Racecards
12:30 Fontwell Park
Visit attheraces.com Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f 162y
- Going: Good to Soft (Good in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £5,800 added
- Winner: £3,769
- 2nd: £1,107
- 3rd: £553
- 4th: £277
- Form 032-852
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey Sean Houlihan
keen behind leader, almost upsides travelling strongly 3 out, ridden after 2 out, close up last, stayed on flat, could not match winner
- Form 5F/36-90
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Kieron Edgar
held up towards rear, pushed along and losing touch 4th, not fluent 6th and well adrift, tailed off when unseated rider 2 out
- Form PP-0050
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer K Davis
- Jockey Paul O'Brien
held up towards rear, awkward 3rd, ridden after 3 out, well behind 2 out, plugged on
- Form 2-62826
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer Mark Gillard
- Jockey Jordan Nailor
prominent, close up when jumped left 6th, ridden before 2 out, weakening when not fluent last, no extra
- Form 235
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
midfield, progress to chase leading trio 4th, hampered by loose horse 6th, lost touch with leading pair 2 out, stayed on from last
- Form 1/P-3
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey N F Houlihan
held up in midfield, towards rear 6th, ridden after 3 out, well beaten 2 out, no extra
- Form 21/P-PP
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer A J Honeyball
- Jockey Rex Dingle
midfield, not fluent 2nd, jumped right 3rd, ridden 3 out, weakened before 2 out
Sambezi (FR)
23- Form F-1252
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
made all, narrow advantage when ridden 2 out, hung left after last, stayed on strongly flat, held on well
- Form 5-05
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer H Whittington
- Jockey Page Fuller
prominent, gradually lost place into midfield 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out
- Form 68-40P9
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer K Davis
- Jockey Caoilin Quinn
held up in rear, ridden before 3 out, steady headway 2 out, one pace from last
Soul Icon
33- Form 9
- Age 4
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer K Burke
- Jockey Thomas Garner
keen towards rear, mistake 1st, jinked right and unseated rider 2nd
Verdict
Needhams Gap was pulled up in his only previous run over hurdles and never a factor over fences last week so it’s no surprise that Jamie Moore prefers Lavorante, who has placed in a point and a bumper. Forever Des Long is arguably the form pick on his latest second at Ludlow but SAMBEZI looks a less complicated ride and will have learned plenty from last month’s second at Sedgefield when the first two pulled clear of the others.
Formwatch
Forever Des Long (FR) 5-2 (11-4) Led, hanging left final bend, went left and blundered last, headed flat, held after, kept on, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Method Madness (11-4) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) hvy in Feb.
Fort Summer (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Always behind, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Osprey Call (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gs in Feb.
Givehimhisdew (IRE) 400-1 (11-2) Off the pace towards rear, neve ron terms, 11th of 15, dist behind Killer Kane (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) gs in Mar.
John Betjeman 25-1 (11-5) Off the pace in 4th place, closer at 5th, went modest 3rd before 2 out, weakened badly before the last, 6th of 9, dist behind Eamon An Cnoic (11-10) at Sandown 2m hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
Lavorante (IRE) 11-4fav (11-4) Held up behind leaders, lost place entering back straight, ridden and one pace home straight, 5th of 8, 14 1/2l behind Brave Kingdom (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn (5) gs in Feb.
Needhams Gap (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Behind, pushed along 6th, went 3rd 4 out, kept on but no impression, 3rd of 4, 15 1/2l behind Monsieur Lecoq (11-2) at Leicester 2m (3) hvy in Mar.
Now Is The Winter (IRE) 80-1 (10-12) Prominent when slow 1st, chased leaders on outside, lost place 6th, mistake next, behind from 4 out, soon pulled up, at Exeter 2m 6f (3) gd in Nov.
Sambezi (FR) 13-2 (11-2) Prominent, ridden to join winner 2 out, every chance until no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Democratic Oath (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) hvy in Feb.
Sergeant O'leary (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, 5th of 12, dist behind Up For Parol (11-4) at Wetherby 2m mdn (4) gs in Mar.
Pollyamorous (IRE) 400-1 (10-9) Off the pace and always towards rear, 9th of 15, dist behind Killer Kane (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) gs in Mar.
Soul Icon 100-1 (10-8) Held up, ridden and lost touch back straight, tailed off turning for home, no extra, last of 9, dist behind Kyntara (11-4) at Warwick 2m (5) hvy in Feb.