Racecards
14:20 Fontwell Park
toteplacepot Josh Gifford Memorial Novices' Chase (For The Josh Gifford Cup) (Class 2)
- 3 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f 96y
- Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £20,000 added
- Winner: £12,660
- 2nd: £3,740
- 3rd: £1,870
- 4th: £936
- Form 2-26143
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey N D Fehily
made all, left well clear at 3rd last, finished alone
- Form 341-538
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Mrs D Grissell
- Jockey M Goldstein
tracked leader, mistake 4 out, fell next
- Form 053/4-55
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer A E Jones
- Jockey James Best
chased leaders 6 lengths off the pace in 3rd, detatched after 7th, tailed off when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
- Form 6-223F2
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Non Runner
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
AS DE MEE was entered in yesterday's Pendil Chase at Kempton but comes here for this much easier task. Ahead of Tea For Two when second to Bristol De Mai in a Grade 1 at Sandown earlier this month, he should be much too good for these. Paul Nicholls could have a 1-2 as Orbasa had some decent form in France and is rated a stone superior to Blue Bear. Ma'ire Rua looks to be facing an impossible task at the weights.
Formwatch
Orbasa (FR) (11-9) 3rd of 13, 12l behind Rezorbi (11-4) at Enghien 2m 1f gs in Nov.
Blue Bear (IRE) 50-1 (10-3) Held up in mid-division, pushed along and lost place 6th, not fluent next, soon behind, 8th of 13, dist behind Baoulet Delaroque (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Ma'ire Rua (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Made most until headed before 2 out, chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 9, 31 3/4l behind Hope's Wishes (11-12) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
As De Mee (FR) 10-1 (11-3) Tracked winner until 5th and from 6th until before 7th, not fluent 12th, ridden to take 2nd again before 2 out, no impression last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Bristol De Mai (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) gs in Feb.