'It changes the game watching your son ride - it fills me with pride'

Monday: Leicester

Driving duty was the order of the day for trainer Chris Gordon and he returned to the wheel with immense pride after watching his son Freddie land the 1m4f amateur riders' handicap on the Julia Feilden-trained Fen Tiger.

Freddie Gordon, who turns 17 on Thursday, has an exciting winter ahead having joined Paul Nicholls' yard after finishing school in the summer, and has his first ride for the 13-time champion jumps trainer aboard Huflower at Chepstow on Wednesday.

Chris Gordon said: "It's been a long drive and I need to take Fred down to Ditcheat to get back for evening stables, but that was just great. It changes the game watching your son ride. It's fantastic and fills me with pride.

"Paul is an old mate and Fred will be in great company down there. It's a smashing environment and whatever he sits on will be a nice horse.

"From 12 years old he wouldn't even look at a horse – he didn't like it because they took his mum and dad away – but he eventually got the bug through ponies and has been fast tracked into it."

Fen Tiger was the 18th winner for Freddie Gordon in point-to-points and under rules while, after the race, the novice Flat amateur series trophy was presented to Cole Harris, who is based with Richard Fahey.

Duke delivers

It may have taken a decade or three to get involved but Peter Aarosin is enjoying the ride with long-time ally Mike Kirby and Harswell Thoroughbred Racing and toasted victory with Harswell Duke in the mile handicap.

The red, white and blue silks of the owners were based on their home countries of Denmark and England, with Harswell Duke sparking Spring Mile dreams with a half-length win under Clifford Lee.

On his involvement, Aarosin said: "I've worked with Mike for about 30 years and he tried for ever more to get me into horses. I said get lost – there's no way I'm getting involved – then I eventually did and our first horse Harswell won on his second start."

All three of the Roger Fell-trained four-year-old's wins have come on testing ground and connections snaffled some of the early prices for the eventual 5-2 favourite.

Kirby said: "He's a tough horse and we've waited all year for this ground. We had a few quid on him – he was 6-1 last night!

"He's declared for Nottingham on Wednesday but we'll probably give him a break and go for the Spring Mile next year."

The David Evans-trained So Smart was another winner who is engaged at Nottingham. He struck in the 5f handicap under Pat Cosgrave.

On the scoresheet

The Ed Walker-trained Sassy Belle added a 1 to her form figures of 2232 in the 6f fillies' novice, with her rider Saffie Osborne sealing a double on the George Boughey-trained Cantora in the 7f nursery.

Sassy Belle's owner Laurence Bellman said: "We were very hopeful coming here. She's quite a nice filly and it would be good to get her some black type next year."

Results, replays and analysis

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