Racecards
16:10 Fontwell Park
Sharp Minds Betfair: Best Odds Handicap Hurdle (Class E)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
Rakassa
12- Form 31424-0
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer H Manners
- Jockey J A Jenkins
tailed off, mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 0FP2-03
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
held up last, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 153360-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
mid-division, some headway 3 out, ridden 2 out, weakened last
Makulu (IRE)
17- Form 4343
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
made all, clear 3rd, ridden and quicken 2 out, hit last, driven out
Eau Pure (FR)
198- Form 1132U4-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 43P32-2
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer J R Jenkins
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up towards rear, good headway 7th, ridden after 3 out, not quicken from 2 out
- Form 0-00032
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R Phillips
- Jockey W Marston
prominent, outpaced 7th, ridden 3 out, stayed on one pace from 2 out
- Form 00002/6
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer P Hedger
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up in touch, headway 7th, chased winner 2 out, staying on when rider lost whip inside final furlong, no extra
Dunkerron
107- Form 4142-04
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer J Joseph
- Jockey P J Brennan
tracked leader, ridden 7th, soon weakened
In depth
Verdict
Our shortlist here consists of Young Dancer, Makulu, Who Cares Wins, Rakassa and, possibly, Central Committee, with the vote going to Makulu. The selection just shades things by virtue of the fact that he is lightly-raced and ought to be improving and, having finished a fair third to Claude Greengrass at Exeter last time on his handicap debut, can remain competitive today. Who Cares Wins rates an obvious danger as he is only two pounds above a winning mark, although that success came in October 2003, but should be all the better for a recent fitness run and now having Tony McCoy booked. Young Dancer could be open to improvement as he too is lightly-raced, Rakassa has at least shown displayed the ability to win and she too should be fitter for her recent run, while Central Committee won from an eight-pound higher mark than today in February 2003 and put in a fair run last time, when she was beaten by Bekstar, who runs earlier on today's card. Watch for how that form works out then but, for us, the vote goes to Makulu.