May 16 / 18.40 Fontwell

18.40

Good

Starsports.Bet Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4013.56
  • 2m 1f 162y
  • Class 5
  • 12 runners
SKY
View Course
Starsports.Bet Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Evs (Won)

  • Win: £2.38
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 9837-1 C

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Even penalised for last week's 12l rout in a mares' novice handicap here (2m3f, good) she's 4lb well in; no surprise if her respected connections are able to elicit more improvement from her.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

11

17th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

14:45 Cheltenham

Mermaids Cave

10st 9lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: James Owen

towards rear

7/1

13th

11

17th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

14:45 Cheltenham

Mermaids Cave

10st 9lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: James Owen

towards rear

7/1

1st

9

19th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 1y

Class 3

14:45 Fakenham

Mermaids Cave

11st 1lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: James Owen

Won four of her first seven starts for this yard over hurdles last year, the latest at Bangor (2m4f, soft) in October; may have found the ground too testing when pulled up at Sandown (2m4f, heavy) last month and could bounce back.

16/1

20/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: P7U45-

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
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.
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

10/1

  • Place: £3.10

Form: 13U4F- C

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Jumping issues have surfaced since Christmas's winning chase debut here (2m2f, soft); return to hurdles seems wise after a crunching fall latest, albeit he's 0-11 over them and 3lb higher than when last trying this discipline; cheekpieces hastily returned to replace blinkers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:44 Chepstow

Gorcombe Moonshine

10st 4lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

disputed lead

10/1

12

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:44 Chepstow

Gorcombe Moonshine

10st 4lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

disputed lead

10/1

3rd

8

3rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 5

16:50 Plumpton

Gorcombe Moonshine

10st 8lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

led, faced challenge after 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened gradually and lost second final 110yds

10/1

Form: 11457-

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Thought by connections as better suited by galloping tracks such as the Worcester of last year's two 2m wins (good, good to soft), which doesn't augur well around this sharp test, a further 2lb ease notwithstanding.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

16th Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

14:28 Uttoxeter

Emanate

10st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Neil Mulholland

in touch with leaders, outpaced and dropped to rear 6th, rallied 3 out, weakened gradually approaching last, jumped left last

5/1

4th

5

16th Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

14:28 Uttoxeter

Emanate

10st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Neil Mulholland

in touch with leaders, outpaced and dropped to rear 6th, rallied 3 out, weakened gradually approaching last, jumped left last

5/1

3rd

8

17th Oct 2024

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 4

16:03 Wincanton

Emanate

10st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Neil Mulholland

in touch with leaders

12/1

Form: 0791P- CD

Last run: 24 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Form of 40-1 C&D maiden win in March (heavy; first start since a wind job) rates a big personal best; proved last autumn he also has something to offer on drier ground, but blowout last time needs forgiving.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

19:47 Fontwell

Clinton Lane

11st 8lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Mark Gillard

Can front-run; 2-18 over hurdles, with both wins (maiden and novice) last year; struggled since falling in December and not proven over this far.

14/1

5th

5

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

19:47 Fontwell

Clinton Lane

11st 8lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Mark Gillard

midfield, outpaced after 3 out, headway after 2 out, stayed on run-in

14/1

6th

2

6th Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 5

16:27 Plumpton

Clinton Lane

11st 13lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Mark Gillard

Two hurdle wins, at Fontwell (2m1f, heavy; second-time cheekpieces) and over C&D (good to soft); below best since falling at Christmas and needs the return to this track for the first time since the win and the refitted cheekpieces to turn things round.

12/1

Form: 15176- C

Last run: 182 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Wins here and at Newton Abbot last year (2m1f/2m3f) indicated his appreciation of good ground and a sharp track, things he didn't have both of on his final two starts; six-month absence rates as much of a negative as rain, being yet to win after more than five weeks away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

6th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 2f 111y

Class 5

12:25 Exeter

Sassified

10st 12lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Returned to form when second at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) then beaten just a head in a big field at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) last Thursday; he's just 1lb higher than for those last two runs and can play another leading role if conditions suit (it's a long time since he tackled soft going).

11/4

8th

6

6th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 2f 111y

Class 5

12:25 Exeter

Sassified

10st 12lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Returned to form when second at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) then beaten just a head in a big field at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) last Thursday; he's just 1lb higher than for those last two runs and can play another leading role if conditions suit (it's a long time since he tackled soft going).

11/4

2nd

14

28th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:35 Taunton

Sassified

10st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Has dropped in the weights and ran well behind Prairie Diamond last week at Wincanton, though he was put in his place and faces that rival on the same terms.

9/2

Form: /0849- CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Winner of the same C&D 0-105 in December 2021 and 2022 (for this yard), but thumping defeats on last six Flat/hurdles starts and not persuasive; cheekpieces added to tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

14th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

19:10 Warwick

Rays The One

10st 5lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Mark Pattinson

Regressive 8yo; suggested he might be able to exploit some help from the handicapper when placed at Huntingdon (2m3f, good to soft) in February but two lesser efforts have followed; others appeal more.

