Promising Footstepsinthesand Filly Gets Off The Mark

Puntarelle (3f Footstepsinthesand - Maybelater, by Mount Nelson) built on some fine efforts in defeat to take the Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Chelmsford on Thursday afternoon.

Jonathan Portman’s charge finished last season with a fine fourth to Rage Of Bamby (Saxon Warrrior), who was subsequently Group-placed, and returned this year to finish second and third. Racing over seven furlongs on Thursday, the bay was ridden prominently by Rob Hornby and was switched left to challenge approaching the final furlong. Ridden to lead inside the final furlong, she kept on well to deny market leader American Belle (Starspangledbanner) by a neck on the line.

Bred by James Wigan, the daughter of Footstepsinthesand is raced by Hot To Trot Racing and Anita Wigan.