Fontwell double for Toole
A lot more is surely going to be heard of Peter Toole this season and the conditional rider produced a minor miracle to win at Fontwell.
Earlsfield Raider completed a 42-1 double for Toole today in the Hyder Consulting (UK) Ltd Selling Hurdle but looked like his chance was completely ruined when Aston Lad ran across him at the final flight.
The bump dislodged Toole's left boot from his stirrup but despite his precarious position in the saddle, he used his loose leg to somehow rouse the 6-4 favourite enough to evaporate Alrafid's advantage of at least five lengths, passing him close home.
It was Toole's eighth winner in the last fortnight and he said: "Things are going absolutely terrific at the moment.
"It has just taken off in the last couple of weeks. I am with Charlie Mann and he and some of the other owners and trainers have been great for putting me up.
"I think that's about 18 for the season already."
Winning trainer Caroline Bailey added: "I'd never even met Peter before today but that was some ride after he lost his iron and the horse is not an easy ride anyway. He's a bit quirky.
"We needed a change of luck, so hopefully this has helped."
Toole's earlier success was more comfortable in more ways than one.
The context of the John Smith's Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Hurdle changed at the fourth flight when Beau Lake fell and brought down leading contenders Pliny, the 5-2 favourite, and Aldertune.
Dot's Delight (16-1) led at the second last and quickened away to score by three and a half lengths.
Trainer Mark Rimell said: "Originally I thought she was just a summer jumper but she might be a bit better than that.
"We'll keep her going and a sharp two and a half or a stiff two miles will suit."
Training performance of the afternoon had to go to Nick Gifford as Shaka's Pearl made light of a 964-day layoff in the Tony Ireson Happy Retirement Handicap Chase.
From morning prices of around 20-1, the locally-based gelding's price contracted to 6-1 but he was on and off the bridle for Liam Treadwell.
Shaka's Pearl responded by the time they reached the downhill run for home and eventually pulled 17 lengths clear, with 11-10 favourite Jump Jet second.
Gifford said: "I don't know why all the money came. All we knew was that he was fit and well but I thought two miles and six would be on the sharp side.
"He did a leg after finishing second here last time and can now go for long distance races. We might look at the Sussex National at Plumpton (January 3)."
Colin Tizzard was not too surprised by the 16-1 victory of Midnight Queen as she gradually wore down all her opponents in the John Smith's Extra Smooth Mares' Beginners' Chase.
"I half-expected that as she had been working nicely," said the Dorset resident.
"She had been point-to-pointing for the last two years so we knew she could jump. She'll go for a mares race at Wincanton in two and a half weeks."
Tizzard and his son Joe were later to double up with Wise Men Say (10-1) in the Coast 106FM 1st Birthday Celebration Handicap Hurdle.
The Warwick Davis Insurance Consultants-sponsored bumper appeared to be of a high standard and narrow winner Horsford (7-2 joint-favourite), plus second and third Iona Days and King Billy all showed promise.
