A Snapchat surprise and £800 bargain: the story of point star Fumet D'Oudairies

Trainer Tom Ellis found out via a surprise Snapchat that his wife Gina Andrews had bought Fumet D'Oudairies for £800, but it has proved an inspired piece of business as he followed four point-to-point wins with a first success under rules in the 2m4f maiden hunter chase.

The six-year-old ran three times in Ireland for Liz Doyle and caught the eye of Andrews at Doncaster sales in 2019. Fumet D'Oudairies has since gone on to win twice at Cottenham and Horseheath under Jack Andrews last season before striking with Andrews' sister Bridget aboard at Leicester.

Ellis said: "Fumet D'Oudairies keeps on surprising us – he's certainly not a bad little horse.

"I had gone to load two other horses we had bought on to the lorry at the sales and received a Snapchat off Nick Pearce [head lad for Dan Skelton] saying Gina has just bought one for £800. I thought oh great, but he's turned out to be a star! He was only a four-year-old then and just needed a bit of time."

Steve Payne: racecourse announcer is in the D'Oudes Partnership

Among his owners in the D'Oudes Partnership is Steve Payne, who was able to witness the victory in his role as racecourse announcer.

Payne said: "He's been a remarkable buy and won with authority each time. I was fortunate enough to call my first two point-to-point winners and this boy has done everyone proud. Long may his winning run continue."

The feature 2m6½f open hunter chase went to the Paul Nicholls-trained Cat Tiger under Harry Cobden, with the David Maxwell-owned seven-year-old set to be aimed at the Aintree Foxhunters'.

Happy owner-breeder

Owner-breeder Caroline Shaw will have been proud as punch according to trainer John Groucott after the victory of her homebred Happy News in the 2m4f mares' handicap chase.

Jordan Nailor's mount stayed on best to seal a second victory over fences by seven and a half lengths.

Groucott said: "She was bred by Caroline who I used to team chase with when I was in my mid-teens so it's a great pleasure to train her a winner.

"Caroline loves her horses, is a great hunting lady and Shropshire lass. She would have had an enormous amount of pleasure from watching the race."

James Davies rides Doukarov (left) to victory in the 2m novice handicap chaseCredit: Pool

Progressive chasers

Sean Curran's star juvenile filly Talking About You likes to dominate from the front and stablemate Doukarov adopted similar tactics to land the 2m novice handicap chase.

The progressive six-year-old took his chase record to 2-3 for Curran under James Davies.

Davies said: "Doukarov is very exuberant and half the time you're not really in control, but he's very good over his fences and it's all about saving as much as you can for the finish with him. Sean's doing a great job with him and hopefully he can keep improving."

The Lucy Wadham-trained Somekindofstar similarly took his chase record to two wins from three with a ten-length triumph in the 2m4f novice handicap chase.

Jockey Jack Quinlan said: "He was really enjoying himself out there, goes short and long and is a very accurate jumper, so there's lots to like about him."

Results, replays and analysis

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