By Paul Ellison (Brighton Racecourse)

With the Jumps season proper fast approaching, it’s an exciting time for racing fans, as the quality and intensity of National Hunt action ramps up.

And there was plenty of quality on show at Fontwell Park on Tuesday, with a cracking eight-race card that delivered some pulsating finishes.

The day began with a surprise result, with the Sean Bowen-ridden, Olly Murphy-trained favourite Prince Imperial failing to land a blow in the opening contest.

He became outpaced three flights from home, but did rally to stay on into third suggesting a step up in trip could suit.

He was unable to keep tabs with the winner, Yellow Car who scored with a bit in hand for jockey Nick Slatter, currently operating at an impressive 33% strike rate.

Favourite-backers gained some consolation in race two, with Instant Gambler winning in style under a confident Adam Wedge, the first leg of a double.

The feature race was won by a trainer to follow, Newmarket-based James Owen.

His story is a remarkable one. A five-times champion Arabian trainer on the flat, he has also had great success in the Point to Point field.

Owen has quickly gained a reputation for being able to improve horses who have lost their way for previous connections, and so it proved here, with the once classy Honneur d’Ajonc landing the class 4 handicap hurdle under last year’s champion amateur jockey Alex Chadwick, who is great value for his 5lb claim.

The following contest produced a shock result, with 20/1 shot Groom De Cotte, who had shown little spark in his last few runs, returning to form in emphatic style.

As the horses turned into the home straight, it looked as though Groome De Cotte had just joined in as he travelled powerfully amongst his toiling rivals, before scooting clear with ears pricked to score convincingly.

Another big price winner followed in race five, as No Way Pedro defied the expectations of the market to land the spoils at 25/1!

The tail end of the card saw some local success, beginning with the Gary and Josh Moore trained Call off the Dogs in the two mile three and half furlong handicap chase.

Ridden by Caoilin Quinn, Call off the Dogs loomed up travelling well, only to make a momentum halting mistake at three out.

However, horse and rider were able to quickly regain their composure and by the final flight, the pair were on the verge of leading.

An attritional duel ensued on the run in, with Moore’s charge battling on gamely to score by half a length from the gallant Fat Sam.

There was another exciting climax in the penultimate race, the Sheena West trained Calshot Spit knuckled down to make it back to back wins for the East Sussex trainer. West is in brilliant form, operating at a 25% strike rate in the last fortnight.

A two mile one and a half furlong handicap closed out the card, and jockey Adam Wedge was able to land the second leg of a double with what was arguably the ride of the day.

Wedge, whose season last year was plagued by injury, assumed control of the race from an early stage aboard the Christian Williams trained Catboy. Wedge shrewdly dictated his own fractions in front, and judged the pace of the race to perfection.

The outcome was in little doubt turning for home, with Catboy still full of running, he safely navigated the obstacles and only had to be kept up to his work in the closing stages, winning with something to spare.