'We smashed that out of the park' - Foxboro win has Harry Kimber looking ahead

Tuesday: Fontwell

Jockey Harry Kimber will have to set new targets for himself after pulling further clear of last season’s winning tally when steering Foxboro to success in the feature 2m5½f handicap chase.

The conditional rider finished the 2021-22 campaign with 12 winners from 100 rides, but Foxboro’s win was Kimber’s 23rd of the season and he has no plans to slow down.

He said: “I’ve already smashed my target this season, it was to smash last season's tally and I’ve almost hit double that now. We smashed that out of the park and we have to keep going.

“The season’s going really well and it helped having a solid summer. The momentum has carried on and long may it continue.”

Kimber, who landed a double at Wincanton last week, believes Foxboro is a “real stayer” as he finished two and a quarter lengths clear of Vision Des Flos.

He added: “He’s a real tough horse because I struggled for speed in the early part of the race.

“I was flat out from a long way out as we went through the gears, but he was plugging on at the end, he jumped the last and stayed on like a train.”

Kimber’s victory also helped trainer Robert Walford scale new heights as he celebrated a second winner on the card, having earlier struck with Hipop Des Ongrais in the 2m3½f handicap chase.

Daryl Jacob on the way to victory with Hipop Des OngraisCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Walford said: “It’s unbelievable! I’ve been training for 12 years and have never had a double. The season has gone quite well and we could do with a few more winners, but it’s fantastic.”

French reward

Owner Sam Sutton is hoping to have some fun with Jilaijone after he caused a shock in the opening 2m1½f juvenile hurdle.

Trained by David Pipe, the three-year-old was making his first start for the yard having raced in France where Sutton claimed him last month, and he duly stormed clear to a seventh-length success at 22-1.

Tom Scudamore: partnered Jilaijone to success at FontwellCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Sutton said: “I was hoping he’d finish in the places, but I didn’t think he’d win it like that.

“He was in a claimer over 2m3f in Angouleme. He stayed on nicely and I thought he could be a bit of fun because he wasn’t expensive.

“I’ve been quite lucky really as up until July I had at least one winner a month, but I’ve had some setbacks with horses being injured and I’ve not had any winners in December until today, so hopefully things can kick on now.”

Dream team

Johnny Burke and Harry Fry continued their formidable partnership when Credrojava justified favouritism on hurdling debut to triumph in the 2m3f novice event.

The five-year-old mare, who was an £80,000 purchase in February, cruised to a 15-length success and extended her unbeaten run to three, having won a point to point in Ireland before scoring in an Aintree bumper in October.

Burke said: “She’s very smart and we loved her in her bumper. She has a bit of class about her and jumping was always going to be her game.

“Myself and Harry are working very well, he’s a very good target trainer and I am loving things at the moment.”

Results, replays and analysis

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