Over the next few weeks we are going to look back at the 2019/20 point-to-point season and highlight some 'Moments of the season'. To kick off, we've chosen the debut of bargain-buy FUMET D'OUDAIRIES at Cottenham back in November...
Any five-year-old that wins four point-to-points in their first season is pretty special, and yet Fumet D'Oudairies had been bought for just £800.
That insulting price was made to look ridiculous when he sluiced up at Cottenham on his first start in a maiden, returned to that track for a restricted win, beat far more experienced rivals in a conditions race at Horseheath and then went back to that course for an intermediate success. Only once did he face a single-figure field, and the form of his races and the previous and subsequent victories of those he vanquished put polish on his performances.
Fumet D'Oudairies, who as a four-year-old raced three times under Rules in Ireland without success, was bought at Doncaster's Spring Sale and raced in the colours of G & T Racing's Ice And A Slice Club. He was ridden each time by Jack Andrews and trained by his brother-in-law, Tom Ellis, who says: "He's a sharp little horse at home, and hard to sit on. He's dropped Jack a couple of times, and that's not easy, but other than that he's fine and good as gold in his stable.
Tom Ellis, trainer of Fumet D'Oudairies
"Before we bought him he'd run in two bumpers and a 21-runner maiden hurdle in which he got knocked about a bit, but he was half the size he is now. When we schooled him over poles it was frightening – he'd take off from anywhere and dive over them, but Gina and the girls did a lot of work with him and found he had plenty of scope for a little horse.
"To think he went on to win twice around one of the sharpest tracks in the country [Cottenham] and then twice more over the stiff three miles [at Horseheath] says a lot about him. He was cheap, but Tiger Roll was cheap at £10,000 – it's what they do on the racecourse that gives them a value.
"It was a shame the season ended, because we were thinking of one more point-to-point and then the restricted final at Stratford. He's for sale to someone who would like to leave him in the yard – I'm sure he's got the scope to run in hunters' chases."
Check out 'Moments of the season' each and every Wednesday.