Racecards
15:45 Fontwell Park
totesport.com National Spirit Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £32,500 added
- Winner: £18,528
- 2nd: £6,952
- 3rd: £3,481
- 4th: £1,736
- Form 248-214
- Age 8
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 161
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, bad mistake 5th, soon lost place, rallied 4 out, soon chasing leaders, no impression from 2 out
- Form 915910-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
held up in touch, tracked leaders 5th, ridden to challenge 3 out, chased winner next, kept on well under pressure
- Form F-F3332
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 162
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Harry Skelton
tracked leader, raced keenly, led 5th, 6 lengthes clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well (no time taken)
Afsoun (FR)
60- Form 30-30B5
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer N B King
- Jockey Alex Merriam
led, raced keenly, headed 5th, remained prominent, pushed along after 3 out, weakened next
- Form 057-2F3
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
held up in rear, in touch, pushed along 4 out, never on terms
- Form 108/1P-8
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 154
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
Nonrunner
- Form F-P1862
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer Miss R Curtis
- Jockey Aodhagan Conlon
Nonrunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
KARABAK failed to produce his usual strong finish when fourth at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. Maybe that race came too soon after his earlier victory in the Relkeel Hurdle at the same track and, if Alan King's hurdler can return to that sort of form, he's the one to beat. Celestial Halo finished behind the selection in the Relkeel, but re-opposes on better terms today after nearly ending his long losing run over 2m at Wincanton last week. Sentry Duty finished well behind both at Cheltenham though better is expected here, while Trenchant won this race last year but is returning from a lengthy absence this time around. The remainder look up against it on today's terms.
Formwatch
Karabak (FR) 2-1fav (11-12) Held up in 4th, closed 3 out and soon went 2nd, driven after 2 out, demoted to 4th and one pace when switched left approaching last, soon held, 4th of 7, 17l behind Oscar Whisky (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Trenchant 25-1 (11-6) In touch, headway under pressure 3 out, weakened next, 16th of 24, 27l behind Buena Vista (10-1) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Celestial Halo (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, soon hard pressed, narrow advantage when mistake last, rallied when narrowly headed flat, just failed, 2nd of 5, ns behind Mille Chief (11-2) at Wincanton 2m hdl G2 (1) gs.
Afsoun (FR) 100-1 (11-7) Held up last, hedway to 4th after 4 out, poor 5th as field came into view final 110 yards, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Big Buck's (11-7) at Newbury 3m hdl G1 (1) gs in Dec.
Tarkari (IRE) 18-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, slow 2nd, chased leaders approaching 3 out, under pressure when blundered last, no extra, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Oscar Whisky (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m hdl (2) gs.
Sentry Duty (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Held up behind, headway 3 out, outpaced after next, never on terms, 8th of 12, 20l behind Karabak (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gs in Dec.
Black Jack Blues (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Led, headed approaching 2 out, soon rallied, kept on well, not pace of winner, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Oscar Whisky (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m hdl (2) gs.
Warne's Way (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Led to 3rd, with leader, lost place 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, 10th of 12, well behind Stow (10-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.