Kempton – 20th October 2019 - Matchbook Casino Handicap Chase

Kempton – 20th October 2019 – Matchbook Casino Handicap Chase

Fr Humphrey ran a cracking race to finish 2nd at Kempton…. by a nose! Yep, the smallest margin in horse racing was all that prevented us from recording a second consecutive win.

It was a brilliant afternoon with 23 shareholders at the races with Phil and Sarah joined by Ewart, his wife Cath and their friend Jonny, Bryan and his daughter Claire, James and his wife Flic and their three children (who kept us entertained all afternoon), Jon and Shirley, David and Linda with their daughter and two friends, Lawrence, Rainer, Alan and Nigel. Kempton Park did us a massive favour by giving us a box with a cash bar and food laid on, which ensured that we had a fantastic time. We had places to sit down, a balcony from which we could view the races and a space of our own where everyone could spend some time together and chat and socialise.

Most shareholders arrived early and enjoyed a lunch of pies and chips with cheesecake and mousse as dessert and settled in to watch some decent racing as there were some good races on the card before ours. Neil joined everyone in the box for a chat, but headed off around 45 minutes ahead of our race, to meet jockey James Best and to saddle Fr Humphrey. The plan was for Fr Humphrey to lead, but not to go mad and that if one of the others was desperate to go on, then James would be happy to sit alongside or just behind. After a short detour for some of our group to get their photo taken with the statue of the legendary “Dessie” (Desert Orchid), it was into the paddock to meet jockey, James Best and then off to find a good spot to watch the race.

The first fence came quickly and Fr Humphrey jumped it well on the inside, upside two others. He was in front when he flew the second with a nice jump, but then James steadied the pace and the field closed up turning down the back for the first time. He jumped the first down the back OK, the second better and the third just as well before flying the last to land a length in front starting the turn back to the stands for the first time. Round that bend, though, Net De Treve and Guerilla Tactics decided that they wanted to push the pace and came round the outside leaving Fr Humphrey on the inside in third place as they entered the straight.

Whether he was unsighted or just careless, he made his worst jump of the race at the first in the straight almost sending James out of the side door! Thankfully he stayed on and Fr Humphrey jumped the next OK and the last really well to pass the winning post with a circuit to go in 3rd place. James pushed him into the fence away from the stands which he jumped well and he made a decent jump at the ditch as well.

Down the back straight it was another nice jump at the first and when he was a little low at the next, James just gave him a shake of the reins to make sure he kept his mind on the job. Outside him, Vendredi Trois came past as they headed to the next which Fr Humphrey jumped well. With Leith Hill Lad starting to drop away, it was looking like a six-horse race at this stage. Despite only being in 4th, Fr Humphrey flew the last out of the back again and with Land League also feeling the pinch, the contenders were reducing as they turned for home.

Into the home straight, James gave Fr Humphrey a flick with the whip as he started to encourage him as they approached three out. Fr Humphrey was a little clumsy at that fence and it looked like he may be more needing to worry about the two behind rather than the three in front as James was getting more vigorous in the saddle as they approached two out. Fr Humphrey responded though and jumped two out well, a couple of lengths behind the three leaders, as Vendredi Trois moved into the lead on the outside.

Coming down to the last it became clear that Fr Humphrey was staying on best of all, as he switched to the outside and moved passed Net De Treve into 3rd and started to eat into the lead approaching the last. It suddenly started to look like he had a chance and he took off at the last only a half-length down on Vendredi Trois in second. He had got a bit close to it however which cost him a tiny amount of momentum and coming away from the fence he was in a share of 2nd and over a length down on the leader. He started motoring on the run-in though and was cutting down the leader, taking ground back with every stride. They flashed past the finishing line absolutely together and whilst it initially looked like he had been beaten, later views of the replays showed it was very close and the TV commentators could not pick a winner even from the freeze frames as they passed the line.

The photo finish was announced and disappointingly, Fr Humphrey was announced in 2nd beaten by a nose. James was gutted not to have got up, but he was really pleased with the way that Fr Humphrey had run. The doubts about racing over three miles can be parked as he had finished strongly and run a cracker and for the second race in a row, the tongue-tie seemed to have really helped him. It would have been great to win, but it was a cracking run with many positives coming out of it.