Racecards
12:25 Fontwell Park
Visit attheraces.com Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 5)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f 164y
- Going: Soft (Heavy in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £6,821 added
- Winner: £3,119
- 2nd: £916
- 3rd: £458
- 4th: £450
Pleney
44- Form 7994-P3
- Age 5
- Weight 12-7
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey Mark Galligan
held up in touch, pushed along after 3 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened flat
- Form 45P/U5-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Mrs L Richards
- Jockey Rex Dingle
held up, hit 7th, shaken up after 8th, ridden and headway after 3 out, switched right after 2 out, led last, ridden clear
- Form 56775-4
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer R Bandey
- Jockey Harry Bannister
chased leader, led 3 out, ridden and edged left after 2 out, hit last and headed, one pace
- Form 85-2630
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer P Gundry
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
always in rear, struggling when jumped right 3 out, tailed off
Polar Light
25- Form 50020-U
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer P Henderson
- Jockey T J O'Brien
always behind, reminders after 7th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 0-85295
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer R A Teal
- Jockey Harry Teal
led, jumped right 8th, headed 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
- Form 646545
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer C J Gray
- Jockey Sean Houlihan
held up in touch, went 2nd after 3 out, every chance when hung left before 2 out, ridden and weakened approaching last
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Nothing makes strong appeal but if GOOD NEWS can repeat the improved form displayed after a 514-day lay-off when scoring over course and distance last time then he could prove hard to beat. That success was something of a bolt from the blue both in terms of returning from a long absence and relatively modest previous form. It will be interesting to see if he can follow up here. Pleney was another to reveal improvement after a break last time when a close third at Hexham and could be a player despite the steadier of 12-7 in this ground. Hold Me Tight is still a maiden but has a chance if forgiven his latest start as previous efforts were solid and Robin De Broome is one to note in the market off his featherweight for Olly Murphy.
Formwatch
Pleney 5-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway before 4 out, soon reminders, chased winner from 2 out, ridden before last, no impression, lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Court Baloo (10-12) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Good News 16-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, challenged after 3 out, ridden after next, led last, edged right and kept on well flat, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) sft in Oct beating Timely Gift (10-5) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
First Assembly (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Led, edged left on stable bend after 4th, headed bend before 2 out, soon weakened, mistake at 2 out, 4th of 6, dist behind Enrilo (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
Hold Me Tight (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, 15th of 17, dist behind Guardia Top (10-5) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Polar Light 25-1 (11-5) Held up behind, struggling when blundered and unseated rider 4 out, at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Jonnigraig (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway and pushed along in modest 5th after 3 out, never a threat, 5th of 11, 17l behind Viking Ruby (10-10) at Taunton 3m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Bluebell Sally (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, struggling 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 5th of 8, dist behind Realta Dawn (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gf in Oct.
False Getaway (IRE) 50-1 (11-11) Always towards rear, never a factor, 16th of 17, dist behind Minnie Escape (10-2) at Chepstow 2m hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Robin De Broome (IRE) 9-2 (10-0) Towards rear, mistake 5th, well behind 3 out, 8th of 10, 37 1/2l behind Petrucci (11-0) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Aug.