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15:40 Fontwell Park

John And Maryanne Birch Memorial Handicap Hurdle (Class 5)

  • 6 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 1f 162y
  • Going: Heavy (Soft in places)
  • Surface: Turf
  • £6,450 added
  • Winner: £3,406
  • 2nd: £1,567
  • 3rd: £784
  • 4th: £392
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 4m 59.23s
  • Off Time: 15:40:31
  • 6 Ran
1
Silk - Mauve, red diamond, mauve cap, white spots
  • Form 212644
  • Age 4
  • Weight 12-0
  • Official Rating 102

tracked leaders on outer, lost position 5th, not fluent and behind 3 out, pushed along and rallied before 2 out, plenty to do in 4th jumping last, ridden and stayed on gamely flat to lead final strides

3
Silk - Dark blue, light blue chevrons, dark blue sleeves, light blue stars and cap
  • Form 37812-5
  • Age 4
  • Weight 11-13
  • Official Rating 101

prominent, pushed along in 3rd home turn, gradually faded 2 out

5
Silk - Dark blue, light blue triple diamond, orange sleeves and cap
  • Form 6P3-490
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 98

led, not fluent 4 out, pushed along before 2 out, soon faced challenge, headed approaching last, ridden and kept on one pace run-in

6
Silk - Yellow, Mauve epaulets
  • Form 0935-09
  • Age 7
  • Weight 10-12
  • Official Rating 86

in rear, reminders after 2nd, pushed along and struggling after 3 out, tailed off

7
Silk - Light blue and white stripes, quartered cap
11/4
  • Form 51P50-1
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-8
  • Official Rating 82

towards rear, no impression and pushed along after 3 out, rallied before next and chased leaders, ridden and no progress after 2 out, weakened run-in

8
Silk - Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap
2/1
  • Form 5956-P
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-7
  • Official Rating 81

chased leaders, not fluent 5th, went 2nd home turn, pressed leader after 2 out, led approaching last, ridden and stayed on run-in, headed final strides

2
NR
  • Form 5-81162
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-13
  • Official Rating 101

NonRunner

4
NR
10/1
  • Form 413846-
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-12
  • Official Rating 100

NonRunner

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

RAY’S THE ONE is back on the same mark as when landing this 12 months ago and won on the all-weather over the summer. He‘s A Latchico was only caught on the run-in at Sandown on Friday but that race is sure to have taken something out of the five-year-old, though Rob Hargreaves’s 10lb claim is in his favour. Conditions would have to be a concern for recent course winner What‘s My Line but Play By The Rules will strip fitter for a fifth at Sedgefield.

Formwatch

Thirtyfour Thirty 22-1 (10-13) Prominent, not fluent 4th, pressed leader with a circuit to go, ridden and lost position home turn, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 9, 21 3/4l behind Il Pino (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f (4) sft in Nov.

Play By The Rules (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, hit 3 out, short of room approaching next, weakened flat, 5th of 8, 18 1/4l behind Special Rate (12-1) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.

Highlander Casseul (FR) 18-1 (11-5) Led, pushed along and headed 4 out, soon weakened, 10th of 11, dist behind Baddesley (11-8) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Nov.

Leading The Way (IRE) 100-1 (11-8) Always towards rear, 9th of 13, dist behind Herakles Westwood (11-13) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Nov.

What's My Line 7-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, hampered 2 out, soon ridden to chase leader, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) gs in Nov beating One Last Glance (11-1) by 1l, 9 ran.

Smart Casual 11-1 (11-4) Mid-division, pushed along and lost position before 3 out, soon tailed off and pulled up, at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Nov.

He's A Latchico (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Held up in mid-division, switched left and headway to lead 2 out, hung right and headed flat, no impression on winner towards finish, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Classic Anthem (11-10) at Sandown 2m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.

Ray's The One 22-1 (9-13) Soon prominent, went second after 1f, soon lost position, dropped to midfield before halfway, ridden when outpaced 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 17 1/2l behind Fair Dinkum (9-7) at Lingfield 2m hcp (6) pol in Nov.