Racecards
12:40 Fontwell Park
Patrick Your 2 Weeks Late Murphy Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 33y
- Going: Soft (Heavy in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,249
- 2nd: £954
- 3rd: £477
- 4th: £238
- Form F8-PR21
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer H Whittington
- Jockey G Sheehan
led, ridden and headed when mistake last, no impression on winner flat
- Form 4-2
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Scott
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
mid-division, closed after 4th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 1-21
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss S Smith
- Jockey T J O'Brien
prominent, not fluent 6th, not much room briefly after 3 out, challenged going best 2 out, led last, nudged clear flat, easily
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs L C Jewell
- Jockey Tom Cannon
mid-division, lost place before 3rd, behind from next
Dukes Den
140- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up towards rear, behind 4th, plugged on from 2 out, went 3rd briefly flat, no chance with leaders
Grayhawk (IRE)
206- Form P/274F-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs D Grissell
- Jockey Mr Oswald Wedmore
held up towards rear, behind from 4th
- Form 56-5
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs H R J Nelmes
- Jockey Conor Ring
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, behind 4th, not fluent 6th, plugged on from 2 out, went 3rd flat, no chance with leaders
Spring Wolf
390- Form 2/3-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer B Ryall
- Jockey Dave Crosse
prominent, not fluent 6th or 4 out, soon ridden, weakening when mistake 2 out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Harry Whittington's stable has been among the winners lately and BIGMARTRE should add to the tally. The French import made a winning UK debut over 2m1f here five weeks ago and stepping up in distance should not be a problem. Fakenham runner-up Blue April looks the pick of Jeremy Scott's two runners and is probably a danger along with point-to-point and bumper winner Clondaw Cian but it's hard to be enthusiastic about many of the others.
Formwatch
Bigmartre (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Made all, clear before 2 out, hit last, hung right run-in, driven out, unchallenged, won at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gd in Oct beating Board Of Trade (10-12) by 5l, 8 ran.
Blue April (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, outpaced before 3 out, kept on before last, went 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Miami Present (11-0) at Fakenham 2m mdn (5) gs in Oct.
Clondaw Cian (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Led briefly, tracked leader, led again over 2f out, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f (6) sft in Nov beating William H Bonney (11-2) by 1l, 10 ran.
Due South (IRE) City Honours gelding out of Lady Shackleton.
Dukes Den 9-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, towards rear, mid-division after 3f, chased leaders halfway, led 3f out until over 2f out, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 25l behind Noor Al Haya (9-5) at Lingfield 2m hcp (6) gf in Jul.
Grayhawk (IRE) 6-1 (12-2) Chsd lds, disp frm 4th, ld 5th, hdd 3out & still 1l 2nd with prospects when fell 3out, at Curraheen 3m mdn gs in May.
Itsaboutime (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Wett badly left 1st, in rear, gained a place after 5th, outpaced 3 out, no chance after, tailed off, 5th of 6, 21 1/4l behind Detroit Blues (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn (4) gd in May.
Spring Wolf 33-1 (11-0) In touch in mid-division, effort and pushed along 4f out, went 3rd over 3f out, outpaced by leaders over 2f out, 3rd of 14, 17 1/2l behind Missed Approach (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m (6) gs in Oct.
Threebarmymen (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up in last pair, plugged on into poor 4th run-in, 4th of 8, dist behind Bon Enfant (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) sft in Nov.