13:30 Onethreefivenotout
14:05 Colonel Mustard
14:35 Hatos
15:07 Dreaming Blue
15:42 Pride Rock
16:17 Captain Claude
16:50 Zonda
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at the time of publishing but subject to change.
The forecast testing going should hold no fears for former heavy-ground bumper ONETHREEFIVENOTOUT, who may have fluffed his lines on his handicap debut at Sandown last time out but had been on the up prior to that and is taken to bounce back in style reverted to maiden company with cheekpieces applied for the first time. Hurdling-newcomers Backinaction, who was off the mark in Irish points at the third attempt last month, and Highlands Legacy, who showed fair form in bumpers, both bring a fair bit of potential and can chase home Paul Nicholls’ useful sort in that order.
A trappy little renewal of the Kingwell Hurdle. Irish raider COLONEL MUSTARD has an unconvincing profile over fences. But that’s certainly not the case in this sphere with several fine efforts to his name, most notably a fine third to State Man last April, and he makes plenty of appeal on these terms. Elite Hurdle winner Rubaud is a likeable type who has an excellent strike rate in small fields, and he’s feared most now facing lesser opposition (chased home Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth this term), ahead of Nemean Lion, who possibly hasn’t reached his ceiling just yet.
After a spell in the doldrums, HATOS crucially jumped better in refitted blinkers (retained here) as he opened his chase account with a bit to spare at Ffos Las 16 days ago, and a repeat should see him firmly in the mix again from a 7 lb higher mark. Dr T J Eckleburg can also figure if dispelling a lesser run at Taunton, where he failed to jump with any fluency, whilst the market may prove a useful guide in assessing the chance of chase-debutant Toothless who is fitted with cheekpieces for the first time. The Russian Doyen is dangerously handicapped if bouncing back now dropped in grade.
With his yard in decent form, it could just pay to take a chance on DREAMING BLUE, who ran a cracker under positive tactics when third at Ludlow on his penultimate start. A return to a right-handed track (tended to jump right at Doncaster latest), with blinkers enlisted could see Anthony Honeyball’s charge in a better light. King’s Threshold remains the type to do better in this sphere, and he’s feared, especially now going right-handed once more, along with chase-debutant Individualiste, who is fitted with cheekpieces for the first time.
The returning PRIDE ROCK showed improved form hiked up in trip on handicap debut when finishing runner-up at Ffos Las 13 months ago, and, while he has a significant absence to overcome, his yard has enjoyed plenty of success this week, so he’s chanced to make a winning reappearance with first-time cheekpieces applied. Top-weight Pentire Head has been steadily progressive in this sphere, so he’s one to look out for now, handicapping over a more suitable trip than when last seen here, with the consistent Stratton Oakmont and recent Leicester winner Ede’iffs Rock also not out of things.
Fontwell regular CAPTAIN CLAUDE has taken well to fences, and while he ultimately came up short when bidding for the hat-trick in Sussex, that was no backward step with the drop back in trip that day probably not playing to his strengths. Back up in distance here, Anthony Honeyball’s charge looks pretty solid overall and shades preference ahead of Born At Midnight, who put in a good shift when third on his return from an 11-month absence at Plumpton. Exeter winner Leissieres Express and the blinkered-first-time No Hubs No Hoobs are others to consider.
Six-year-olds ZONDA and Kit’s Coty are both armed with potential, and the vote goes to the former, who shaped well when fourth on his handicap bow at Ascot. It’s by no means a two-horse race, though, with Chauffeur Driven and Shuil Ceoil both afforded respect. The former, a point winner, steps up in trip for his handicap debut, which looks significant, while it’ll be interesting to see how the Paul Nicholls-trained handicap debutant Paddy de Pole shapes up in the betting.
13:30 Onethreefivenotout
14:05 Colonel Mustard
14:35 Hatos
15:07 Dreaming Blue
15:42 Pride Rock
16:17 Captain Claude
16:50 Zonda
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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