October 19 / 13.12 Fontwell

13.12

Good

Download The At The Races App Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div I)

  • Prize money: £4901.4
  • 2m 3f 49y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Download The At The Races App Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div I)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00
  • Place: £2.80

Form: 2-

Last run: 377 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Shaped well when keeping-on second of 12 in bumper at Worcester (good to soft; 3-1) last autumn; subsequently sold from Tom Lacey for £100,000; now makes hurdling debut for new stable in a tongue-strap; leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 3

14:55 Wincanton

Montgomery

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Low-mileage 8yo who is 3-6 over fences and was a highly commendable fifth in Sandown's London National (3m4f, soft) before a puzzling effort when only 6-4 at Haydock; strong contender on that penultimate effort.

3/1

5th

4

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 3

14:55 Wincanton

Montgomery

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Low-mileage 8yo who is 3-6 over fences and was a highly commendable fifth in Sandown's London National (3m4f, soft) before a puzzling effort when only 6-4 at Haydock; strong contender on that penultimate effort.

3/1

3

30th Dec 2024

Heavy

3m 4f 97y

Class 2

15:10 Haydock

Montgomery

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Lightly raced 7yo who won his first three chase starts earlier this year (2m6f/3m, soft/heavy) and he reappeared with a fair fifth at Sandown (3m4f, soft) this month; could improve for that latest outing and he's one of two for a trainer with a fine record in this race; likely player.

7/4

12/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 3863-

Last run: 206 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Regressive RPRs in bumpers, but he showed something to build on when about 18l third of ten in maiden hurdle at Ascot (2m3f, good; 14-1) in March; that was his final run for Tom Lacey; open to improvement and considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

3rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:00 Newton Abbot

Vengeance

10st 2lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Jimmy Frost

0-12 over hurdles and, while there have been hints of encouragement off a sliding mark, he hasn't looked like capitalising and now faces a stiff task from out of the weights on chase debut.

16/1

4th

3

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

18:10 Exeter

Vengeance

11st 1lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Jimmy Frost

0-14 under rules; sliding in the weights in four starts for this trainer and those efforts suggest he'll need a further favour or two from the handicapper to break his duck.

7/1

5th

7

7th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Vengeance

11st 3lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Jimmy Frost

No wins in 13 but ran okay two weeks ago at Wincanton (2m4f, good), finishing under 8l behind the winner who comfortably followed up last week at Ludlow; each-way claims.

9/1

Form: 3

Last run: 165 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to the high-class staying hurdler Thyme Hill; made a perfectly satisfactory start when about 10l third of eight in bumper at Warwick (good; 100-30) in May, keeping on; today's longer distance should suit and he commands respect on his hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

4th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

16:25 Hexham

Clapton Hill

11st 1lb

J: Miss Roisin Leech

T: Victor Thompson

in touch with leaders

40/1

6th

5

4th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

16:25 Hexham

Clapton Hill

11st 1lb

J: Miss Roisin Leech

T: Victor Thompson

in touch with leaders

40/1

5

24th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:55 Perth

Clapton Hill

11st 6lb

J: Miss Roisin Leech

T: Victor Thompson

Some fair efforts over hurdles for Ben Pauling but plenty to prove now having been pulled up on both starts for this yard (the first in a point).

66/1

Form: PP

Last run: 107 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Represents big yard but could hardly have shown less when pulled up in bumpers at Worcester in the summer, 6-4 favourite on first occasion; bred for jumping and perhaps he'll come into his own now tackling obstacles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

2nd Jan 2023

Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 5

14:00 Plumpton

Wind Of Fortune

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Goes handicapping off a low mark for his top yard but it doesn't look that lenient on what he's achieved so far, from 2m to 2m3f.

8/1

10th

11

6th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

13:25 Uttoxeter

Wind Of Fortune

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

midfield

20/1

7th

12

23rd Nov 2022

Good To Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

12:50 Hereford

Wind Of Fortune

10st 13lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

With a leading trainer but he was pulled up in both bumpers and was 12l behind third-placed Clapton Hill when fourth in a maiden hurdle at Fontwell most recently; dramatic improvement is required.

