'Inspirational' owner with locked-in syndrome strikes with Mark Of Gold

Wednesday: Plumpton

There were emotional scenes in the winner's enclosure at the East Sussex track after Mark Of Gold, watched by his permanently incapacitated owner Stevie Fisher, landed the 2m maiden hurdle to provide Gary Moore with his 200th winner at Plumpton.

Fisher, who has had locked-in syndrome since suffering a stroke in 2014, was visiting a racecourse for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic and enjoyed a dream return watching Niall Houlihan guide the five-year-old, who was backed into 8-11 favouritism, score for the first time over hurdles.

The former point-to-point rider and farrier was proudly sporting a green and yellow scarf matching the colours of the winner, who was bought out of Richard Hannon's yard for 30,000gns in September. Fisher, who communicates via blinking, prepared a winning interview with Moore’s daughter Hayley on Tuesday evening just in case the dream was realised.

Surrounded by friends and family, Fisher said: "Gary is a very sensible man and never gets carried away and knows that I have been following racing long enough to know that anything can happen in a horserace. He's a very nice horse but please remember I have ten great friends in him, especially when it comes to the bills!

"I have always followed racing and enjoyed having a bet. Now, the racing has become more important to me because it gives me something that I really love to follow. The Injured Jockeys Fund have made sure I have the racing to watch by very kindly getting me Sky.

"The better I have become at using my eye gaze, the more I have been able to see the racing paper. To start with on a Saturday, my wife used to email me so I could pick some losers. Now I can see the racing paper I can follow much more. It is giving my mind something to think about and has made following the racing so important to me.”

Watch Mark Of Gold's win here

"He’s been a very, very good friend of mine for a long time," explained Hayley Moore, who had understandably been brought to tears by the popular success. "I remember he used to come in and shoe Sire Du Grugy, he was just brilliant.

"I had Sunday roast with him and his wife Geraldine who’s here today, let me tell you Sunday roast with him, he was very good fun. He was the life and soul of the party. Unfortunately you pay the price for having a very good life. It’s tough when you see him because I don’t know how I would carry on but he does and he’s an inspiration.”

Mark Of Gold: a popular Plumpton winner under Niall HoulihanCredit: Steve Davies

A dream day for the family was capped off by Tara Iti’s win in the closing 2m handicap hurdle as Rex Dingle made his first ride for Moore a winning one.

Speaking after the double and emotional day, the trainer added: "Stevie is an amazing man. He's a larger than life character and what’s happened to him is terrible but he’s carrying on. I was gobsmacked when he asked me to find him a horse. Someone is looking down on him because you wouldn’t pick up a horse for that money and be quite as nice as what he is."

Delight for Dennis

Innisfree Lad was with David Dennis when he trained from Tyre Hill in Worcestershire, and during his spells with Tom Symonds and Matt Sheppard after he briefly relinquished his licence in 2020.

Therefore it was fitting the ten-year-old secured a landmark sixth winner of the season for Dennis from his new base at Edgcote. The ten-length victory in the feature veterans’ chase under Jack Andrews meant Dennis surpassed his haul of five winners during his final season in Worcestershire in 2019-20.

Results, replays and analysis

Read these next:

Walking On Air cut for Ballymore after 'looking the part' for Nicky Henderson

Paul Townend in town for start of new Winter Million at Lingfield

For all our exclusive free bet offers and must-have daily promotions click the free bets button or go to racingpost.com/freebets