October 23 / 14.30 Fontwell

14.30

Soft

BetMGM: It’s Showtime Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 5f 164y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
BetMGM: It’s Showtime Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 3/5-45

Last run: 20 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Very lightly raced 7yo who ran well for a long way before fading into fifth in 2m Warwick novice this month; open to improvement in handicaps and bred to be suited by today's step up in trip; tongue-tie added; no surprise if he features.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

15:12 Warwick

Just Four Fame

10st 13lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: David Dennis

0-10 over hurdles; went down fighting when second here (3m2f, good) last March but we haven't seen him since and this drop back in trip may not be ideal.

10/1

2nd

7

27th Mar 2025

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:57 Warwick

Just Four Fame

10st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: David Dennis

Continues to fall in the weights but he's had a few chances now in handicaps and is not progressing.

20/1

8th

8

21st Feb 2025

Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

13:40 Warwick

Just Four Fame

10st 4lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: David Dennis

prominent, lost ground before 4 out, weakened before 2 out

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 43355-

Last run: 187 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
0-6 over hurdles and absent since a disappointing run in April but his first two handicap runs (2m5f/2m4f) were quite encouraging and improvement is possible this season; cheekpieces left off today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

23rd Oct 2024

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:30 Fontwell

Defi Nonantais

11st 11lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

0-6 over hurdles and absent since a disappointing run in April but his first two handicap runs (2m5f/2m4f) were quite encouraging and improvement is possible this season; cheekpieces left off today.

10/1

5th

5

19th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

18:30 Exeter

Defi Nonantais

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Joe Tizzard

Has shown glimpses of promise in both novice and handicap company and stepped up slightly on his return from wind surgery when fifth at Plumpton (2m4f, good; first-time tongue-tie and cheekpieces) latest; drops 2lb and likely to need more improvement to defy this mark.

20/1

Form: P05-U2 BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
0-9 over hurdles but ran big race when clear second to unexposed rival here (2m3f, good to soft) this month; has to take a 6lb rise on the chin but still commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

17th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

14:57 Uttoxeter

Golden Ambition

11st 4lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Disappointed when dropped back to 2m4f here in July but began his chasing career with two promising thirds (2m5f/2m7f, good) and will be suited by today's return to 3m; has a fighting chance if back on song.

9/2

9th

7

27th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:07 Uttoxeter

Golden Ambition

11st 2lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Won twice over hurdles and has kicked off over fences with fairly close thirds over 2m5f here and 2m7f at Worcester; looks on the right sort of mark but considered each-way.

9/2

7

7th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:42 Worcester

Golden Ambition

11st 5lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Dual hurdle winner who was beaten 5l on chase debut at Uttoxeter (2m5f; stays this far) where a mistake three out didn't help the cause; should run well.

8/1

Form: 4007-

Last run: 212 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Showed only minor promise in novice/maiden hurdles last winter (2m-2m1f) and was tailed off when switched to fences for handicap debut in March (2m); returns from layoff with quite a bit to prove but remains unexposed, and his Irish point form suggests today's longer trip will suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

19th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

12:30 Fakenham

Chancellorstown

11st 3lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

prominent, not fluent 1st, not fluent 8th, lost ground after 3 out

11/2

6th

3

19th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

12:30 Fakenham

Chancellorstown

11st 3lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

prominent, not fluent 1st, not fluent 8th, lost ground after 3 out

11/2

Form: -73144 C BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Kept on well to open account here (2m1f, good) in August, his eighth hurdle run, and gave another good account when fourth here (2m3f, good to soft) this month; moves up in trip again today; probably won't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

24th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

16:55 Fontwell

Footloose Man

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Richard Hobson

Dual 2m5f course winner in early part of last season; returned from five-month break with low-key run here 18 days ago but is versatile regarding ground and his current mark is workable; can feature if that recent outing brought him on.

7/1

6th

8

6th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:42 Fontwell

Footloose Man

10st 8lb

J: James Best

T: Richard Hobson

All of his three victories have been at Fontwell including two chase wins over an extended 2m5f (good to soft); beaten 9l when runner-up here in December but that was behind an improver and he's still lightly raced in this sphere; respected back in trip on his return.

