3 minute read

Winning jockey Fuller has high praise for Sussex trainer.

Page Fuller was singing the praises of trainer Zoe Davison after riding the veteran Finnegan's Garden to victory in the Crystal Services Commercial And Domestic Cleaning Handicap Chase at Plumpton.

The 11-year-old was registering a fourth course success at the Sussex venue, and Fuller could not have been more complimentary about the job Davison is doing at her nearby yard with the 24-length winner.

Fuller told Sky Sports Racing: "He's remarkable, he absolutely loves it.

"He wears no tongue tie, no headgear, no nothing – and he was pulling my arms out for a few fences. He just loves the game. He's a great example of a horse who just loves the job.

"Zoe is brilliant with these horses – they have their own personality, but she really looks after them well.

"It was really hard work today, but he still really wanted to try."

There were emotional scenes after Hawthorn Cottage (100-30 favourite) followed up a recent Doncaster win in the Extech Cloud – Humanising It Handicap Hurdle.

Amy Murphy's charge was ridden to victory by Lucy Barry, a close friend of former jockey James Banks who died last week.

The pair looked beaten when Sirop De Menthe hit the lead jumping the last, but they battled back to win by three-quarters of a length.

Barry said: "I got up this morning and said I'd ride him a winner."

The class act on show was the Paul Nicholls-trained Calva D'Auge, who defied a double penalty in the That Friday-Ad Feeling Novices' Hurdle.

Nicky Henderson's Fraser Island made him work after the last, but the 5-6 favourite still had a length in hand – with the pair a long way clear of the remainder.

Winning jockey Harry Cobden said: "Paul was umming and ahhing over whether to run him or not, looking at handicap marks and the ground.

"He wasn't going to be scared off by one horse, and it's paid off. The ground was very deep and hard work."

Colorado Doc, a six-time winning point-to-pointer, got off the mark under Rules in the SW Catering Chase for David and Connor Brace – while Gary Moore enjoyed his customary Plumpton winner when Age Of Wisdom (7-2) provided Niall Houlihan with a welcome success in the Strong Flavours Catering Handicap Hurdle.