Gary Moore delighted with double as racing returns after drainage delay

Gary Moore had a fine Sunday afternoon in West Sussex as Mister Tickle and Vorashann provided him with a double from three runners on the card.

Moore is a big supporter of the figure-of-eight course and praised the condition of the track after its two August meetings were cancelled to give the racing surface a bit more time to recover from midsummer drainage work.

“It was a good afternoon’s work and I’m pleased,” Moore said. “They were very weak races but I’m glad we’re here. They’ve produced lovely ground and I’m glad we had a couple of horses we could bring with chances.”

With the same positive tactics used at Newton Abbot last month, Mister Tickle jumped boldly for Niall Houlihan and battled well to repel the persistent challenge of favourite Writteninthesand in the 3m2f novice handicap chase.

Houlihan, looking forward to running his first marathon in Brighton on Sunday for Cancer Research UK and hoping for conditions to be slightly less sweltering than they were here, said: “There wasn't much pace in the race, so we had a free lead in essence and we just set our own tempo and used his jumping to make up lengths. It’s a plan that worked very well thankfully.”

Racing returned to Fontwell for the first time since June after a couple of cancellations in AugustCredit: Edward Whitaker

Vorashann’s form had dipped since winning a handicap hurdle at this track last October but he put in a much better performance to win the 2m1½f handicap hurdle under Josh Moore, who got a two-day suspension for using his whip above the permitted level.

Moore has recently returned from a stint on the sidelines but has a 100 per cent strike-rate this month from two rides. He said: “I was out for a long time in the summer after I got knocked out here in May and it’s good to be back with a couple of winners. You only get one brain and it’s good that Jerry Hill [BHA chief medical adviser] and his team are doing their best to look after the small brains we do have!”

Sheehan shines

Gavin Sheehan also enjoyed his day, winning on both of his rides.

The Jamie Snowden-trained Guinness Affair was the highlight for Sheehan as he maintained his unbeaten record over hurdles to win the 2m1½f novice by five lengths.

Sheehan said: “He’s just a bit of a dude, he probably didn’t handle the bends that well. He pricked his ears a little bit in front, so he’s saving a bit."

The Yellow Mini caused something of an upset to win on her hurdles debut under Sheehan and provide a first jumps winner for trainer Michael Wigham for 1,211 days in a juvenile contest littered with jumping errors.

Sheehan said of the 16-1 winner: “The main thing for a juvenile is they enjoy it and straight away I knew after jumping the first that she enjoyed it, so that made a hell of a difference.”

Stepping in

Jordan Nailor made the most of a late call-up to partner Moans Cross to victory in the 2m5½f handicap chase, getting the better of Goldencard by a nose in a thrilling finish.

Results, replays and analysis

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a three-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday