Racecards
15:32 Fontwell Park
MansionBet Cheltmas Countdown Handicap Hurdle (Class 5)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 49y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £5,844 added
- Winner: £2,794
- 2nd: £820
- 3rd: £410
- 4th: £350
- Form 76F147
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer Mrs J Williams
- Jockey Chester Williams
chased leaders, went 2nd from 3 out, jumped left 2 out, well held when jumped left last
- Form 6-36031
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer J L Flint
- Jockey Isabel Williams
towards rear, pushed along in 8th after 3 out, stayed on approaching last, went never dangerous 3rd flat
- Form 0P-8597
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Jamie Bargary
chased leaders, 4th and no extra 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 16361P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer Kieran Burke
- Jockey Archie Bellamy
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, 5th and no extra 2 out
- Form P5-P668
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer Miss C Dyson
- Jockey Charlie Hammond
led until 3rd, prominent, bumped 6th, mistake 4 out, lost place before next, soon behind, tailed off
- Form 573848
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer P G Murphy
- Jockey M D Grant
prominent, led 3rd, bumped 6th, clear from 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on well
Big Picture
83- Form 19F/4U-0
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer J Farrelly
- Jockey Mitchell Bastyan
always in rear
- Form 8P-7DPF
- Age 7
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey Harry Reed
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, held in 3rd 2 out, weakening when mistake last
- Form P88/7P-3
- Age 7
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey H Cobden
chased leaders on outside, lost place 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 4/1F144-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer Mrs S Gardner
- Jockey Sean Houlihan
in rear, jumped big 3rd, struggling 3 out, tailed off
Eos (FR)
745- Form 0950/
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer Mrs D Grissell
- Jockey M Goldstein
prominent, jumped left, weakened from 3 out, mistake last, tailed off
- Form 620-490
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer C Hobson
- Jockey James Davies
NonRunner
Postie
111- Form 57-56
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer J M P Eustace
- Jockey Harry Bannister
NonRunner
Ermyn's Emerald
100- Form 247/5-26
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer P Phelan
- Jockey N F Houlihan
NonRunner
- Form 84F440
- Age 10
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer S Hodgson
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
NonRunner
In depth
Verdict
Spirit Of Rome had no chance in a Listed race at Exeter last month having won earlier at Taunton. She was also successful here in the autumn and will appreciate being back in the right grade. The Wire Flyer won at Ffos Las last month when both Gregarious and Definite Winner finished tailed off but LITTLE VERN was just behind a subsequent winner when third off this mark here in December. He has been quite lightly raced and his yard is in better form now. Darkest Day keeps knocking on the door but is now 0-12 and After The Fox may need to drop a few more pounds before picking up the winning thread again.
Formwatch
After The Fox 14-1 (11-1) Behind, struggling in rear after 5th, tailed off when went badly left last, 7th of 12, 24 1/2l behind Hardy Articos (11-3) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Feb.
The Wire Flyer 7-2 (11-5) Midfield, headway to chase leader before 3 out, led narrowly travelling strongly approaching 2 out, drew clear before last, pushed out flat, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp (5) hvy in Feb beating All Good Things (11-11) by 10l, 12 ran.
Ocean Voyage (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Mid-division on inside, mistake next, soon outpaced, well beaten 4 out, 7th of 10, dist behind Ben Brody (11-6) at Ludlow 2m hcp (5) sft in Feb.
Spirit Of Rome (IRE) 250-1 (10-10) Mid-division, lost place before 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 7th, at Exeter 2m 1f lst (1) hvy in Feb.
Gregarious (IRE) 66-1 (11-8) Led, ridden and headed after 4 out, weakening when not fluent 3 out, no extra, 8th of 12, dist behind The Wire Flyer (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (5) hvy in Feb.
Galtee Mountain (IRE) 18-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, outpaced 7th, well beaten from 3 out, 8th of 19, dist behind Lightonthewing (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
Big Picture 25-1 (10-12) Took keen hold in midfield, chased leaders 2nd, hit 5th, ridden before 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, 13th of 17, dist behind Amzac Magic (11-2) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Just Henny 20-1 (10-4) Held up, hit 5th, headway 7th, fell 3 out, at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (5) hvy in Feb.
Little Vern (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Held up, raced alone on inside back straight, ridden in rear before 2 out, headway to chase leaders last, no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Cristal Spirit (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Lapford Lad 3-1jfav (10-11) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 23l behind Isle Road (11-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Eos (FR) 200-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before next, 10th of 13, dist behind Tarada (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb.
Darkest Day (IRE) 22-1 (11-2) Towards rear, headway 2f out, stayed on towards finish and left 2nd, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Bailarico (11-2) at Lingfield 2m (5) pol in Feb.
Bullsempire (IRE) 125-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, pushed along over 2f out, hampered over 1f out, no impression, 10th of 14, 6 1/2l behind Atomic Jack (11-4) at Lingfield 2m (4) pol in Feb.
Postie 28-1 (11-0) Chased leader, close up 6th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, soon tailed off, 6th of 10, dist behind Dollnamix (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Ermyn's Emerald 13-2 (10-7) Close up, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 11, 34 3/4l behind Sawpit Sienna (10-0) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Definite Winner (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, awkward 2nd, some headway 4 out, midfield after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 10th of 12, dist behind The Wire Flyer (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (5) hvy in Feb.