February 14 / 15.50 Fontwell

15.50

Soft

Southern Contract Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 3f 104y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
Southern Contract Handicap Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 985257

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Sole win was at 2m last January, from 20 races under rules; ran on well for second here (2m2f, soft) on Boxing Day and was way out of the handicap next time, before a modest show at Exeter two weeks ago; it's hard to see him as a solid option but he's far from alone in that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

6th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

18:42 Fontwell

Valirann Gold

10st 13lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Harriet Brown

Course winner; a lot of his form is over shorter but he proved his stamina for 3m when runner-up at Ffos Las two weeks ago (good); unlikely to be far away off the same mark.

5/1

2nd

10

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:42 Ffos Las

Valirann Gold

10st 5lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Harriet Brown

Produced a remarkable late surge to snatch what had looked an unlikely victory at Fontwell (2m5f, good to soft; blinkers removed) last month but this inconsistent 9yo tends to race lazily nowadays and got going too late when back at Fontwell a fortnight ago; other are much less risky.

12/1

OUR TIP

6/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 57-F3P

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
His one win came over hurdles in France in March 2022; six runs for this yard, easily the most substantial of those when third of 13 at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) on penultimate start, but he then pulled up at Plumpton; questions to answer but the same applies to all of these.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

4th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

17:25 Huntingdon

Flamelco

11st 1lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Sarah Humphrey

Has three wins over fences, including one over C&D; 2lb lower than for his last win at Plumpton last April but has been below his best on his last three starts, the latest when tailed off over hurdles.

16/1

7th

7

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Kempton

Flamelco

11st 1lb

J: Jamie Gambin

T: Sarah Humphrey

Hasn't raced over hurdles for nearly three years but is competitively treated assuming he's in top form; on last winning chase mark.

14/1

2nd

3

8th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 77y

Class 4

15:45 Sedgefield

Flamelco

11st 6lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Sarah Humphrey

Gained a third chase win last season at Plumpton (2m1f) in April but went too freely when last of three in 2m Huntingdon handicap chase the following month; it would come as no surprise to see him bounce back after a break here though.

9/4

Form: 261P92 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Jumped well and made all at Plumpton (near 2m4f, good to soft) in November on second start over fences; right out of form on next outings but there was a partial recovery when these cheekpieces were enlisted at Wincanton (15l second) latest, so he's considered in this weak race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 166y

Class 5

18:50 Fontwell

West Orchard

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Four-time winner over fences including here (about 2m 3f, good) in 2024; last ran over hurdles when second at Wincanton (about 3m, good to soft) and he returns to this sphere after a couple of errors at Plumpton last month; respected.

7/4

3rd

2

16th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 157y

Class 5

16:15 Plumpton

West Orchard

11st 13lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Four-time chase winner (2m3f/3m1f) in 2023 and 2024, two of them here, and shaped promisingly on hurdles return in December after a long absence; left behind a below-par run over fences later that month with a short-head defeat at Wincanton (3m1f, good to soft) last month; back up 2lb but needs respecting with course form.

3/1

2nd

5

25th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

14:50 Wincanton

West Orchard

10st 13lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Won three out of four chases in October-December 2024 (including C&D, good to soft; handles softer) and was an encouraging second over hurdles here (about 3m) on his comeback from a year's absence; return to fences didn't go well at Taunton later that month but could bounce back following two months off.

7/2

Form: P/U21/ C

Last run: 695 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Won over hurdles here on soft in 2020 and never better than when scoring over fences at Plumpton (3m1f, good) on latest start but that was in March 2022; 6lb higher today but wellbeing after the layoff is the chief question and, with his trainer running three, the market can guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

25th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

14:23 Fontwell

Call Off The Dogs

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Gained three of his four chasing wins here and seems very versatile regarding trips but ended last season with two disappointing efforts and needs to be perked up by a change of headgear today.

7/1

1

25th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

14:23 Fontwell

Call Off The Dogs

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Gained three of his four chasing wins here and seems very versatile regarding trips but ended last season with two disappointing efforts and needs to be perked up by a change of headgear today.

7/1

7

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 135y

Class 4

14:15 Fontwell

Call Off The Dogs

11st 1lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Four wins and two seconds from 11 races at Fontwell; his last success was off this mark over an extended 2m3f in September but he's been well held in all three runs since and needs a major revival; stablemate of All Authorized.

12/1

Form: U1P-50 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Two wins (one here) from four chase completions last term but pulled up on final start in that campaign and came home well adrift on both starts this term; back to his last winning mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

14th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

16:17 Newton Abbot

Lightonthewing

11st 2lb

J: Ciaran O’Shea

T: Sue Gardner

Has more wins over fences, most recently at Exeter (3m, good to soft) last month under Ciaran O'Shea; failed to fire 20 days later but he's effective in this sphere as shown when a close second at Chepstow in February; yet to win from a mark this high but should be firmly in the mix.

9/2

5th

6

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 6f 136y

Class 4

15:50 Chepstow

Lightonthewing

10st 10lb

J: Ciaran O’Shea

T: Sue Gardner

Often front-runner; ridden by Ciaran O'Shea on last four starts; 7-22 in chases (one of his hurdles wins was this track) and those wins include his last two completed starts in this sphere, the latest at Exeter (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago; this trip is unknown territory but he ran well over an extended 3m4f at Stratford in 2024; has to be in serious calculations.

9/2

1st

3

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:43 Exeter

Lightonthewing

11st 1lb

J: Ciaran O’Shea

T: Sue Gardner

Back to form to win a Wincanton chase (3m1f, soft) in December and nearly went in again back over hurdles at Chepstow in a race he won the previous year; nothing wrong with this mark and stable goes well.

3/1

Form: 3P3364

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Exposed 26-race maiden; had wind surgery before latest start, when she also had cheekpieces added; bits of form give her a shout, including her thirds on all three appearances at this track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

24th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

16:55 Fontwell

Millies Mite

10st 2lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Karen Jewell

Dual C&D winner, latterly on good ground last April; her infrequent going days are difficult to foretell, though, and she was soundly beaten here (2m2f) ten days ago; 1lb out of the weights.

25/1

6th

8

14th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 165y

Class 5

19:40 Fontwell

Millies Mite

10st 2lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Karen Jewell

Course regular who has won twice (about 2m3f, good) and been placed on another four occasions from 15 visits; last won just over a year ago but looked to have something to offer when unseating four out in April and it was too far out to tell how she'd have fared when falling, again here, last time; 2lb wrong but she's not dismissed.

20/1

11

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:20 Fontwell

Millies Mite

10st 5lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Karen Jewell

Pulled up on her final two outings in 2025 but looked in much better form back from a break here 16 days ago, moving well close to the pace when unseating four out; has won the last two runnings of this race off similar marks and could be set for another bold bid.

10/1

Non-runners

Mortens Leam, Walk In The Wild

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.10
Straight Forecast £7.47
Tricast £17.73
Trifecta £22.30

Selections

POSTDATA:

West Orchard

SPOTLIGHT:

Walk In The Wild

The Times:

Valirann Gold

The Star:

Lightonthewing

Telegraph:

Call Off The Dogs

RP RATINGS:

Mortens Leam

WEST COUNTRY:

West Orchard

Daily Mirror:

West Orchard

Daily Record:

West Orchard

The Guardian:

Valirann Gold

Daily Mail:

Walk In The Wild

D Express:

Walk In The Wild

The Sun:

Walk In The Wild