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A long-awaited reappearance for Fr Humphrey who missed his valuable veterans final in March when racing was suspended.
New shareholder, Darren Crosby joined Phil at Uttoxeter with still only two owners allowed on the course. Restrictions meant that our race came around quickly and we had a chance to have a brief chat with jockey Harry Reed before he was legged up on Fr Humphrey and we agreed that with the likelihood that the favourite would want to lead, Harry Reed would let Humphrey go at his own pace and that we would take a lead if the pace was strong enough.
Humphrey jumped the first two well upsides the favourite and they set off for two circuits of the track. All the jumps down the back straight were taken really well and he turned for home the first time in a clear 2nd. Four more impeccable leaps had him pass the winning post onto the last circuit in the same position.
His only slight mistake came at the first down the back but he was fine and in a share of 2nd jumping well down the rest of the back straight. Harry pushed him into the last down the back which he jumped well, but it looked like he might be tiring. He did turn into the home straight right with the others in a share of 2nd place, but he was pushed away from the 4th last and was immediately losing ground, so Harry dropped his hands and let him pop the last three in his own time as it was clear he could not catch the front three. He jumped them fine and passed the line a well-beaten 4th.
It was pretty clear that he tired entering the home straight and he is experienced enough that once he lost his position, he was not inclined to do any more than was necessary to get home, hence the wide margin defeat at the line. We did fear that this scenario could play out and so it proved, but the way he jumped and travelled to the home turn shows he still has plenty of enthusiasm and he should give us plenty of fun and hopefully run with more success in the next couple of months.
