Honeyball ponders next move with Don Lami

Don Lami and his connections following bumper success at Fontwell

He was arguably the most exciting winner on the card. But Don Lami's debut victory at Fontwell has left trainer Anthony Honeyball scratching his head.

The four-year-old son of Honolulu won the JEB Construction Ltd ‘The Baron Of Holybourne’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race by six lengths on Friday.

It followed up a five-length triumph in his sole Irish point-to-point at Fairyhouse in April, where he showcased his potential over fences.

You would be forgiven for predicting a swift move to hurdles, where the French-bred gelding could make use of that jumping ability.

But Honeyball refused to dismiss a bumper campaign for his charge following the good-ground victory over an extended 2m 1f.

In the hands of David Noonan, Don Lami held off Gary Moore’s It’s Got Legs up the hill, with early leader Inaminna a further 20 lengths adrift in third.

Meanwhile, a total of 178 lengths covered the eight finishers as the race was blown to pieces on the West Sussex course.

The Dorset trainer said: ‘It will be interesting to watch it again but it was nice to win a bumper like that where, apart from the one horse, the rest had gone.

‘From halfway down the back straight they were some distance back and nothing was ever getting into it then.