14:10 Fontwell

Sunday 29 January 2017

All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:10

Star Sports The Gentleman's Bookmaker Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 6m 6.4s

High Aspirations^h³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: H Cobden⁽³⁾| T: M Blake| OR: 101

7/1

Enjoyed a fruitful spell last year and is back on a winning mark after a couple of modest efforts. Needs to prove his still retains his enthusiasm though and faces a tough task under topweight.

Form: P85PU4-

Cucklington^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 98

7/2

Made steady progress over hurdles and wasn't beaten too far on his chasing debut at Wincanton earlier this month. This slightly shorter trip can also help his stamina last to the line - a worthy contender for a place on the shortlist.

Form: 365-058

Slidecheck^t,v1⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 96

8/1

His form figures are arguably better than his performances would suggest - he was fully 65 lengths adrift of his nearest rival last time and cannot be backed with maximum confidence judging by that performance.

Form: 11-4433

Beaujolais Bob^b,t⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Conor Shoemark| T: R G Hawker| OR: 81

14/1

Failed to complete in either of his last two starts over fences but had previously held his own at this sort of level. Needs to prove his wellbeing but should act on the ground and has little to fear over this trip.

Form: 6P12F-P

Tenant Farmer^p1⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 74

4/1

Handled this C&D with an efficient round of jumping the last time he came to Fontwell. However, he has been easily brushed aside in both his subsequent starts so now has something to prove. He does look a little risky on face value, but he did win on heavy ground during his time in point-to-points, so should cope with the state of the ground this afternoon.

Form: 24-2133

Wish In A Well^b³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 72

2/1

Exposed as ordinary and needs everything to go his way. However, he does head out after a confidence boosting success in an amateur riders event at Fakenham at the start of the month, so has a feasible chance of making the frame from just a 1lb higher mark.

Form: 123U23-

Sitting Back⁵⁴

Age: 13| Weight: 10-0| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs D Grissell| OR: 69

20/1

On a long losing run and is very hard to fancy on the evidence of his last two starts. Serious deterioration in the ground would also be a negative for him.

Form: 4-679PU

Dancing Dik¹⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Mr B Paris-Crofts⁽⁷⁾| T: S D Dixon| OR: 64

66/1

Another who's recent profile lacks sparkle and it is difficult to make a solid case out for him given that he has finishing in front of a combined total of just five rivals in his last seven starts.

Form: P0-P9P6

Bobonyx¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: James Banks| T: D L Williams| OR: 58

25/1

A long-standing maiden who is 4lb out of the weights and, from a rating of just 58, he needs to run out of all recognition to even make the frame. Others very readily preferred.

Form: 945P-P5

Non-Runners

Benability²⁸

Weight: 10-8| Age: 7

T: Tim Vaughan J: Alan Johns

Forecasts

Wish In A Well (2/1), Cucklington (7/2), Tenant Farmer (4/1), High Aspirations (7/1), Slidecheck (8/1), Benability (8/1), Beaujolais Bob (14/1), Sitting Back (20/1), Bobonyx (25/1), Dancing Dik (66/1)

A tricky race in terms of consistency as most of the field are struggling to find their correct level just now. Benability has shown a fair attitude in his last two starts and ican make the frame if he responds kindly to the fitting of a visor. However, CUCKLINGTON is open to a bit more improvement over fences and is taken as the one to be on in this company. Wish In A Well and Tenant Farmer can fight it out as the best of the rest. 1. Cucklington 2. Benability 3. Wish In A Well