Four-Year-Old Kicks Off Smart Double For Soldier Of Fortune

Exciting point-to-point recruit Fortunate Man (4g Soldier Of Fortune - Lady Azamour, by Azamour) ran out an impressive winner of Wednesday’s maiden hurdle at Newbury.

The Soldier Of Fortune gelding won a four-year-old maiden at Dromahane on debut and was subsequently sold by Michael Goff to Jonjo O’Neill for €210,000. Now owned by JP McManus, the bay was hampered and unseated in the early stages of his rules debut earlier this month.

Partnered by Jonjo O’Neill Junior on Thursday, he raced in midfield for much of the two mile contest and began to make headway from three out. Producing a challenge at the second last, he was pushed to lead before the final flight and drew clear on the run-in to score by nine and a half lengths.

Bred by Edmond and Mark Coleman, he completed the first leg of a smart double for his in-form sire, with Go To War (5g Soldier Of Fortune - Rate Of Knots, by Saddlers’ Hall) later justifying favouritism at Ludlow.

Paddy Brennan took the ride aboard Fergal O’Brien’s charge and raced prominently throughout the two mile Novices’ Hurdle. Pushed along from three out, the bay led approaching the last and ran on strongly to score by seven and a half lengths.

Owned by Grant Leon, Go To War adds to a debut bumper win last season. The Soldier Of Fortune gelding was bred by Grove View Stud and is a half-brother to Grade 2 performer Flight Deck (Getaway).