Racecards
15:00 Fontwell Park
Betfred.com In-running Handicap Hurdle (Class D )
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
Cupboard Lover
680- Form 100433/
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M Foley
held up and always behind
- Form 35/2023-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 117
never fluent, led, ridden and headed 8th, soon weakened, tailed off
Joshua's Bay
51- Form 100-64P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer J R Jenkins
- Jockey Dave Crosse
held up and always behind
- Form 2P6-116
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Noel T Chance
- Jockey W T Kennedy
held up, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
Sure Future
24- Form 30-6503
- Age 9
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer R M Stronge
- Jockey B Fenton
in touch, headway 5th, slightly outpaced after 3 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on well close home
Once Seen
21- Form 1060-22
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
held up, headway after 6th, ridden and every chance 2 out, 3rd and held when hung left run-in
- Form 31343-4
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer C G Cox
- Jockey M Bradburne
prominent, ridden after 3 out, one pace from next
- Form 2101F0
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer K Bell
- Jockey M Batchelor
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace
- Form 53360-5
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey J Tizzard
in touch until 7th, soon tailed off
- Form 642-532
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Christian Williams
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
In depth
Verdict
An interesting line-up for this handicap hurdle and a narrow vote goes to Direct Flight but there are plenty that can be considered. The selection gets the call because he is lightly raced and has looked progressive in his career so far. Also, his current mark seems fair and his capable rider claims seven off his back. The five-year-old Delaware Boy is also lightly raced and came good in an amateurs' event last time so he could go well, as could Just Kate, who also falls into the category of lightly-raced, young and progressive. Will Of The People has proven very consistent and runs for Martin Pipe, while Nicky Henderson's Cupboard Lover would hold a chance on his best form but has not been seen since April 2003. Sure Future is just two pound above a winning mark, although that success came two years ago, but he ran fairly well last time. With Deferlant racing from just four pounds above a winning mark and Leroy's Sister capable of improvement this is, as we say, an interesting race, with the vote going to Direct Flight.