13/2

5

29th Aug 2025

Good

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

18:18 Fontwell

Footloose Man

10st 11lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Richard Hobson

Course hurdle winner last summer (2m1f, good), having made most of the running; held up in rear and never looked dangerous when fourth of six on last month's chasing debut at Stratford (2m3f, good) but that was his first run since the autumn and a return to more positive tactics might show him in a better light here.

8/1

Form: PP-263

Last run: 143 days

W: 10st 12lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Ran game race from the front when close third of six at Fakenham (2m7f, good) in June but we haven't seen her again since and she's 0-10 over hurdles now; others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

19th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

13:25 Fakenham

Little Talks

10st 13lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

11-race maiden over hurdles but has made the frame in all four starts at this track; tailed off at Fontwell recently following a four-month break but the return to this track could see her back to her best.

5/1

2nd

4

19th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

13:25 Fakenham

Little Talks

10st 13lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

11-race maiden over hurdles but has made the frame in all four starts at this track; tailed off at Fontwell recently following a four-month break but the return to this track could see her back to her best.

5/1

8

23rd Oct 2024

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:30 Fontwell

Little Talks

10st 12lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Ran game race from the front when close third of six at Fakenham (2m7f, good) in June but we haven't seen her again since and she's 0-10 over hurdles now; others appeal more.

8/1

Form: 78644

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Fair Flat racer when on song and has made the frame in both handicap hurdles (2m1f/2m, good); may still have a bigger run in him in this sphere but 2m5f on soft ground will test his stamina here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

(2)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

14:00 Chepstow

Stage Show

10st 0lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Alexandra Dunn

This year's hurdling form is uninspiring but he held on gamely to cause 66-1 shock at Salisbury a fortnight ago, his first Flat run since 2024; it's hard to tell whether he'll be in the same mood again here but he's only 2lb higher and this is a slight drop in grade.

4/1

1st

5

(2)

14th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 5

17:03 Salisbury

Stage Show

9st 4lb

J: George Wood

T: Alexandra Dunn

Sole win from 32 starts came over hurdles at Exeter (2m7f, good to firm) in October but he's been held in three starts since and now returns to the Flat for the first time since June 2024.

8/1

6th

5

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

18:10 Exeter

Stage Show

10st 8lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Alexandra Dunn

Broke his duck over hurdles at the 15th attempt over C&D (good to firm) last October (held up); well below that level next time, when dropped back in trip (heavy) and beaten almost 9l at Wincanton by Square Du Roule latest (3m, good); more needed but not written off.

8/1

Form: 4230-8 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Tailed off here (2m3f) on recent seasonal debut but some positives can be taken from that performance; now back on same mark as when scoring at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) last autumn, and it's worth remembering that his other hurdle win was in this race in 2022.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

25th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

16:08 Fontwell

Whats My Line

10st 2lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Michael Madgwick

Soundly beaten here on both outings during very light campaign last season and competes from 3lb out of the weights on this first start since October.

16/1

7

25th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

16:08 Fontwell

Whats My Line

10st 2lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Michael Madgwick

Soundly beaten here on both outings during very light campaign last season and competes from 3lb out of the weights on this first start since October.

16/1

10

23rd Oct 2024

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:30 Fontwell

Whats My Line

10st 8lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Michael Madgwick

Tailed off here (2m3f) on recent seasonal debut but some positives can be taken from that performance; now back on same mark as when scoring at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) last autumn, and it's worth remembering that his other hurdle win was in this race in 2022.

12/1

Non-runners

Easter Icon, Endersen

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Golden Ambition

Daily Mirror:

Footloose Man

D Express:

Defi Nonantais

Telegraph:

Easter Icon

The Sun:

Footloose Man

RP RATINGS:

Golden Ambition

POSTDATA:

Golden Ambition

WEST COUNTRY:

Golden Ambition

The Times:

Golden Ambition

The Guardian:

Golden Ambition

Daily Mail:

Golden Ambition

The Star:

Golden Ambition

Daily Record:

Golden Ambition