May 28 / 15.45 Fontwell

15.45

Good

Remembering Wally Michell Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3406.24
  • 3m 1f 166y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Remembering Wally Michell Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

13/8 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 842-61

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Off the mark over hurdles at the 18th attempt when landing a Stratford maiden (2m6f) a week ago; fortune on his side then but still ran well; 7lb penalty but ahead of the game, if the win is taken literally; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

24th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

1m 6f 44y

Class 6

20:40 Salisbury

Astroman

9st 5lb

J: Mia Nicholls

T: Syd Hosie

Beaten a long way over C&D in the spring before a better showing from the front in a 3m2f hurdle round Fontwell; is some way down the pecking order for a yard also responsible for Nadim.

16/1

3rd

1

12th Jun 2024

Good

3m 1f 166y

Class 5

15:43 Fontwell

Astroman

12st 0lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Syd Hosie

led, increased tempo 10th

11/1

6/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: OO54-F

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Maiden; last month's fourth at Plumpton proves he has ability but has run out twice over hurdles and recent chasing debut ended at the first fence; could be a threat if staying this trip but definite element of risk.
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: 1238-6 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 1lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Two wins last October, including over C&D; not at his best in two outings this spring and should have done better back on good ground at Plumpton latest; cheekpieces (0-6 in them) back on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

16th Jun 2023

Good

3m 1f 166y

Class 5

20:25 Fontwell

Montys Award

11st 0lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Andy Irvine

prominent, hit 3 out, soon ridden, outpaced before 2 out, weakened last

4/1

3rd

3

28th May 2023

Good

3m 1f 166y

Class 5

15:45 Fontwell

Montys Award

11st 1lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Andy Irvine

Two wins last October, including over C&D; not at his best in two outings this spring and should have done better back on good ground at Plumpton latest; cheekpieces (0-6 in them) back on.

15/2

6th

4

14th May 2023

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

14:15 Plumpton

Montys Award

11st 8lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Andy Irvine

Long way behind Hello Sunshine here last month but soft ground has never suited; judged on his two wins (3m1f/3m2f, both under Niall Houlihan) last October, he comes firmly into the reckoning.

12/1

Form: 4444-2 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Narrowly beaten in a Fakenham chase this month (3m5f); can race off 10lb lower mark back hurdling but yet to win in this discipline and was well held in both handicap attempts last summer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

17:00 Stratford

Jony Max

11st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

On the downgrade now and returned from a break with 37l defeat behind My Girl Katie at Newton Abbot last month; might well have needed that outing and has conditions to suit here but others appeal more all the same; wears blinkers and cheekpieces simultaneously for the first time.

11/2

2

4th Jul 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

16:53 Newton Abbot

Jony Max

11st 13lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Christian Williams

Five-time chase winner (once over C&D); returned to form with a string of good efforts in the autumn but absent since pulled up in Fakenham marathon just before Christmas and entitled to benefit from this outing.

7/1

5

22nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 5f 24y

Class 4

14:13 Fakenham

Jony Max

11st 0lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Christian Williams

Close second in C&D (good) Norfolk National in early part of last season and was a 3m course winner (good to soft) last November; needed considerable help from the handicapper before last month's Warwick success (3m1f, good) but has been placed twice since and the return to this track is an obvious plus; cheekpieces removed after one use; big player.

5/2

Form: P8F3-4

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Back to some form in latest two starts and finished in front of two of today's rivals when fourth at Plumpton two weeks ago; probably needs a bit more to notch another win but that's possible; stays well and claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

14th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

15:00 Hereford

Barrowmount

10st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Seamus Mullins

Ran quite well from the front when fourth at Taunton (2m7f, good to soft) in December but this regressive 8yo is yet to add to his maiden hurdle win in spring 2021 and is not the percentage call; 1lb out of the handicap.

12/1

4th

9

30th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

13:35 Taunton

Barrowmount

10st 3lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Seamus Mullins

Now 13lb lower than when placed in good-ground hurdle in the spring but was soundly beaten in two chases this autumn (2m7f/3m1f) and has a lot more to prove than some of these.

20/1

Form: 706-

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in two Irish attempts (in March) and similar story on last month's British debut; up in trip for handicap debut and of interest only if attracting some support.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

28th May 2023

Good

3m 1f 166y

Class 5

15:45 Fontwell

Sir Dan Dan

10st 3lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Pat Phelan

Tailed off in two Irish attempts (in March) and similar story on last month's British debut; up in trip for handicap debut and of interest only if attracting some support.

20/1

6th

5

23rd Apr 2023

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 4

14:30 Plumpton

Sir Dan Dan

11st 6lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Pat Phelan

prominent early, dropped to rear after 2nd, weakened after 6th, tailed off

50/1

11th

10

30th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 5f 0y

14:15 Limerick

Sir Dan Dan

11st 12lb

J: Derek Thomas McGrath

T: David A Kiely

didn't jump well, towards rear of midfield

50/1

Form: 44PP-8 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Two wins in 2021 but not much since and finished behind two of these at Plumpton a fortnight ago; 6lb out of the handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

18

19th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

15:40 Exeter

Pour Une Raison

10st 2lb

J: Miss Thomasina Eyston

T: Harriet Brown

Course winner but no victory since March 2021 and he hasn't been shaping as though a win is imminent; 5lb out of the handicap today.

66/1

8th

18

19th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

15:40 Exeter

Pour Une Raison

10st 2lb

J: Miss Thomasina Eyston

T: Harriet Brown

Course winner but no victory since March 2021 and he hasn't been shaping as though a win is imminent; 5lb out of the handicap today.

66/1

6th

11

6th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 2f 111y

Class 5

12:25 Exeter

Pour Une Raison

10st 2lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Harriet Brown

Course winner but it's a very long time since he's been competitive and his last win was back in March 2021; 4lb out of the handicap today.

66/1

Non-runners

Barrowmount, Pour Une Raison

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.50
Straight Forecast £9.75
Trifecta £27.80

Selections

The Times:

Jony Max

POSTDATA:

Astroman

Telegraph:

West Orchard

SPOTLIGHT:

Barrowmount

RP RATINGS:

Monty's Award

The Star:

West Orchard

D Express:

Jony Max

The Sun:

Jony Max

Daily Record:

Jony Max

WEST COUNTRY:

Astroman

Daily Mirror:

Astroman