Festival hopes fade at Fontwell for Solzen

Lough Derg regained his position at the top of the Order Of Merit leaderboard from Kauto Star with an extraordinary comeback in the 50,000 totesport.com National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.

David Pipe's gelding has become one of the surprise success stories of the season.

He stole the Grade Two event from My Way De Solzen and Elusive Dream in the dying strides.

Elsewhere on the card there was a double for Fontwell favourite Jamie Moore, who rode both Tikram (7/4) and Trigger Guard (7/2) to victory.

Lough Derg rider Tom Scudamore could not have comprehended victory with a circuit to go as he began to shove the 5-1 shot along.

Lough Derg was still 15 lengths adrift of the pair straightening for home but the leaders seemed to have set a stiff enough pace and as they began to look weary before the last, Scudamore took his chance and pulled two lengths away in a titanic struggle.

'He's just a special horse,' said Scudamore. 'I've known him since he was three and you've just got to keep pushing him as all he wants to do is keep going.

'Down the far side I knew he'd stay on, but I didn't think I'd win until halfway down the run-in.'

Lough Derg now sits 14 points clear in the season-long Order Of Merit and remains 20-1 with the sponsors for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

My Way De Solzen, badly hampered on the penultimate circuit by the fall of Gold Gun, was eased to the same price for a race he won in 2006. He is primed for another go after two poor runs over fences this season.

Trainer Alan King explained: 'He and Elusive Dream have been at it from a long way out. He's not been easy and it's his first real run of the season. He'll go for the World Hurdle and maybe back to fences in the autumn.'

A decent crowd packed into the West Sussex track for its countryside day, which featured a parade of hounds, birds of prey and pets' corner as well as a strong seven-race card.

Full results

2.15: 1 Galient Evens Fav; 2 Dragon Eye 5-1; 3 Go Amwell 5-1. 13 ran.

Also: 10-1 Iron Maid 4th. NR: Castlemaine Vic

2.45: 1 Oscar Park 4-7 Fav; 2 Dr Hart 7-1; 3 Gaelic Gift 20-1. 4 ran.

Also: 11-4 O'maley 4th. NR: Sole Agent

3.15: 1 Tikram 7-4; 2 Ryders Storm 10-1; 3 The Hardy Boy 33-1. 5 ran. Also: 6-4 Fav Sporazene 4th. NR: Big Rob, Haggle Twins, Craven

3.50: 1 Lough Derg 5-1; 2 My Way de Solzen 11-8 Fav; 3 Refinement 12-1.

8 ran. Also: 9-4 Elusive Dream 4th.

4.20: 1 Lou Du Moulin Mas 1-2 Fav; 2 Take The Stand 9-1. 6 ran

4.50: 1 Trigger Guard 7-2; 2 Final Bid 11-2; 3 Yellow Flag 5-2 Fav. 9 ran. Also: 11-2 Snake Charmer 4th. NR: Cortinas

WIN 4.40

5.20: 1 Ashleys Petale 14-1; 2 Bahia Blanca 3-1; 3 River Beauty 6-1. 13 ran. Also: 9-4 Fav Dont Even Ask, 7-1 Shinnecock Bay 4th. NR: Imaydance

Get the Observer on Thursday for reaction from Sunday's racing.