much better than that.
Crest of Fortune is an athletic and beautifully put together son of the prolific sire Doyen from a strong female line.
He gradually warmed to his task but was then briefly outpaced before finding a second wind and finishing with a flourish to win with something to spare. The further Crest of Fortune went the better he looked.
He coped fine with the testing ground and looks an interesting candidate for the £100,000 bumper at Newbury in March won for us in a canter by Crest of Glory in the spring.
