Racecards
15:30 Fontwell Park
Betfair Supports Pride Of Racing Award Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 3m 2f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,400 added
- Winner: £2,862
- 2nd: £840
- 3rd: £420
- 4th: £210
- Form 1223-5P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
chased leader, led narrowly after 12th, in command before last, came readily clear flat, eased towards finish
- Form 145/9-53
- Age 10
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer M R Bosley
- Jockey W T Kennedy
held up in last pair, closer order 4th, hit 7th, not fluent 12th, ridden and struggling after 13th, tailed off, left distant 3rd after 2 out
- Form 222224
- Age 10
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey D C Costello
led, narrowly headed after 12th, chased winner, ridden before 4 out, stayed challenging until 2 out, well held before last, no chance with winner
- Form 34-1P62
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer J A Geake
- Jockey Jimmy Derham
held up in last pair, closer order 6th, ridden in 4th before 4 out, soon struggling, no chance when pulled up before last
- Form B1362U
- Age 8
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer Nick Mitchell
- Jockey Danny Cook
chased leading trio until dropped to rear after 4th, remiders after 6th, lost touch 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
- Form 866526
- Age 7
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey Tom Cannon
chased leading duo, blundered 14th, hit next, ridden and tried to challenge before 3 out, held when went lame and pulled up after 2 out
Verdict
LADY DE LA VEGA appeared to resent a switch back to the smaller obstacles when failing to justify favouritism behind Copsehill Girl at Ffos Las. Tim Vaughan's mare isn't particularly well handicapped here but clearly has stamina in abundance and may just outstay the luckless Topless, who has now had 23 starts over fences without getting her head in front and didn't race with her usual enthusiasm when only fourth at Lingfield last time. Miss Fleur is only a pound higher than when second at Plumpton in January and was still in the lead when unseating her rider at Towcester 10 days ago, while Beware Chalk Pit won off this mark at Plumpton in the autumn - he looks best of the rest.
Formwatch
Rapid Increase (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 5th, weakened 12th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Master d'Or (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan, 9 ran.
El Jo (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) In rear, 6th when mistake 10th, no impression from 13th, went modest 3rd after last, 3rd of 10, 30l behind Ratify (10-8) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Topless (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Led 2nd, headed after 13th, driven in 3rd when mistake 4 out, no impression leading duo when lost 3rd 2 out, weakened soon after, 4th of 7, 13l behind Tuskar Rock (11-2) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Beware Chalk Pit (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up, headway on inside 13th, led after 4 out, driven flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Tim The Chair (11-11) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy.
Miss Fleur 9-4fav (10-0) Led, joined 4 out, narrow advantage when blundered and unseated rider next, in a race won by Tarabela (10-2) at Towcester 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb, 6 ran.
Jack The Soldier (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, bad mistake and lost place 6th, reminders after hitting next, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Phar Again (11-9) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp ch 0-95 (5) gd in Jan.
Lady De La Vega (FR) 2-1fav (11-4) Tracked leader until bad mistake aand lost place 5th, switched to outside after next, ridden 8th, weakening when not fluent 3 out, 4th of 7, 23l behind Copsehill Girl (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.