The build up to Christmas seems to start so early now, but then you blink and its over !!! Christmas at any Racing Yard or farm is going to be a busy affair as its just a normal day , all the horses need feeding, those running on Boxing Day need exercising and all the usual prep before a busy days racing is needed.
We always give staff the option of working either Christmas Day or New Years Day to try and give some family/down/partying time to all. over the festive time. However anyone one who works in National Hunt Racing knows its a busy busy time of year !!
So on Christmas Day with some extra help from part time staff we got done by 10am in time for a Glass of Champagne and Bacon sandwich for all the workers !!
All the hard work paid off when we got to Boxing Day where we had three runners at our local track "Fontwell' with TWO WINNERS AND A SECOND!!
Our first runner was "Koenigsstern" who is owned by Mr Paul Langmead and looked after and ridden out everyday by our Head Girl Kirsty Huff. Arnie which is his stable name ran in the 1:07 Fontwell 26 Dec 2024Daily Offers With BetMGM Handicap Chase (Fontwell Chase Series Qualifier) (Class 5) (0-105, 4yo+) (2m1f165yds) 2m2f Soft 13 fences and six runners went to post. Koenigsstern under James Davies travelled strongly and pressed the leader after 4th from home , took the lead three out, pecked pn landing two out and then won BY 4 lengths. Thrilled for connections, and a great win for Kirsty and Team Gifford.
Then we had River Tyne for Tony & Holly Allan who ran in the 2:52 Fontwell 26 Dec 2024Best Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM Handicap Chase(Class 5) (0-100, 4yo+) (3m1f210yds) 3m2f Soft 19 fences. River was led up by George Sturgis who also rides her at home. River travelled and jumper beautifully through the race, she Pressed the leaders early, was prominent, then went second and pressed leader after 14th fence. She had a great jump and led at the 16th, she then was headed 2 out, led again and bumped last, kept on and fought gamely to win in great style !! Huge Congratulations to connections and James Davies making it a DOUBLE on the day for TEAM GIFFORD !
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, we had Graeme the Grey and stunning 4 year old Kingston Hill gelding, having his racecourse debut. He is still green and we nearly didn't run him. However we were thrilled we did. Martin Pipes horse was always going to be the winner, who won his P2P by 12 lengths and then had been 3rd in a bumper. We made the decision to run anyway and used it as experience, a starting point as it is only down the road and they were geeting through the ground. We were absolutely thrilled that he finished second, he actually travelled beautifully through the race and showed a lot of promise for the future. He will improve for the experience and we know he is a very nice horse. ( FOR SALE IF YOU FANCY A LOVELY GREY READY TO GO !!!) James gave him a brilliant ride going wide to get the better ground. He will certainly be better on better ground as he is still maturing.
SO ALL IN ALL A FANTASTIC BOXING DAY FOR TEAM GIFFORD AND ALL CONNECTIONS !!!
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