12:45 Fontwell

Monday 11 December 2017

All12:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:40

NJS Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 12:45 | Winning time: 4m 54.6s

Acaro²²

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: R Walford

12/1

Just the one flat race in France. Not beaten far into seventh there although slightly disappointing as favourite. Only beat two home here on hurdles bow a month ago at 33/1 so step up is required.

Form: 6

Cold Shoulder²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: T Symonds

16/1

Ended up a tired fifth on hurdles debut at Bangor where he shot some 20 lengths clear early on. May front-run again but can't afford to go off so fast. Bare form not enough but could improve under more sensible tactics.

Form: 5

Comrade Conrad⁷³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

9/4

Won on debut but not subsequently on the flat for Roger Charlton to achieve a rating of 80. Stayed 1m6f on the level so stamina no issue and having joined a leading yard he is expected to go close here.

Form:

He's A Toff⁷⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: Miss J S Davis

50/1

Maiden of nine for Tim Easterby who made an inauspicious start over hurdles for this yard at Stratford. Rapidly faded before being pulled up and on flat form there are plenty of doubts over whether he will stay 2m.

Form: P

Hold Me Tight^t¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Gundry

10/1

Yet to win in 17 career starts but latest run, his second over hurdles was more promising with a second at Exeter. Was beaten all of 25L however so remains more one for handicaps in the future.

Form: 62

King Cnut²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: C Gordon

25/1

Paid the price for racing too keenly in a recent pair of Huntingdon bumpers both over 1m5½f. If he refuses to settle again here he won't last home and that is a big concern.

Form: 00

Ladofash^p²²

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon

8/1

Won just the once on the level, achieving a modest 58 rating. Distant third here on hurdling debut before a fifth of eight here last time (Acaro sixth). More needed but his form puts him in the mix from an each-way perspective.

Form: 35

Marettimo²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: W G M Turner| OR: 104

7/1

Progressed with each of his three hurdles with his latest second at Ludlow a fair effort although he was beaten 18L. No surprise if he is involved in the finish today.

Form: 542

Seaborn¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

10/1

Once a winner on the flat who weakened into seventh on his hurdles debut at Huntingdon after being keen enough. Again faded last time out at Exeter and ended up tailed off in midfield. More needed.

Form: 74

Aiguille Rouge⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| BF

9/2

Four races on the flat in France and one here for current yard achiever her a flat rating of 73. Ran with promise on her hurdling debut at Fakenham where she hit the front before fading into an eased 21L third. No surprise if she goes close here.

Form: 3

Dandy Walk¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Kevin Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins

16/1

Showed little in three 6f races back in 2016 before returning to action last month over hurdles at Exeter. Completely tailed off there after racing prominently and huge doubts stamina wise.

Form: 5

Spirit Of Rome¹¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington

10/1

Never better than third in 10 flat races achieving the lowly rating of 50. Probably will stay but ability wise she is unlikely to play a significant part on hurdles debut.

Form:

Forecasts

Comrade Conrad (9/4), Aiguille Rouge (9/2), Marettimo (7/1), Ladofash (8/1), Seaborn (10/1), Spirit Of Rome (10/1), Hold Me Tight (10/1), Acaro (12/1), Cold Shoulder (16/1), Dandy Walk (16/1), King Cnut (25/1), He's A Toff (50/1)

Dan Skelton has found a nice spot for COMRADE CONRAD to make his hurdling debut here. He was the best of these on the level and having joined such a prolific team he is expected to know the job well enough to win this. The main danger could prove to be Gary Moore's Aiguille Rouge who ran with promise on her first start at Fakenham. Marettimo is going the right way and is another likely to go well.