Racecards
15:30 Fontwell Park
Neil Madgwick Memorial Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 3 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f 31y
- Going: Good (Watered)
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,330
- 2nd: £1,870
- 3rd: £935
- 4th: £468
- Form 2-63F31
- Age 7
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
tracked leader until 5th, disputing 2nd after 4 out until shaken up and not quicken from 3 out, not fluent 2 out, switched right last, one pace
- Form P-35501
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 135
raced keenly, tracked leaders, 2nd 5th, led before 11th, hard pressed 3 out, headed after next, edged right and bumped rival when still challenging last, stayed on under pressure to lead again last strides
- Form 11123U
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey Harry Bannister
jumped right at times, led, headed before 11th, challenging 3 out, led after next, bumped last, stayed on, headed last strides
- Form 1-6F132
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey L P Aspell
Nonrunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
There may only be four runners in this but it’s a tricky puzzle to solve. Alcala had been looking one-paced over this trip before winning over 3m at Ludlow, for which he’s been raised 7lb. Opening Batsman has also gone back up in the weights after scoring at Ludlow last time but won this in 2015 when 5lb higher so deserves respect. The Fresh Prince can take some pegging back if getting into a rhythm but has been well beaten off today’s mark since winning at Uttoxeter in January. GOWANAUTHAT unseated his rider in the Topham at Aintree two weeks ago but that spin should have blown away the cobwebs and Charlie Mann’s proven summer ground performer will be more at home here.
Formwatch
Alcala (FR) 6-5fav (11-8) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 4th, challenged 4 out, led 2 out, kept on well, won at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Go West Young Man (10-13) by 2 1/2l, 4 ran.
Opening Batsman (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, ridden to challenge 3 out, left in 2nd 3 out, every chance last, led closing stages, ridden out, won at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Apr beating According To Harry (11-2) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
Gowanauthat (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) In touch, lost place 10th (bechers), mid-division when badly hampered and unseated rider 12th (canal turn), at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
The Fresh Prince (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Led until after 3rd, stayed handy, blundered 12th, well held from next, remote 3rd 3 out, plugged on flat, went 2nd close home, 2nd of 6, 27l behind Casse Tete (11-8) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Mar.