By Will Lefebve

Followers of the Lower Beeding, Horsham stables masterminded by trainers Gary and Josh Moore had to be very patient at Fontwell Park yesterday.

It took until the sixth and final race for the duo, who had sent four horses coastbound, to enter the winners’ enclosure.

Victory in the concluding Broadsword Novices’ Handicap Hurdle went to the Moores’ 6-4 favourite, Godolphin-bred Officer Of State, a son of Derby winner Golden Horn, who marched his way to a commanding verdict in the hands of Niall Houlihan, with the busy Ben Jones finishing runner-up on Lady Caro.

The Moore duo had needed to settle for minor placings earlier on, but Gary can take part of the credit for the success of the dogged Pawpaw in the long distance handicap chase.

This is because the gelding’s winning rider (and partner of last season’s runaway Welsh Grand National hero Nassalam), conditional Caoilin Quinn, is one of the talented squad of “junior riders” attached to the Moore yard.

It was Ulsterman Quinn’s 73rd victory over jumps, as he eagerly awaits trying to repeat his famous 2023 Chepstow triumph. Two more winners for the redhead, and he becomes a senior jockey.

There was a West Sussex flavour to the opening maiden hurdle when Electric Mason plugged on determinedly to spark wild celebrations for those who had backed the Chris Gordon-trained five-year-old down to 13-8, as he and Rex Dingle thwarted even money favourite Laurens Bay by half a length.

Electric Mason is jointly-owned by Nicola Morris from Winchester, and David Rabson, a technology entrepreneur who lives in East Preston. Mr Rabson has a 50% share in this winner, but he revealed to me that he also has 15 horses in training with Gordon Elliott in Eire.

Back to jockey Ben Jones, and it was a case of “two Bens” when the namesakes combined to strike with 5-2 favourite Ri Na Cuirte in the 2.00 race.

Ri Na Cuirte is trained at Corscombe in Dorset by the very much taller Ben Clarke, who is in his third season with a licence and teams up with the “Jones boy whenever I can get him because he is more than often required to ride for his boss -Ben Pauling”! Clarke is looking forward to sending his Irish-bred six-year-old novice chasing, saying: “Ri Na Cuirte is still improving, and will now go straight over fences, probably in a month’s time. He’s a lovely prospect”.

Double Powerful completed a remarkable 2024 five-timer for regular visitor Neil Mulholland, who seldom leaves the A27 track empty-handed. The victories have been recorded at five venues - Fakenham, Market Rasen, Kelso, Worcester and now Fontwell Park.