When Gordon Elliott told the gathered masses from his eponymous Racing Club that we could expect a quiet few months, we took him at his word. So it was a bit of a surprise when Alex from the office informed us during the week that we had a new horse, Fight For Love, leased to the club until he is sold. Fight For Love was entered and subsequently declared in the Fairyhouse Members 2020 Handicap Hurdle. He's a 6 year old gelding by Fuisse and Love Affair but hasn't made the earth move since swapping England for Cullentra earlier this year. His only notable run was a third place at this racecourse in October. To be honest, I thought this was going to be a bit of a token runner for the club, a day out for members before Christmas. I should know after two years that Gordon Elliott picks races that he thinks his horses will win.
There were 12 at the start for this 2m hurdle. The ground was heavy but it was a bright winters day. Denis O'Regan took the ride and he had the 6/1 Fight For Love tucked in along the rail just behind the two leaders. He was a bit high over the first couple of hurdles but he settled well in about fourth place and the jumping improved with every hurdle. Unfortunately, it was a bit too late notice for me to arrange to go to Fairyhouse so I had to make do with watching on telly. As they went past the stands the first time and the cameras switched to the one that showed them heading out into the country, there was some nice flair from the winter sun. It would be fair to say that we haven't had the best of years with only one winner, Smiling Eliza taking a photo finish at Cork in the summer and I really wasn't expecting this horse to even get among the money. I'm not sure exactly when it was that I thought "Jesus, this horse is going well". As they headed up through the part of the course called Ballyhack and then along the back straight, Fight For Love was sitting pretty in third. There was a long stretch between the fifth and fourth last, almost the length of the back. The two leaders De Benno and Billys Angel and then Fight For Love were travelling strongly as they went over it. At this point I definitely realised we'd a chance. Before the third last, Denis moved his mount off the rail to the outside as they prepared to attack. Billys Angel came under pressure as our horse cruised past him to take second easily. De Benno was off the bridle now too, his goose looked cooked as Fight For Love took the lead going over the second last. The threat now was who was going to emerge from the pack to challenge. It was Reine Free and Donagh Meyler with another Elliott trained horse, Empire Burlesque, ridden by Jack Kennedy for Gigginstown, a further length back. Fight For Love and Reine Free were neck and neck but it was our horse that took a half length lead approaching the last. He flew it. Reine Free wasn't as fluent and Fight For Love increased his lead to about a length. It seemed an eternity to the line and Reine Free started to come back with every stride of the last hundred yards. Reine Free on the stand side, Fight For Love on the rail, Denis O'Regan and Donagh Meyler battling tooth and nail. The finish was still off screen. Suddenly it appeared as both horses asked no quarter. They went over the line together. Difficult to say who'd won but it looked like we'd been pipped. Fantastic effort though from a horse I don't think anyone from the club expected anything from. It took an age for a decision. I'd already had this earlier in the day with Sadio Mane given offside by VAR when 3 different angles gave three different outcomes. Eventually, the result came in and it could not have been closer but Fight For Love had won it by a nose hair. Fight For Love had fought to victory for the Gordon Elliott Racing Club.
This is the final race I will report on for GERC and it's been such a privilege to see the Gordon Elliott operation up close, to have met some good racing people and share the experience of being involved with winning horses. To finish my 2 years in the club with this surprising and thrilling victory is a bonus. Alex reported Fight For Love was absolutely fine after his win. "He's a horse Gordon has up for sale so I'm not sure if we will see him in club colours again but for now, enjoy the celebrations". We will. Happy Christmas and thanks for reading.
Photos by David Betts
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