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Lawrence Grima, Dibs Clark and Phil Boyle made the trip up to Uttoxeter to see Fr Humphrey try to put his disappointing day at Southwell into the past!
Arriving ahead of the first race, the group were able to take advantage of the Uttoxeter hospitality sitting outside to enjoy a complimentary sandwich by the paddock ahead “our race” at 2.40 pm!
Having run out to the left at Southwell, trainer Neil Mulholland was keen that Humphrey should get a lead over the first couple of fences with horses on his inside. After that, he would be ridden prominently and we would see what he could do and these instructions were passed onto James Best who was renewing his association with Fr Humphrey.
James lined him up right on the outside when the tapes went back and he jumped the first two accurately in the front rank on the wide outside before setting off on two circuits. He jumped well down the back in a share of third place and kept that spot down the home straight where he was quick and accurate at each fence.
They headed into the last circuit with him in a share of 3rd on the wide outside. He jumped into 2nd down the back straight travelling well and turned out of the back in 2nd and part of a leading group of five that had broken clear.
At the first in the home straight he took off upsides the leader and looked to be holding a really good chance of winning, but as most, including Humphrey, came off the bridle, the eventual winner was looking to be going well in third.
Jumping three out he was again alongside the leader but did not get away from the fence well and dropped to third going down to two out. He jumped two out two to three lengths back from the leaders but still two clear of the 4th and looked booked for 3rd place, but he was tiring and joined at the last by the other horse, he was unable to rally and finished in 4th position.
This was, however, an encouraging run and with the further benefit of this race, it is hoped that he can run a big race next time.