16/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Had four goes in Irish points, showing some improvement when second of 11 (good to soft) when last seen in May; changed hands for £18,000 later that month; new stable also runs Rock House; well worth a market check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

8th Feb 2023

Good

3m 1f 185y

Class 5

16:40 Southwell

Vikings Way

11st 4lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

midfield, headway 9th, mistake and lost position 10th, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and no impression before 2 out

5/1

8th

9

31st Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

13:08 Uttoxeter

Vikings Way

11st 4lb

J: Bridget Andrews

T: Dan Skelton

Second in the last of his Irish points; disappointing favourite on debut for Dan Skelton and has been beaten much further in his two starts since; it will be interesting to see his market strength on this handicap debut over a much longer trip but he lacks any form claims.

12/1

8th

10

21st Nov 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

12:40 Kempton

Vikings Way

11st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Inconsistent (form figures P4P2) in Irish points; disappointing favourite on debut for Dan Skelton and fared no better when 20-1 next time (again over 2m3f); needs to improve a good deal for drop to 2m.

33/1

Form: 0-47

Last run: 107 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Best of his four runs to date was when 21l fourth on hurdling debut at Warwick (2m3f, good) in May; tailed off at Worcester next time and may be of more interest in handicaps further down the line.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

19th Oct 2022

Good

2m 3f 49y

Class 4

13:12 Fontwell

Of All The Greys

11st 4lb

J: Fergus Gregory

T: Ian Williams

took keen hold, in rear but in touch with leaders, pushed along after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon beaten

33/1

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bred to be useful; 1-1 in Irish points (soft/heavy ground) in May 2021 and that form has been franked; returns from over 500 days off but has to be respected on his rules debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

13th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

16:19 Leicester

Givega

12st 0lb

J: Mr James King

T: L Morgan

Three wins from five starts over hurdles and he made it 2-2 in points when making all at Larkhill (3m) on his comeback in December; had tough task in Grade 2 on only previous run over regulation fences and he's respected on this hunter chase debut; his three rules wins have been on good to soft/soft.

5/1

Form: /3RR0-

Last run: 200 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed in bumpers in 2020-21 but refused to race in two maiden hurdles last winter and spoiled his chance by racing too freely in blinkers (now removed) on latest outing in April; has hood refitted here; too risky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

19th Oct 2022

Good

2m 3f 49y

Class 4

13:12 Fontwell

Hartnoll Hero

11st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Victor Dartnall

refused to race

33/1

7

3rd Oct 2022

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

14:10 Stratford

Hartnoll Hero

11st 0lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Victor Dartnall

Placed in two bumpers in 2020-21 season but refused to race in two maiden hurdles last winter and spoiled his chance by racing far too freely in first-time blinkers (now removed) on latest outing in April; has hood refitted here; too risky.

25/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Easy winner of four-finisher point at Chaddesley Corbett (2m4f, good) in April, after which he changed hands for £55,000; should be monitored in the market with new yard also represented by Viking's Way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

8th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Uttoxeter

Rock House

11st 12lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Can jump right; two fair efforts over fences since the spring, including at 2m4f (good), with another one over hurdles in between; not obviously ahead of his mark but adding a tongue-tie could help.

7/1

4th

3

26th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:36 Huntingdon

Rock House

11st 6lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Only beaten about 1l when third of four on chasing debut at Ludlow (2m4f, good) in March, despite a tendency to jump right, and reverts to fences after perfectly respectable 2m hurdle run last month; still unexposed in this sphere and current mark is workable; must be considered.

11/4

4th

3

26th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:36 Huntingdon

Rock House

11st 6lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Only beaten about 1l when third of four on chasing debut at Ludlow (2m4f, good) in March, despite a tendency to jump right, and reverts to fences after perfectly respectable 2m hurdle run last month; still unexposed in this sphere and current mark is workable; must be considered.

11/4

Non-runners

Claude Almighty, Givega, Rock House

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £41.70
Straight Forecast £46.41
Trifecta £104.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Givega

The Times:

Montgomery

WEST COUNTRY:

Clapton Hill

Daily Mail:

Viking's Way

The Guardian:

Vengeance

POSTDATA:

Hartnoll Hero

Telegraph:

Clapton Hill

The Sun:

Montgomery

The Star:

Montgomery

Daily Express:

Givega

Daily Mirror:

Givega

Daily Record:

Givega