Racecards
15:20 Fontwell Park
Susie & Gerald Wedding Day Selling Handicap Hurdle
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- Form P41001
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer P Winkworth
- Jockey P Hide
held up, mistake 4th, reminders 5th, lost touch from 4 out
- Form P7F503
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer T M Jones
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
led, headed after 6th, kept on one pace
- Form 6-P4974
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey A P McCoy
tracked leaders until ridden and weakened 3 out
- Form 8P5941
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey T J Malone
tracked leader, keen, reminders and led after 6th, soon clear, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on
- Form 700/040
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer N R Mitchell
- Jockey R Young
held up in touch, weakened 3 out
- Form P33541
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 75
held up, reminders 4th and again 6th, headway after 4 out to chase winner, pressed winner flat but not reach
- Form P2P49-1
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer K A Morgan
- Jockey Stephen Craine
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
The vote here goes to Irish Blessing ahead of Lismeenan, Crazy Mazie and, possibly, Denarius Secundus. Irish Blessing benefited from a positive ride last time to win a similar event at Chepstow and ,despite having been raised seven pounds for that success, should show up again under Tom Doyle. At The Double has been raised four pounds for a course and distance win, although he may have been lucky to score on that occasion as the Martin Pipe-trained runner-up seemed to throw it away close home. The champion trainer runs Philippa Yeates today, who is very much a reluctant heroine but, to be fair, she wins in her turn. However, much as she meets Madison Avenue on the same terms as when beating that rival by three-and-a-half lengths at Plumpton last time, we prefer others today. Lismeenan's second to Jesper was franked when the winner won from a six-pound higher mark on Monday, so he could go well, and Crazy Mazie has been raised three pounds for a Uttoxeter selling win, and is entitled to respect on the basis of that form. Finally, Christmas Truce probably has to improve to score but Denarius Secundus could be interesting. He is having his first run in this country, but showed enough in non-selling events in Ireland to be granted respect in this low-grade affair. Watch the betting for clues but, without that, we will side with Irish Blessing.
Formwatch
At The Double 5-1 Held up, headway to chase leader approaching 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to lead after last, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 6f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gs beating Earn Out by 4l, 7 ran.
Madison Avenue (GER) 10-1 Raced keenly, soon with leaders, led 7th, clear with one rival 9th, hit 3 out, headed 2 out, no impression last, weakened flat, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Philippa Yeates at Plumpton 2m 5f cnd sll hcp hdl (G) gd.
Christmas Truce (IRE) 14-1 Tracked leaders, ridden to lead after 3 out, headed approaching 2 out and weakened, 4th of 10, 15l behind Herne Bay at Stratford 2m 3f sll hdl (G) sft.
Philippa Yeates (IRE) 7-1 Led to 4th, stayed close up, ridden 9th, headway to chase leader 3 out, led 2 out, weakening flat, just held on, won at Plumpton 2m 5f cnd sll hcp hdl (G) gd beating Brisbane Road by a shd, 10 ran.
Denarius Secundus 12-1 Never better than mid-division, 15th of 26, 47l behind Dun Doire at Navan 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl hvy in Feb.
Irish Blessing (USA) 11-2 Held up in touch, left in lead 3 out, clear 2 out, ridden last, driven out, won at Chepstow 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gd beating Temper Lad by 4l, 17 ran.
Lismeenan (IRE) 14-1 Held up in rear, ridden 4 out, headway 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Jesper at Huntingdon 2m 5f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gd.
Crazy Mazie 5-1jt-fav Mid-division, headway 8th, not fluent 3 out, led 2 out, all out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-100 (G) gs in May beating Knightsbridge King by a nk, 12 ran.