April 05 / 15.45 Fontwell

15.45

Heavy

AK Bets Can’t Afford Chris Rock Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4193.42
  • 2m 5f 164y
  • Class 4
  • 4 runners
SKY
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AK Bets Can’t Afford Chris Rock Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Form: 12 C BF

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Created pretty good impression when causing 16-1 surprise here (2m1f, soft) on rules debut in January and was not discredited when clear second to Paul Nicholls-trained rival at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) last month; obvious contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

11th Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:02 Lingfield

Johnny Jump Up

11st 10lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

took keen hold, prominent, raced wide when hit 5th, disputed lead 7th, led 8th, pushed along 2 out (usual 3 out), went clear approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in, readily

5/1

1st

1

11th Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:02 Lingfield

Johnny Jump Up

11st 10lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

took keen hold, prominent, raced wide when hit 5th, disputed lead 7th

5/1

Form: 2F122 BF

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Just did enough to win Chepstow maiden (2m3f, soft) in January and probably ran to similar level of fairly useful form when close second in cheekpieces on both subsequent appearances; proven on heavy ground and has a big role to play here; blinkers tried today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

25th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

15:30 Sandown

Livin On Luco

10st 5lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Failed to fire in the Eider at Newcastle on penultimate start; commendable otherwise this season, making all in the Southern National at Fontwell (3m3f, good to soft), fourth in Welsh Grand National at Chepstow (3m7f, good to soft) and short-headed at Exeter (3m7f, good) five weeks ago; raised another 2lb but has place claims.

12/1

2nd

4

22nd Mar 2026

Good

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

15:02 Exeter

Livin On Luco

11st 6lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Made all in Southern National at Fontwell (3m3f, good to soft) on seasonal debut in November and was commendable fourth in Welsh Grand National at Chepstow (3m6f, good to soft) just after Christmas; didn't fire in last month's Eider at Newcastle but still features prominently in calculations; placed the only time he raced on good ground.

11/4

6th

6

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

4m 1f 56y

Class 2

14:43 Newcastle

Livin On Luco

10st 2lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Made all under Callum Pritchard in the Southern National at Fontwell (extended 3m3f, good to soft) on reappearance in November, clear from four out and holding on by a neck from a strong finisher; came from mid-division when creditable fourth in the Welsh National at Chepstow (extended 3m6f) and having a crack at 4m+ now makes appeal; one to consider.

7/2

Form: P-7

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
About 34l behind Johnny Jump Up when 200-1 for last month's hurdling debut at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) and looks up against it again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

28th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:05 Worcester

Dontaskchris

10st 7lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Diana Grissell

Very lightly raced for an 8yo but he was tailed off in the first-time hood on last month's handicap debut (2m3f, good; 18-1).

50/1

9th

10

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

19:50 Fontwell

Dontaskchris

10st 11lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Diana Grissell

Unexposed 8yo but he didn't show great over hurdles in 2024 which included a refusal to race over C&D; now goes handicapping but he has plenty to prove after almost two years off; hood added.

33/1

5th

2

9th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 4

14:55 Huntingdon

Dontaskchris

11st 4lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Diana Grissell

Beat only one on his hurdling debut at Plumpton in March and refused to race at Fontwell month later; has major questions to answer.

50/1

Form: 1/3-6 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won course bumper in February 2022 and made fairly encouraging hurdle debut the following October but was not seen again until Plumpton last month, where he raced too freely and finished about 32l behind Johnny Jump Up; needs to have taken significant benefit from that outing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

9th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 1f 157y

Class 5

16:15 Plumpton

Record High

12st 0lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Suzy Smith

1-10 over fences, the win gained over 3m2f on heavy at Fontwell a year ago; competitive in three of his four races this season and has a solid chance; first run in a tongue-tie.

9/2

1

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

16:15 Fontwell

Record High

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Suzy Smith

Off the mark over fences in four-runner C&D (heavy) contest in February; signed off with poor performance in April and may not find today's ground slow enough but probably still has more to offer over staying trips this season and the booking of Sean Bowen catches the eye.

8/1

5

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

19:15 Ffos Las

Record High

11st 13lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Suzy Smith

Lightly raced but he's going the right way over fences and was a convincing winner of a four-runner race at Fontwell (3m2f, heavy; up 4lb) in February; has missed engagements when the ground was good, including one last month, but enters calculations if this surface is thought suitable.

11/2

Verdict

Livin On Luco has pretty solid claims and is unlikely to go down without a fight but JOHNNY JUMP UP has shown a slightly higher level of form and probably has more potential.[Chris Wilson]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Johnny Jump Up

TOPSPEED:

Livin On Luco

RP RATINGS:

Johnny Jump Up

The Times:

Johnny Jump Up

Telegraph:

Johnny Jump Up

The Guardian:

Johnny Jump Up

Daily Mirror:

Johnny Jump Up

Daily Record:

Johnny Jump Up

POSTDATA:

Livin On Luco

WEST COUNTRY:

Livin On Luco

Daily Mail:

Livin On Luco

D Express:

Livin On Luco

The Sun:

Livin On Luco

The Star:

Livin On Luco