Fleming's Frontier gives amateur a first win

Alan Fleming is steadily building momentum in his third venture as a trainer and is currently unbeaten since registering that first win, adding the Arkle Years Hunters Chase at Downpatrick today with Court Frontier and providing amateur jockey John Fitzpatrick with a first win.

Court Frontier, unlucky in-running when a close second at Clonmel previously, was produced to lead at the final fence before recording a ten lengths win over James

Curragh based Fleming, who initially trained a small string in Ireland before moving to England where he trained Starluck to finish fifth in a Champion Hurdle, broke his duck for his principle owner Barry Connell with Cheltenham-bound Gwencily Berbas in a Grade 2 hurdle at Fairyhouse last month.

Sam Red followed up for the pair at Navan on Sunday, with Court Frontier today continuing the winning spell.

Following his breakthrough win Fitzpatrick, who also has two point to point wins, stated "I'm 21, from Kilkenny and Barry (Connell) has been very good to me.

"He (Court Frontier) got in a bit close at the top of the hill and picked up coming down the hill. I had loads left. He was unlucky the last day."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Michael Graham