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Five on the bounce for High Up In The Air and Moore has yet to find his ceiling

High Up In The Air (Josh Moore) on the way to winning at Fontwell on Sunday
High Up In The Air (Josh Moore) on the way to winning at Fontwell on SundayCredit: Steve Davies

Where is the ceiling? That is the question the Moore team are asking after High Up In The Air continued to soar in reputation and over his fences and extended his winning streak to five.

Despite the sun basking the West Sussex course, conditions were still tiring and the progressive seven-year-old bounced out into the lead, as he had successfully at Lingfield, Plumpton (twice) and Sandown, and was not for catching in the 2m3½f novice handicap chase.

With the returning Ashutor sitting on his heels for the most part, High Up In The Air produced a fine round of jumping under Josh Moore and cracked the runner-up’s challenge in the straight, passing the winning post nine lengths clear.

“He’s as good a ride as you get," said the winning jockey. "He’s the sort of horse you know what you’re going to do and you can go and enjoy him, make use of his jumping and make use of the fact the ground is still quite hard work. It’s in great order for the time of year but they’re still getting in and it’s tiring. He might come unstuck the minute the ground dries up.

Gary Moore: trains Fontwell winner High Up In The Air
Gary Moore: trains Fontwell winner High Up In The AirCredit: Edward Whitaker

“He’s been well placed all year, he won bad races around Lingfield and Plumpton to begin with. We stepped up at Sandown the last day but he was off a nice weight and again the ground that day was very heavy and it’s a jumpers' track. Conditions have been favourable throughout so perhaps it’s going to catch up with him. Hopefully there’s more to come but inevitably he is going to hit his ceiling.”

Moore was eager to praise the work of Rob Hargreaves, the person at dad Gary’s yard who looks after High Up In The Air each day.

He said: “Rob rides him out every day, schools him and looks after him. He’s done a fantastic job because he’s not actually an easy horse. He’s over-enthusiastic – at home you see him running sideways and in every direction, a bit like he was down at the start today. Rob’s very patient with him and has done a good job.”

Flourishing partnership

Tom Scudamore continued to make the most of his occasional rides for Venetia Williams when partnering The Crooner to win the opening 2m5½f handicap chase.

Scudamore was having his fifth ride of the season (now two winners and a second) for Williams and, while this handicap success does not quite match the thrill of Royale Pagaille’s Peter Marsh win at Haydock that saw him burst into the Gold Cup picture, it did come under the welter burden of 12st 3lb.

The six-year-old had recently been touched off by Cheque En Blanc over the same course and distance but found plenty up the run-in for Scudamore to win by three and a quarter lengths.

Scudamore said: “He kept on galloping, as all of Venetia’s do. He was very tough, especially at the last. When I really needed him he kept on responding.”

Results, replays and analysis


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Matt ButlerDeputy news editor

Published on 28 February 2021inReports

Last updated 17:58, 28 February 2021

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