May 16 / 18.40 Fontwell

18.40

Good

Starsports.Bet Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4013.56
  • 2m 1f 162y
  • Class 5
  • 12 runners
SKY
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Starsports.Bet Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Evs (Won)

  • Win: £2.38
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 9837-1 C

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Even penalised for last week's 12l rout in a mares' novice handicap here (2m3f, good) she's 4lb well in; no surprise if her respected connections are able to elicit more improvement from her.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Aintree

Mermaids Cave

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Won by 10l last week at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) in a race she also won the previous season, when beating Masked Dance on similar terms to today's; clear claims.

9/4

1st

3

7th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

14:45 Huntingdon

Mermaids Cave

11st 4lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

7-27 over hurdles, including a good-ground C&D win; not firing on all cylinders since last autumn but wasn't beaten far when fifth of seven in refitted cheekpieces at Fakenham (2m4f, good) last month and continues to slip down the weights.

4/1

5th

2

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 4

14:15 Fakenham

Mermaids Cave

12st 1lb

J: Mr Cian Murphy

T: James Owen

7-23 over hurdles, including a good-ground C&D win; beaten favourite in plating company two starts and pulled up in a subsequent handicap, but has slipped to a very good mark and can't be ruled out.

11/2

20/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: P7U45-

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Last month's C&D fifth (16l ahead of Ray's The One, but beaten 16l himself) represented only a partial return to form; unconvincing on balance, for all a mark 4lb below his last winning one makes appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

7

23rd Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

14:18 Hexham

Executive Pool

11st 6lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Rebecca Menzies

Signed off for Gary and Josh Moore with clear second to very progressive rival at Fontwell (2m1f, good to soft) last month and has good claims if judged on that performance but he's far too inconsistent to rely upon, and was tailed off on the Flat for new stable this month; headgear switched.

14/1

8th

6

(6)

6th Jun 2024

Good

1m 4f 15y

Class 6

17:05 Hamilton

Executive Pool

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Rebecca Menzies

Hasn't run on the Flat for nearly two years but is fit from jumping and returned to form at Fontwell last month; picked up since from the Moores for 7,000gns and interesting to see what he can do back in this sphere.

12/1

2nd

9

16th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

Executive Pool

10st 12lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Last month's C&D fifth (16l ahead of Ray's The One, but beaten 16l himself) represented only a partial return to form; unconvincing on balance, for all a mark 4lb below his last winning one makes appeal.

20/1

10/1

  • Place: £3.10

Form: 13U4F- C

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Jumping issues have surfaced since Christmas's winning chase debut here (2m2f, soft); return to hurdles seems wise after a crunching fall latest, albeit he's 0-11 over them and 3lb higher than when last trying this discipline; cheekpieces hastily returned to replace blinkers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

24th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

16:55 Fontwell

Gorcombe Moonshine

10st 7lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Gave very good account when close second over C&D (good to soft) last month and subsequent fifth of 12 over C&D (good) was perfectly respectable but his overall strike-rate is just 1-35 and others appeal more.

5/1

5th

9

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:20 Fontwell

Gorcombe Moonshine

10st 11lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Just 1-34 under rules but the win came here (in 2023) and he went very close to a second course success 16 days ago, going down by only a head over this trip on good to soft; another who could be involved in the finish.

5/1

2nd

7

8th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

16:47 Fontwell

Gorcombe Moonshine

10st 5lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Robert Walford

Just 1-33 under rules but the win came here (in 2023) and he gave a good account when second from out of the weights at Hereford (2m5f, good) last month, after a break; could have a say.

6/1

Form: 11457-

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Thought by connections as better suited by galloping tracks such as the Worcester of last year's two 2m wins (good, good to soft), which doesn't augur well around this sharp test, a further 2lb ease notwithstanding.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

16th Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

14:28 Uttoxeter

Emanate

10st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Neil Mulholland

in touch with leaders, outpaced and dropped to rear 6th, rallied 3 out, weakened gradually approaching last, jumped left last

5/1

4th

5

16th Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

14:28 Uttoxeter

Emanate

10st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Neil Mulholland

in touch with leaders, outpaced and dropped to rear 6th, rallied 3 out, weakened gradually approaching last, jumped left last

5/1

3rd

8

17th Oct 2024

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 4

16:03 Wincanton

Emanate

10st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Neil Mulholland

in touch with leaders

12/1

Form: 0791P- CD

Last run: 24 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Form of 40-1 C&D maiden win in March (heavy; first start since a wind job) rates a big personal best; proved last autumn he also has something to offer on drier ground, but blowout last time needs forgiving.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

25th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

16:08 Fontwell

Clinton Lane

10st 13lb

J: James Davies

T: Mark Gillard

2-20 over hurdles; put in good front-running shift before weakening into fifth at Ffos Las (2m4f, good) this month and may benefit from today's drop back in trip but others in the line-up have more appealing profiles.

8/1

1st

5

25th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

16:08 Fontwell

Clinton Lane

10st 13lb

J: James Davies

T: Mark Gillard

2-20 over hurdles; put in good front-running shift before weakening into fifth at Ffos Las (2m4f, good) this month and may benefit from today's drop back in trip but others in the line-up have more appealing profiles.

8/1

4

6th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:00 Ffos Las

Clinton Lane

11st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Mark Gillard

Stuck to his task pretty well when fifth of 12 in Fontwell handicap (2m3f, good) 11 days ago but has rather mixed record since winning 2m Plumpton maiden in October and others appeal more.

12/1

Form: 15176- C

Last run: 182 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Wins here and at Newton Abbot last year (2m1f/2m3f) indicated his appreciation of good ground and a sharp track, things he didn't have both of on his final two starts; six-month absence rates as much of a negative as rain, being yet to win after more than five weeks away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

15:40 Stratford

Sassified

11st 8lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Four-time hurdle winner and his last success was at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good to soft) in June; disappointing in final run for the Hobbs/White yard but he still looks feasibly treated on his best form and needs a close look on first run for James Owen; new headgear.

