Racecards
14:30 Fontwell Park
Cenkos Securities Novices' Chase (Class 3)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- Form 321112
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey J Tizzard
made all, clear from 3 out, hit last, eased flat
- Form B/4P-U
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Nick Williams
- Jockey P J Brennan
raced in 3rd, mistake 2nd, chased winner 5th, blundered 7th and next, blundered and weakened 3 out
- Form PP0
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Mrs L C Jewell
- Jockey O McPhail
chased winner to 5th, weakened before 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Lago d'Oro
29- Form 383644
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer Dr P Pritchard
- Jockey James Davies
raced in 4th, mistake 3rd, plugged on from 3 out to take poor 2nd last
- Form 2P-2211
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey B P Harding
Nonrunner
- Form 12-F232
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey N D Fehily
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Bold Bishop gets the confident vote here with Le Volfoni and Big Moment rating the main dangers. The selection has won his last two races in good style notably when beating Europa last time out. Granted he has a penalty for that win but he is still well weighted on his best hurdles form and despite top weight he is taken to win again. Le Volfoni rates the main danger on his latest second behind Foreman but his jumping was far from fluent on that occasion and he will need to improve in that department if he is to score. Big Moment also ran well last time out when third behind Voy Pour Ustedes but he may have been faltered there and for that reason he is opposed. Steppes Of Gold was a fair second behind Star De Mohaison last time and is another with place claims but the suspicion is he will be seen to better effect over a longer trip. The remainder have shown very little and are readily opposed and for the winner we return to Bold Bishop.
Formwatch
Le Volfoni (FR) Evensfav (10-13) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, joined next, headed last, not pace of winner, 2nd of 4, 3l behind Foreman (11-3) at Lingfield 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
La Source A Gold (IRE) 150-1 (11-2) Towards rear when hampered and unseated rider at the 7th in race won by Racing Demon (11-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (3) gs, 10 ran.
Lochanee (IRE) 100-1 (10-10) Held up, ridden and struggling before 3 out, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Doc Row (11-6) at Folkestone 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Lago d'Oro 100-1 (10-9) Tracked leader, led after 2nd, headed 4th, behind from 8th, 4th of 5, 34l behind Don't Be Shy (10-7) at Haydock 2m 4f nov chs (2) hvy in Jan.
Bold Bishop (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway on inside after 12th, ridden to chase leaders soon after, narrow leader last, kept on well, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov beating Europa (10-12) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Big Moment 4-1 (11-8) In touch, blundered 5th and 3 out, stayed on from last, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Voy Por Ustedes (11-1) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov chs (C) sft in Dec.
Steppes of Gold (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, chased easy winner from 3 out, no impression, 2nd of 6, 13l behind Star De Mohaison (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (3) gs in Jan.