Racecards
15:20 Fontwell Park
EBF Stallions 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier) (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Winner: £3,899
- 2nd: £1,145
- 3rd: £572
- 4th: £286
- Form 26-8212
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey James Banks
held up in touch, hit 4 out, chased leaders next, outpaced in 4th approaching 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 3rd flat, no impression with front pair
- Form 4P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey G Sheehan
held up in touch on inside, lost place and behind 3rd, weakened 3 out
Fourth Act (IRE)
113- Form 5/747-2
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey N D Fehily
raced keenly, mid-division, in touch on outside 3rd, went 2nd after 5th, led 3 out, headed and one pace in 3rd when blundered next, no impression before last, lost 3rd flat
- Form 9/3909-8
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Mrs L J Mongan
- Jockey J E Moore
raced keenly, tracked leader to after 5th, in touch, mistake 3 out, soon lost place and weakened, tailed off next
Laurium
45- Form 14
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey David Bass
tracked leaders, effort to challenge on inside approaching 2 out, ridden and every chance between last 2 until after last, not pace of clear winner flat
- Form P24-P2
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey Tom Cannon
raced keenly, tracked leaders, headway to lead approaching 2 out, ridden clear flat
- Form 01-16
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Joshua Moore
led to 3 out, not fluent next, weakened before last
Uranox (FR)
14- Form FP9
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer M Roberts
- Jockey W P Kavanagh
raced keenly, mid-division on outside, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and outpaced before next, soon weakened
- Form 49-57
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer D J S Ffrench Davis
- Jockey Mr Ben Ffrench Davis
raced keenly, held up behind, headway into mid-division after 3rd, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
Verdict
Laurium still had every chance when blundering through the last behind stablemate Clean Sheet at Newbury in December. He looks sure-fire future winner but this is an above-average novices' hurdle for the track with REMILUC (NAP) setting the standard. Chris Gordon's charge ran a cracker behind the subsequently Grade 2-placed Vago Collonges at Taunton last time and would take all the beating if reproducing that run. Quinlandio was just beaten at Taunton after winning at Towcester but has a penalty to carry while Benissimo disappointed slightly when favourite at Fakenham. But the well-bred Fourth Act still has time on his side and Remind Me Later faced a stiff task at Ascot last month.
Formwatch
Quinlandio (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway to track leaders 3 out, led narrowly next, soon ridden, headed narrowly last, kept on and every chance flat, just held, 2nd of 7, nk behind Padge (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) hvy in Jan.
Dexter Benjamin (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, weakened from 4 out, ran wide before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Gino Trail (11-4) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Fourth Act (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, every chance last, kept on and always held by winner run-in, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Miles To Memphis (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Keppel Isle (IRE) 80-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, lost place 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind Pain Au Chocolat (10-7) at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Laurium 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, every chance when blundered last, weakened, not recover, 4th of 11, 13l behind Clean Sheet (11-0) at Newbury 2m hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Remiluc (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Chased leading pair, led after 3 out, joined and hit last, headed and not pace of winner run-in, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Vago Collonges (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Remind Me Later (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Took keen hold tracking leaders on inside, slightly lost place after 7th, rallied 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 7, 20l behind Out Sam (11-12) at Ascot 2m 6f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) sft in Jan.
Uranox (FR) 100-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, weakened from 3 out, 9th of 12, well behind Gino Trail (11-4) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Chill In The Wood 50-1 (10-7) Mid-division, pushed along and struggling in 7th after 3 out, 7th of 13, well behind Dolores Delightful (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 6f mares NH nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Benissimo (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Chased leader and clear, ridden 2 out, driven to lead bend before last, tired and headed flat, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Acertain Circus (10-12) at Fakenham 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan.