February 14 / 16.20 Fontwell

16.20

Soft

Fontwell House Wedding Showcase Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 5f 164y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Fontwell House Wedding Showcase Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 6773

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 6yo who ran badly on good ground at Hereford on penultimate start; wore cheekpieces in 2m3f novice here (soft) on latest and that was his most competitive display, challenging approaching the final flight but ending up third of 12; has what looks a reasonable mark for handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

12th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:00 Southwell

How And Ever

11st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

led, headed but pressed leader 15th, lost second 2 out, weakened approaching last

7/2

3rd

4

12th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:00 Southwell

How And Ever

11st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

led, headed but pressed leader 15th, lost second 2 out, weakened approaching last

7/2

2/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: 25641

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Favourite for handicap debut at Southwell (2m4f, good to soft) four weeks ago and won that eight-runner race in eventually clearcut fashion after running in snatches; up 7lb but this lightly raced 5yo could be learning with experience and another improved show would not surprise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

17:47 Fontwell

Sangiovese

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Hurdle winner who made it third-time lucky over fences when justifying favouritism at Huntingdon (extended 2m7f, good) two weeks ago; up 5lb but he was as good as ever with that clearcut win and is open to more progress at staying trips; big player in new headgear.

7/4

2nd

6

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

17:47 Fontwell

Sangiovese

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Hurdle winner who made it third-time lucky over fences when justifying favouritism at Huntingdon (extended 2m7f, good) two weeks ago; up 5lb but he was as good as ever with that clearcut win and is open to more progress at staying trips; big player in new headgear.

7/4

1st

1

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

18:38 Huntingdon

Sangiovese

12st 0lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Winning hurdler but a hard ride and needed lots of driving before staying on into third on his second chase start at Fontwell two weeks ago (2m5f, good); at least he arrives in some form and this longer trip is worth a go.

15/8

Form: 6P-943 BF

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Co-favourite with first-time cheekpieces over C&D (soft) 17 days ago in his fourth handicap and he produced easily his closest finish, keeping on well in third of nine; needs to build on that but in the picture.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

11

1st Apr 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

15:00 Plumpton

Rollos Kingdom

10st 4lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Jeremy Scott

Signs of progress when finishing 11l-third of seven at Fontwell (2m5f, heavy; cheekpieces on for second time) in February but Stratford was disappointing under similar conditions.

10/1

1st

11

1st Apr 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

15:00 Plumpton

Rollos Kingdom

10st 4lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Jeremy Scott

Signs of progress when finishing 11l-third of seven at Fontwell (2m5f, heavy; cheekpieces on for second time) in February but Stratford was disappointing under similar conditions.

10/1

5th

6

11th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

15:20 Stratford

Rollos Kingdom

10st 11lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

0-8 over hurdles; improved since going handicapping, on latest start finishing 11l-third of seven at Fontwell (2m5f, heavy, cheekpieces on for second time); each-way chance.

13/2

7/2

Form: 4-54P1 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Tried chasing in November, pulled up on second attempt, but took advantage of his reduced mark straightaway back over hurdles in a nine-runner C&D race (soft) 17 days ago, leading two out and well on top despite final-flight blunder; back up 7lb, which may well demand a career best but he's respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:39 Chepstow

Bobalot

11st 7lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Laura Horsfall

Well beaten before last-fence refusal on latest outing in February but has a largely consistent record over hurdles; will be suited by the trip/ground and has slipped to a good mark; each-way claims at least.

8/1

1

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

14:30 Market Rasen

Bobalot

12st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Laura Horsfall

Has won three times over hurdles and finished third for the fourth successive time in that sphere at Southwell (3m, good to soft) 15 days ago; back over fences after a couple of failed attempts in November 2023 but tends to find at least one too good.

9/1

3rd

2

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

16:27 Southwell

Bobalot

11st 11lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Laura Horsfall

Huntingdon winner in April (3m1f, good); fair runs over this trip on good to soft/soft/heavy on last three starts; each-way chance

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: 92-227 BF

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Runner-up twice in the spring and again when next seen in December over C&D; needs to build on that, whereas he proved a disappointing favourite at Hereford on latest outing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

11th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

17:10 Taunton

Talimar Pearl

11st 13lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Runner-up twice over hurdles last spring (2m1f/2m3f) and also at Fontwell (2m5f, heavy) in December, after a break; contender if judged on those exploits but not at best on either start this year and now 0-9.

10/1

5th

3

14th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

16:20 Fontwell

Talimar Pearl

11st 9lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

took keen hold

12/1

7th

4

4th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

12:58 Hereford

Talimar Pearl

11st 9lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Runner-up in his last three handicaps and was beaten by an improver on his comeback run at Fontwell (2m5f, heavy); up just 1lb and entitled to be sharper all round this time.

6/1

Form: 7-P536 D

Last run: 69 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Sole win from 20 starts came in first-time blinkers at Downpatrick (2m5f, yielding to soft) in May 2022; hasn't shown enough in his four starts for new yard to make much appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

15th Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 1y

Class 5

15:05 Fakenham

Journey West

10st 3lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Max Young

1-21 over hurdles, the win coming at Down Royal (2m5f, yielding to soft) in May 2022; hasn't shown enough in five starts for this yard to suggest he will be doubling his tally.

20/1

6th

6

14th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

16:20 Fontwell

Journey West

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Max Young

Sole win from 20 starts came in first-time blinkers at Downpatrick (2m5f, yielding to soft) in May 2022; hasn't shown enough in his four starts for new yard to make much appeal.

66/1

Form: 89861

Last run: 33 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Revealed in a new light on his handicap debut at Huntingdon (2m3f, good to soft) last month, starting favourite in 11-runner conditionals' race and coming from the rear to go ahead on run-in, as the first two drew 10l clear; 9lb higher today but may well have more to give.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 4

14:15 Fakenham

Bitsnbuckles

12st 1lb

J: Tom Hutsby

T: Olly Murphy

Slightly disappointing when only fourth on his latest outing, but posted career-best form when winning readily by over 6l at Southwell (2m4f, good to soft) two starts ago and has an obvious claims if back at that level.

9/2

4th

4

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 181y

Class 4

16:20 Doncaster

Bitsnbuckles

11st 6lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Olly Murphy

Won for the second time over hurdles at Southwell last month (2m4f, good to soft); has a 7lb higher mark; each-way contender.

7/2

1st

8

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

15:52 Southwell

Bitsnbuckles

10st 13lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Olly Murphy

Only win in 11 starts over hurdles was a Huntingdon handicap in January 2024 (2m3f, good to soft); three fair efforts when returning from over a year off in the autumn; each-way chance.

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.40
Straight Forecast £15.25
Trifecta £86.60

Selections

POSTDATA:

Bobalot

The Times:

Sangiovese

SPOTLIGHT:

Bitsnbuckles

TOPSPEED:

Talimar Pearl

The Guardian:

How And Ever

Telegraph:

Rollo's Kingdom

D Express:

Sangiovese

Daily Mirror:

Sangiovese

RP RATINGS:

Bitsnbuckles

The Sun:

Bitsnbuckles

WEST COUNTRY:

Talimar Pearl

Daily Mail:

Bobalot

The Star:

Bobalot

Daily Record:

Bobalot