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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Fitzpatrick returns on easy winner Court

Wed 18th Nov 2015, 14:41

Court Frontier and John Fitzpatrick Court Frontier and John Fitzpatrick
© Photo Healy Racing

Court Frontier proved another wide margin winner at Fairyhouse today as he swept clear in the closing stages of the Marie Keating Charity Race Day Handicap Hurdle.

John Fitzpatrick produced his mount to tackle front-running favourite Westerner Point in the 2m7f contest.

The Alan Fleming-trained gelding asserted before the final flight and galloped on strongly to score by 22 lengths in the colours of Barry Connell.

The 5/2 winner was making his return to action over the smaller obstacles having won two point-to-points and a hunters chase last season.

"We said we'd let him run over hurdles before going back chasing," explained Fleming.

"I thought he might win by a couple of lengths after the second last but the other horse got very tired. We'll find something for him over fences at Christmas time.

"It's nice for John to come back with a winner as he's been out for a while."

Fitzpatrick was having his first ride back since fracturing vertebrae and ribs in a fall at Roscommon on September 28th.

(Quotes by Alan Magee)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.