October 25 / 17.25 Fontwell

17.25

Good To Soft

Rabbit And Dowling Plant Hire Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3406.24
  • 2m 1f 162y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Rabbit And Dowling Plant Hire Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

Form: 133-1

Last run: 164 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
French bumper winner (1m6f, very soft) who made it third-time lucky over hurdles when landing a Plumpton maiden (2m, good) in May; that was a narrow success but he's open to more progress on this handicap debut and needs a close look on his return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 5

14:17 Plumpton

Angels Dream

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Gained a maiden success over fences at Lingfield (2m) in November 2024 but lightly raced since and below par, coming in only third of four over 2m1f here two weeks ago; tried in different headgear now.

15/2

3rd

4

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 5

15:30 Plumpton

Angels Dream

10st 11lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

1-6 over fences, the win coming two seasons ago off 6lb higher (2m, soft); returned from a long absence in December and he's been a long way beneath that winning form in three races.

5/1

4th

5

16th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 219y

Class 4

14:45 Plumpton

Angels Dream

10st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won on first completion over fences, at Lingfield (2m, soft) in November 2024, but he hasn't run to the same level since, pulling up at Fontwell (first-time cheekpieces, retained) in January on second run back from an absence; has it to prove at present.

10/1

Form: 4/2-41 CD

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
8yo who cashed in on a reduced mark when justifying support over C&D (good to soft) last month; 4lb higher after another short break but he beat a clear second last time and remains feasibly treated; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

1st Sep 2023

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

16:08 Fontwell

Fort De LOcean

11st 12lb

J: Bryony Frost

T: Michael Roberts

No longer the force of old but returned from long absence with two pleasing efforts in the spring, more notably when second at Southwell (2m, good to soft) on first occasion; back from another three months off here but still considered.

4/1

4th

2

29th May 2023

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 5

15:50 Huntingdon

Fort De LOcean

11st 10lb

J: Bryony Frost

T: Michael Roberts

held up in rear

13/2

OUR TIP

Form: 776-80 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
On workable mark and conditions should be fine but his sole hurdles win was ten months ago and he's been out of sorts in five runs since then; has questions to answer and he needs a major revival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

2nd Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:00 Southwell

Henry Box Brown

10st 9lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Mrs C Williams

Last win came in December 2024 off 6lb higher; hasn't been firing on all cylinders recently but is down to a career-low mark and cannot dismiss.

7/1

6th

11

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:42 Ffos Las

Henry Box Brown

10st 5lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Mrs C Williams

Returned from three-month break with respectable fourth here (2m3f, soft) in March last time and will be fine over this longer trip, but he's not really been firing on all cylinders since last summer; others appeal more.

14/1

4th

5

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

15:00 Ffos Las

Henry Box Brown

11st 2lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Mrs C Williams

Seemingly aided by addition of cheekpieces when making the frame three consecutive times (2m7f-3m) towards end of last year but still wasn't really firing on all cylinders; should be fine over this shorter trip but the headgear is missing today and he needs to have been refreshed by his three-month break.

8/1

Form: 2301-5

Last run: 164 days

W: 11st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Added to his Flat win when scoring at Hereford (2m, good to soft) in April but he faded into a 12l fifth of 12 at Plumpton in his final run in the spring; still 5lb higher than for his hurdles win and has some work to do back from 164 days off; stablemate of Angel's Dream.
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

Form: F54-

Last run: 192 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 5yo who has a good pedigree and was a promising fourth of ten in a Wincanton maiden (1m7f, good to soft) in April; travelled well for a long way in that race and he looks interesting now switched to a handicap on his return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

14th May 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

14:50 Newton Abbot

Ventara

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Off since November but had been out for even longer before his near miss at Chepstow the month before (2m, soft); went off odds-on favourite to defy this mark on chase debut next time (2m2f, good to soft) and was going okay when clouting three out; much respected.

9/2

9th

4

14th May 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

14:50 Newton Abbot

Ventara

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Off since November but had been out for even longer before his near miss at Chepstow the month before (2m, soft); went off odds-on favourite to defy this mark on chase debut next time (2m2f, good to soft) and was going okay when clouting three out; much respected.

9/2

6th

5

28th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 2f 40y

Class 5

15:10 Taunton

Ventara

11st 9lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

disputed lead, pressed leader before 2nd

100/30

Form: 88P7-

Last run: 199 days

W: 10st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Not much to show for one bumper run and three over hurdles (1m7f/2m) last season; this is more realistic on handicap debut but he still needs a transformation on his return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

29th Aug 2025

Good

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

18:18 Fontwell

Mister Upton

11st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Dual chase winner for Chris Gordon last season (once here) but was pulled up on final two starts for him and failed to build upon his satisfactory stable debut when tailed-off third in small-field contest last month (first-time blinkers); sports refitted cheekpieces here; has a point to prove.

7/1

3rd

4

14th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

16:20 Newton Abbot

Mister Upton

10st 10lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Dual chase winner for Chris Gordon last season (2m3f/2m5f); left that stable after two disappointing runs in the winter but was respectable fourth for new stable at Fontwell (2m3f, good) in May and has possibilities if aided by first-time blinkers here.

9/4

4th

4

25th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

16:43 Fontwell

Mister Upton

11st 3lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Dual chase winner for Chris Gordon last season, over C&D (good) last May and in first-time cheekpieces at Hereford (2m5f, good to soft) in December; pulled up on consecutive outings in the winter but is back on much better ground for this stable debut and it will be very interesting to see what Anthony Honeyball can do with him.

12/1

Form: 234454

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Showed some ability in bumpers but he's been beaten 32l or more in his three hurdle runs since August; still early days and now switches to a handicap but he needs improvement.
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: P0114- D BF

Last run: 210 days

W: 10st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Got back in the groove when scoring over fences at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) and Ffos Las (2m, heavy) in March but he was disappointing in final run last season; now returns to hurdling off 5lb lower than for last win but he's 1-15 in this sphere and has an uninspiring record when fresh; down the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

12th Apr 2024

Good

2m 0f 59y

Class 4

16:20 Fakenham

Templier

10st 4lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Sarah Humphrey

Scored over C&D (good to soft) on seasonal debut in November and has remained in good form since but usually knocks about in Class 5 races and may find a couple of today's rivals too strong.

5/1

5th

9

12th Apr 2024

Good

2m 0f 59y

Class 4

16:20 Fakenham

Templier

10st 4lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Sarah Humphrey

raced in fourth, not fluent 8th, soon dropped to last, mistake 3 out, soon struggling

5/1

2nd

3

12th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

15:10 Sedgefield

Templier

11st 11lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Sarah Humphrey

midfield, not fluent and dropped to rear 2 out (usual 3 out), soon rallied, went third home turn

6/1

Form: 0345P-

Last run: 200 days

W: 10st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
12-race maiden who has struggled in his two hurdle handicaps and was well held on the Flat at Goodwood (2m, soft) on his recent return; looks opposable back in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

12

29th Nov 2023

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

13:25 Hereford

Loudspeaker

10st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Seamus Mullins

Fair Flat-racer; well beaten over hurdles this month but finished well to lead close home on recent chasing debut at Doncaster (2m, good); effectively 5lb higher here but, given the Flat ability, could still have a bigger run in him over fences.

9/4

1st

9

17th Nov 2023

Good

2m 0f 78y

Class 5

13:00 Doncaster

Loudspeaker

10st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Seamus Mullins

Has some fair Flat form on his CV but his record over hurdles is not inspiring and he's not bred for chasing; 1lb out of the weights here; others have much stronger claims.

33/1

8th

14

10th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

14:20 Exeter

Loudspeaker

10st 7lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Seamus Mullins

Has been most competitive on the Flat (stays well) but remains a maiden and achieved nothing in two soft-ground handicap hurdles last season.

33/1

Verdict

Fort De L’Ocean cashed in on a reduced mark over C&D last month and he’s respected in his follow-up bid but there are some interesting handicap newcomers in opposition. Angel’s Dream won a Plumpton maiden in May and is open to more progress on his return but slight preference is for Joe Tizzard’s unexposed 5yo VENTARA, who showed clear promise in his final run last season and is bred to be much better than his opening mark.[David Moon]

Selections

Telegraph:

Fort De L'Ocean

The Times:

Angel's Dream

SPOTLIGHT:

Ventara

RP RATINGS:

Henry Box Brown

D Express:

Mister Upton

Daily Mirror:

Angel's Dream

Daily Record:

Angel's Dream

WEST COUNTRY:

Ventara

The Star:

Ventara

POSTDATA:

Henry Box Brown

The Guardian:

Fort De L'Ocean

Daily Mail:

Fort De L'Ocean

The Sun:

Fort De L'Ocean