Racecards
16:20 Fontwell Park
Willie Or Won't He At 32RedSport.com Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £5,800 added
- Winner: £3,769
- 2nd: £1,107
- 3rd: £553
- 4th: £277
- Form 2P34F-2
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer R Walford
- Jockey Felix de Giles
made most to 9th, in touch, outpaced in 4th when left 3rd 2 out, soon ridden, no impression with front pair
- Form 03916-4
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 115
tracked leaders, outpaced before 3 out, left modest 4th next, no impression
- Form 144335-
- Age 12
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer R G Hawker
- Jockey James Best
prominent, hit 3rd, blundered 5th, driven and lost place after 7th, behind from 9th, tailed off
Morgan's Bay
93- Form 125-512
- Age 10
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer Mrs L J Mongan
- Jockey Tom Cannon
close up in rear, tracked leaders 4 out, challenged when left 2nd 2 out, soon led, ridden clear after last, stayed on well
- Form 334883
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer Nick Williams
- Jockey Lizzie Kelly
not fluent 1st, with leader, led narrowly 4 out to before next, close up when left in narrow lead again 2 out, soon headed, kept on same pace, no chance with winner flat
- Form 5-841F4
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer Mrs E Bishop
- Jockey James Banks
tracked leaders, close up 7th, led narrowly 9th to 4 out, regained narrow lead before next, soon ridden, hard pressed when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
Verdict
Despite re-opposing on identical terms, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that ULIS DE VASSY will reverse recent Exeter running with Brody Bleu on this slight better ground and Lizzie Kelly's mount gets the vote to finally come good again. Irish import Miller Of Glanmire should do better than on his UK debut at Plumpton but Morgan's Bay looks a bigger danger - Laura Mongan's gelding was in decent form in the autumn. Snowell won at Leicester in December and is just starting to come down the weights again so isn't without hope.
Formwatch
Brody Bleu (FR) 5-2fav (11-8) Led until 5th, led before 4 out, soon headed, stayed on same pace, no impression on winner when taking 2nd last, 2nd of 4, 5l behind Marie Des Anges (10-13) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Jan.
Miller Of Glanmire (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up, ridden 10th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Tigre D'aron (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Nov.
Stormin Exit (IRE) 18-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, jumped slowly 5th, closed 12th, pressing for well held 4th when mistake 2 out, 5th of 9, 20l behind Scotch Warrior (10-8) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Apr.
Morgan's Bay 10-1 (11-6) Took keen hold, held up tracking leading trio, 3rd before 3 out, closing when blundered last, driven and stayed on into 2nd final 100 yards, kept on but not reach winner, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Tresor De Bontee (11-9) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Nov.
Ulis De Vassy (FR) 11-4 (10-10) Tracked leader, challenged 3rd, not fluent 4th, led next, headed before 4 out, led again at fence, not fluent 3 out, headed and mistake 2 out, no impression on winner and lost 2nd last, 3rd of 4, 7l behind Marie Des Anges (10-13) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Jan.
Snowell (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up off the pace in 6th, headway chasing leaders after 9th, 4th and one pace from 2 out, 4th of 9, 18l behind Until Winning (11-3) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.