6/4

Form: /0849- CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Winner of the same C&D 0-105 in December 2021 and 2022 (for this yard), but thumping defeats on last six Flat/hurdles starts and not persuasive; cheekpieces added to tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

11

29th Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

18:48 Fontwell

Rays The One

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Mark Pattinson

Dual C&D winner (soft/good) but not since December 2022, and is very inconsistent nowadays; tailed off at Stratford on latest outing in early July; 1lb wrong today; others have more pressing claims.

25/1

7th

9

1st Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

19:18 Stratford

Rays The One

10st 2lb

J: Connor Brace

T: Mark Pattinson

Placed over hurdles in February and there was nothing wrong with his sixth at Warwick (2m3f, good) in April; has undergone wind surgery since finishing a distant last of ten back on the Flat in May but others have more pressing claims.

14/1

10th

5

4th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 6f 44y

Class 6

17:00 Salisbury

Rays The One

9st 3lb

J: Molly Gunn

T: Mark Pattinson

Placed over hurdles in February but three lesser performances since then; both Flat wins have come on the AW and a good while back now.

16/1

Form: 56987-

Last run: 142 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
22 months since his one hurdles success, faring no better for the return to 2m3f-plus of late; work on from 7lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

30th Aug 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

15:50 Fontwell

African Sun

10st 2lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy

Only beaten about 10l when fourth at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) last month but is effectively only 1lb lower here and it's over two years since his only win.

25/1

4th

13

9th Jul 2024

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

19:05 Uttoxeter

African Sun

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy

Won this race in 2022 but yet to add to that success, and it's a good while since he was placed; 6lb wrong today; difficult to enthuse over.

50/1

7th

7

27th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 171y

Class 5

16:55 Huntingdon

African Sun

10st 2lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy

in rear

40/1

Form: /53/9-

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Didn't shape without promise on last month's stable debut (2m3f, good), the preceding 1,045-day absence unsurprisingly telling late on; placed off 9lb higher in June 2021 on the last time he contested a handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

1st Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

12:40 Worcester

Phil Healy

11st 5lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Joe Ponting

0-7 over hurdles; well handicapped on old form but returned from mammoth absence with two down-the-field finishes for new stable this spring and has huge amount to prove on chasing debut.

50/1

10th

6

16th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

Phil Healy

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Joe Ponting

Didn't shape without promise on last month's stable debut (2m3f, good), the preceding 1,045-day absence unsurprisingly telling late on; placed off 9lb higher in June 2021 on the last time he contested a handicap.

20/1

10th

6

16th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

Phil Healy

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Joe Ponting

Didn't shape without promise on last month's stable debut (2m3f, good), the preceding 1,045-day absence unsurprisingly telling late on; placed off 9lb higher in June 2021 on the last time he contested a handicap.

20/1

Form: 47P/3- D

Last run: 56 days

W: 10st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Sedgefield win off 2lb lower two years ago (2m1f, good) was owed to the sharp track, and this would be the speediest circuit he's encountered since; fine return after 15 months out latest, and a live chance here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

17th Jul 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

17:15 Uttoxeter

Mac Be Lucky

10st 3lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Won off 1lb lower at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) in May 2022 but he's been lightly raced since; returned after a long absence with a close third at Chepstow (2m, soft) in March but he's not kicked on from that and has something to prove again; visor added.

16/1

7th

10

5th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

17:15 Newton Abbot

Mac Be Lucky

10st 6lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

7yo with just ten runs behind him; won off 2lb lower at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) two years ago; his second run back from an absence wasn't as good as the first (close up over 2m on soft) but he could rebound and fair shout if he does.

12/1

11th

11

16th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

Mac Be Lucky

10st 4lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Sedgefield win off 2lb lower two years ago (2m1f, good) was owed to the sharp track, and this would be the speediest circuit he's encountered since; fine return after 15 months out latest, and a live chance here.

4/1

Form: /UPP0-

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Mark 12lb below her last winning one is owed to a poor 2023-24 season; not convinced this longest trip to date is what she's been after.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

1

(8)

12th Aug 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 5

17:35 Kempton (AW)

At A Pinch

10st 4lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Toby Lawes

in touch with leaders, dropped to rear over 2f out, soon struggling

25/1

5th

6

6th Jun 2024

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

15:13 Uttoxeter

At A Pinch

11st 5lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

Won off a 17lb higher mark in February last year and that was the last time she sported a hood, which is now joined by cheekpieces; a revival wouldn't be a complete bolt from the blue.

25/1

12th

4

16th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

At A Pinch

11st 7lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

Mark 12lb below her last winning one is owed to a poor 2023-24 season; not convinced this longest trip to date is what she's been after.

66/1

Form: 934P-3 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Bled from the nose over C&D last month but has already bounced back with a third in a Fakenham seller, running up to his mark; 5lb lower than for the most recent of two wins here, and appeals most of the Moore pair.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.10
Straight Forecast £9.70
Tricast £53.29
Trifecta £71.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Mermaids Cave

RP RATINGS:

Tara Iti

WEST COUNTRY:

Gorcombe Moonshine

Telegraph:

Emanate

The Guardian:

Mermaids Cave

Daily Mail:

Mermaids Cave

D Express:

Mermaids Cave

Daily Mirror:

Mermaids Cave

The Sun:

Mermaids Cave

Daily Record:

Mermaids Cave

TOPSPEED:

Tara Iti

POSTDATA:

Tara Iti

The Times:

Tara Iti

The Star:

Tara Iti