Racecards
13:15 Fontwell Park
Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 49y
- Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £18,100 added
- Winner: £9,476
- 2nd: £4,366
- 3rd: £2,182
- 4th: £1,093
- Form 824/2-3P
- Age 8
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer A Ralph
- Jockey Jay Tidball
led until before 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 768411-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey Harry Reed
held up in rear, took keen hold, in touch after 3 out, switched right before 2 out, soon ridden and beaten, looked awkward before last, went 4th flat
- Form 43312-4
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Charlie Deutsch
chased leaders, switched outside when not fluent 4 out, not fluent and outpaced 3 out, rallied before 2 out, every chance last, held towards finish
- Form 119052
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer P Henderson
- Jockey H Cobden
prominent, a bit short of room when outpaced and lost place after 3 out, rallied 2 out, led last, stayed on well
- Form 266-333
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey Sean Houlihan
held up, closed on outside 3rd, not fluent and lost place 4th, mistake 6th, in touch after 3 out, beaten before last, lost 4th and weakened flat
- Form 3/22-PP5
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer R Walford
- Jockey James Best
chased leaders, challenged after 3 out, led before 2 out, headed last, 3rd and held 100 yards out, no extra towards finish
- Form 511
- Age 4
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
held up towards rear on inside, travelled strongly, not fluent 4 out, in touch after 3 out, ridden and beaten next, well held last
In depth
Verdict
Small Bad Bob, a winner here in the autumn, came back to form when second at Fakenham. Mongol Emperor is on a hat-trick but hasn’t raced since March of last year and is 8lb higher. Sheldon is probably on a decent mark now and Franco D'aunou still has scope in handicaps but the four-year-old KOTMASK has had the form of his latest victory at Huntingdon franked and has already won around here. He will almost certainly improve again for this step up in distance.
Formwatch
Tap Tap Boom 11-4fav (11-11) Prominent, pushed along and weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Mongol Emperor (IRE) 8-15fav (12-2) Midfield, travelled strongly behind leaders 3 out, almost upsides 2 out, ridden to lead narrowly before last, driven out flat, asserted close home, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Mar beating Crack Du Ninian (11-6) by 1l, 8 ran.
Franco D'Aunou (FR) 8-1 (10-8) Midfield, headway to go third 3 out, lost third 2 out, ridden approaching last, plugged on one pace flat, 4th of 11, 8 1/4l behind Champagne Well (11-3) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Small Bad Bob (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Led, headed 3rd, tracked leaders, went 2nd at 7th, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Here Comes Henry (10-7) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Sheldon (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, ridden and no impression next, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Fine Casting (11-4) at Newbury 2m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Manvers House 9-1 (11-12) Led until after 3rd, led 4th, not fluent next, headed 3 out, no extra next, 5th of 16, 18 1/2l behind Trump Lady (10-11) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Kotmask (FR) 6-5fav (10-12) Made all, not always fluent, edged left before 2 out and approaching last, joined closing stages, just prevailed, won at Huntingdon 2m (2) sft in Jan beating Collingham (10-12) by hd, 6 ran.