25/1

6th

10

14th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

19:10 Warwick

Rays The One

10st 5lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Mark Pattinson

in touch with leaders

25/1

6th

11

29th Mar 2025

Good

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

16:50 Stratford

Rays The One

10st 6lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Mark Pattinson

Signs that he might have turned a corner when third at Huntingdon but that theory was soon quashed on his return visit; hasn't won over hurdles since 2022.

16/1

Form: 56987-

Last run: 142 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
22 months since his one hurdles success, faring no better for the return to 2m3f-plus of late; work on from 7lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

30th Aug 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

15:50 Fontwell

African Sun

10st 2lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy

Only beaten about 10l when fourth at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) last month but is effectively only 1lb lower here and it's over two years since his only win.

25/1

4th

13

9th Jul 2024

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

19:05 Uttoxeter

African Sun

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy

Won this race in 2022 but yet to add to that success, and it's a good while since he was placed; 6lb wrong today; difficult to enthuse over.

50/1

7th

7

27th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 171y

Class 5

16:55 Huntingdon

African Sun

10st 2lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy

in rear

40/1

Form: /53/9-

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Didn't shape without promise on last month's stable debut (2m3f, good), the preceding 1,045-day absence unsurprisingly telling late on; placed off 9lb higher in June 2021 on the last time he contested a handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

1st Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

12:40 Worcester

Phil Healy

11st 5lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Joe Ponting

0-7 over hurdles; well handicapped on old form but returned from mammoth absence with two down-the-field finishes for new stable this spring and has huge amount to prove on chasing debut.

50/1

10th

6

16th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

Phil Healy

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Joe Ponting

Didn't shape without promise on last month's stable debut (2m3f, good), the preceding 1,045-day absence unsurprisingly telling late on; placed off 9lb higher in June 2021 on the last time he contested a handicap.

20/1

10th

6

16th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

Phil Healy

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Joe Ponting

Didn't shape without promise on last month's stable debut (2m3f, good), the preceding 1,045-day absence unsurprisingly telling late on; placed off 9lb higher in June 2021 on the last time he contested a handicap.

20/1

Form: 47P/3- D

Last run: 56 days

W: 10st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Sedgefield win off 2lb lower two years ago (2m1f, good) was owed to the sharp track, and this would be the speediest circuit he's encountered since; fine return after 15 months out latest, and a live chance here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

17th Jul 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

17:15 Uttoxeter

Mac Be Lucky

10st 3lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Won off 1lb lower at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) in May 2022 but he's been lightly raced since; returned after a long absence with a close third at Chepstow (2m, soft) in March but he's not kicked on from that and has something to prove again; visor added.

16/1

7th

10

5th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

17:15 Newton Abbot

Mac Be Lucky

10st 6lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

7yo with just ten runs behind him; won off 2lb lower at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) two years ago; his second run back from an absence wasn't as good as the first (close up over 2m on soft) but he could rebound and fair shout if he does.

12/1

11th

11

16th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

Mac Be Lucky

10st 4lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Sedgefield win off 2lb lower two years ago (2m1f, good) was owed to the sharp track, and this would be the speediest circuit he's encountered since; fine return after 15 months out latest, and a live chance here.

4/1

Form: /UPP0-

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Mark 12lb below her last winning one is owed to a poor 2023-24 season; not convinced this longest trip to date is what she's been after.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

1

(8)

12th Aug 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 5

17:35 Kempton (AW)

At A Pinch

10st 4lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Toby Lawes

in touch with leaders, dropped to rear over 2f out, soon struggling

25/1

5th

6

6th Jun 2024

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

15:13 Uttoxeter

At A Pinch

11st 5lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

Won off a 17lb higher mark in February last year and that was the last time she sported a hood, which is now joined by cheekpieces; a revival wouldn't be a complete bolt from the blue.

25/1

12th

4

16th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

At A Pinch

11st 7lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

Mark 12lb below her last winning one is owed to a poor 2023-24 season; not convinced this longest trip to date is what she's been after.

66/1

Form: 934P-3 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Bled from the nose over C&D last month but has already bounced back with a third in a Fakenham seller, running up to his mark; 5lb lower than for the most recent of two wins here, and appeals most of the Moore pair.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.10
Straight Forecast £9.70
Tricast £53.29
Trifecta £71.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Mermaids Cave

RP RATINGS:

Tara Iti

WEST COUNTRY:

Gorcombe Moonshine

Telegraph:

Emanate

The Guardian:

Mermaids Cave

Daily Mail:

Mermaids Cave

D Express:

Mermaids Cave

Daily Mirror:

Mermaids Cave

The Sun:

Mermaids Cave

Daily Record:

Mermaids Cave

TOPSPEED:

Tara Iti

POSTDATA:

Tara Iti

The Times:

Tara Iti

The Star:

Tara Iti