Racecards
15:30 Fontwell Park
John Smith's Selling Hurdle (Class 5)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f 110y
- Going: Good to Firm (Good places)(Chase: Good, Good to Firm places)
- Surface: Turf
- £2,850 added
- Form 078471
- Age 10
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey P Hide
took keen hold early, soon settled in last trio, headway going well approaching 3 out, challenged next, led before last, pushed out flat
- Form 666U1F
- Age 9
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer W G M Turner
- Jockey Mr Turlough O'connor
headway 2nd, soon tracking leaders, not fluent 3rd, ridden before 6th, led 3 out until headed and weakened next
- Form 1FP4P5
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer L Corcoran
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up in last trio, mistake 2nd, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, soon ridden and weakened after
- Form 124-224
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer M G Quinlan
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up in touch, headway travelling well approaching 3 out, led 2 out, headed approaching last, no chance with winner flat
- Form 3-P6PP5
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer D G Bridgwater
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
led, mistake and headed 3 out, weakened quickly
- Form 75P7F3
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Jamie Snowden
- Jockey Christian Williams
chased leader, reminder after 2nd, ridden and lost 2nd 6th, mistake and weakened 3 out
- Form 06049
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer Mrs H R J Nelmes
- Jockey O Nelmes
held up in last trio, headway 6th, tracked leaders going well enough next, every chance 2 out, weakened before last
- Form 705-PP
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer Mrs L C Jewell
- Jockey A Thornton
chased leaders, weakened quickly 6th, soon lost touch
In depth
Verdict
BLACK BEAUTY and Alrafid are the two to concentrate on here with preference for the first-named. Mick Quinlan's gelding has been busy recently, taking in races over fences and on the flat as well as over hurdles. This ex-Irish flat horse is yet to win on these shores but this looks his best chance to date and he can finally break his duck. Lester Leaps In should feature on most shortlists as he reverts to hurdles this afternoon. Recent outings over fences have not been great (poor jumping a feature) but if we go back far enough then he has some decent handicap hurdling form from over a year ago. Alrafid has claims but he is not the most consistent and he also has a winners' penalty to carry today. His recent outings on the flat have been modest and having only just scraped home when winning here earlier in the season he is hard to fancy strongly. At a price Shanahan could run well granted this further drop in grade, whilst Chunky Lad needs to improve his hurdling technique. A tough race to call but Black Beauty can lead them home.
Formwatch
Alrafid (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Held up, mistake 3rd, headway 3 out, ridden to challenge after 2 out, hit last, led near finish, all out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f sell hdl (5) gd in Nov beating Mad Professor (10-5) by hd, 10 ran.
Chunky Lad 13-2 (11-0) Mid-division, fell 4th, in a race won by Tooka (10-8) at Towcester 2m 3f Ladies sell hdl (5) gd in Mar, 13 ran.
Shanahan (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Behind, under pressure 4 out, soon beaten, 5th of 10, 21l behind Mount Benger (11-2) at Chepstow 2m clm hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Black Beauty 7-2 (11-10) Raced keenly and led, headed 3 out, soon ridden, no extra from next, 4th of 10, 9l behind Well Disguised (9-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Country Affair (USA) 33-1 (10-13) Mid-division, jumped right 1st, hampered 5th, struggling when not fluent 3 out, 5th of 16, 44l behind The Wooden Spoon (11-12) at Stratford 2m 6f sell hdl (5) gf in Mar.
Lester Leaps In (USA) 13-2 (11-12) Prominent, ridden 9th, lost touch 10th, weakened 4 out, last of 3, 46l behind Dream Falcon (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) fm in Mar.
Prince Ducal (FR) 40-1 (11-5) In touch, hit 2nd, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 13, 30l behind Ton-Chee (10-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Mar.
Surely Keen 100-1 (11-2) Mid-division, mistake 5th, well behind well pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Silver Sister (10-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f sell hdl (5) gd in Mar, 15 ran.
Tecktal (FR) 100-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, mistake 1st, 12th of 14, 45l behind Stage Acclaim (10-4) at Lingfield 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.