Fortune claims Huntingdon glory

Listed bumper winner makes perfect start over hurdles

Tom Lacey breathed a sigh of relief as Glory And Fortune maintained his unbeaten record with victory in the MansionBet Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon on Tuesday.

After making a winning debut in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, the gelded son of Fame And Glory had little trouble following up on his first start over hurdles in this two-mile prize.

Travelling well throughout, the 9-4 shot moved on at the second last before holding Mickey Buckman by a length and three-quarters to give Nico de Boinville a winner from his only ride.

Lacey said: “I felt the pressure today, with him having won a Listed bumper first time out, everyone had their eyes on him.

“He has still got to learn in the jumping department.

He is a big, long-striding horse, he just needs to learn how to shorten up.

“Tommie O’Brien needs to get a lot of credit as he is not an easy horse at home, but he has done a super job.

” Although Lacey is keen to take small steps with Glory And Fortune on his next start, he believes he is capable of making his mark at a higher level further down the line.

He said: “We will not be throwing him in the deep end just yet.

We will probably stick at two miles until he learns to settle.

“There are some good novices before and after Christmas like the Kennel Gate at Ascot, the Tolworth at Sandown and the Sidney Banks back here.

” Graham Carson celebrated his first winner in more than three years after 25-1 shot Fricka, trained by his dad Tony, secured a front-running two-and-a-half-length success in the MansionBet Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.

The Newmarket-based rider said on his first winner in 1,322 days: “I didn’t like that statistic, but it’s gone now – although I’ve been waiting a while.

“I’ve had quite a lot of rides, just not on the right horses, but today I was on the right one.

Hopefully I can get a few more rides and with it a few more winners.

” Sean Quinlan secured his first victory since returning from injury as the Joanne Foster-trained Chase The Wind ended a winless run stretching back to May 2016 when claiming the MansionBet Handicap Chase by two and three-quarter lengths.

Quinlan, who rode a personal best tally of 61 winners last season, said: “I had four months out after a fall schooling at Sue Smith’s.

I punctured a lung, lacerated my liver and broke nine ribs.

“I’ve been back about two weeks, so it is good to get that first winner back on the board just as the season is starting to get going.

” Of the 20-1 winner, he added: “He was probably well handicapped on his old form.

He deserved to win as he has been running solid races without winning.

” Rebel Royal looked at natural over fences after running out an impressive eight-length winner in the Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Alan King, trainer, said of the 11-1 winner: “He was very accurate at his fences.

He was a bit long at the first and after that he didn’t seem to miss anything and he winged the last.

“I think two and a half is his trip and while we won’t get carried away, it was a nice way to start over fences and hopefully there are more wins in him.”

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