The champion jockey Tony McCoy experienced differing fortunes at Fontwell yesterday. McCoy was referred to the Jockey Club for sentence on a whip offence aboard the Martin Pipetrained Bamapour after winning the Ford Claiming Hurdle.
However, there was better news in the closing Autumn Maiden Hurdle where he completed a double aboard favourite Alhosaam for trainer Gary Moore, the gelding leading two flights out to come home five lengths clear of Darien. Richard Dunwoody also notched a brace with Grosvenor (4 to 5) and Dante's Cavalier (4 to 11).
Grosvenor, a son of 1980 Derby hero Henbit, led at the 16th fence in the Tote Bookmakers Handicap Chase and beat Nazzaro by three lengths. Winning trainer Paul Nicholls, still on cloud nine from his seven wins from 10 runners on Saturday, said: "I was always slightly afraid as this was only his second run after a long time off. However, he has done it nicely, but there are no big plans for him."
Dunwoody completed his pair in similarly easy fashion with Dante's Cavalier who led four out and toyed with runner-up Black Statement in the November Handicap Chase to score by eight lengths, despite making a mistake at the ninth.
David Gandolfo, the winning handler, said "Bill Dore, one of his part owners, is in hospital in Oxford but this will have cheered him up. The horse seems to have got the hang of the sport now, and he could have a decent season. I would not like to set out an aim yet, but give it two or three weeks to decide what he's going for."
Gandolfo added that the winner's half brother Gale's Cavalier would bypass the Murphy's Gold Cup on Saturday at Cheltenham and go instead for the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon next week.
Hever Golf Diamond turned up trumps in the Eastergate Handicap Hurdle, leading after the first circuit and leaving his rivals toiling.
At the post, John Best's gelding, ridden by Liam Cummins, had 20 lengths to spare over Mullintor.
Best, who trains seven horses near Maidstone and has applied for a dual licence, said: "He would be the most consistent horse we have got and he's our sixth winner since I started with only a jump licence 18 months ago.
"He stayed well today and we won't run him under two and a half miles again. Just to sweeten him up we sent him hunting the other day, and we have schooled him over fences too."
