13:45 Fontwell

Monday 8 January 2018

All13:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:45

Racing Welfare Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 5m 1.56s

Hands Of Stone^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 99

15/2

Some promise shown in bumpers but after falling on hurdling bow at Uttoxeter in October (2m4f, soft) has failed to show significant progress in four further outings. Did run most promising race last time on heavy at Ffos Las, but must improve on it.

Form: 2-F5076

Princess Roania^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 96

9/2

Now 16 races over timber without getting a breakthrough, though has placed in half of those. Again ran well off this mark at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) last month, beaten just 3L in third. Could have her day soon.

Form: 5423P3

Flanagans Field^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Jordan Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 96

5/1

Has been banging at the door in amateur/conditionals contest lately, going notably close at Ffos Las (2m, soft) and Plumpton (2m4½f, good to soft). Just ran out of steam latest at Ffos Las in heavy over 2m4f, should be in the mix again.

Form: 2/12-234

Thundering Home^b,t²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N R Mitchell| OR: 95

25/1

Veteran was in super form in the spring, at one stage winning three from four starts, latest off 103 over 2m1f (good at Exeter). Not shown that level of form since coming back in but assessor has taken a chance with 5lb drop now.

Form: 0P0447

Be Daring^h¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 90

7/2

Has run with some promise here this term over longer trips, handicap mark sliding all the while and could play a hand if this shorter journey helps. Heavy ground an unknown factor.

Form: 5-474U5

Big Picture¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Farrelly| OR: 86

6/1

Big prices and well beaten in five hurdles starts in Ireland, fancied in the betting but ran no sort of race on debut for this yard at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) last month. Interesting to see if confidence is retained.

Form: 90-7086

Blue April^b²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 83

6/1

A 13-race maiden over timber, he did shape well for a long way on seasonal bow at Plumpton last month (2m, soft) and could have a role to play now if building on that from 2lb lower mark with stable going great guns (4-13 lately).

Form: 6P02-64

Brother Norphin²⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁷⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 80

8/1

Shown nothing in four hurdles starts for previous yard to suggest he'll be winning this. Handicapper has released another 4lb now but best watched on form so far.

Form: 8PP805-

Forecasts

Be Daring (7/2), Princess Roania (9/2), Flanagans Field (5/1), Blue April (6/1), Big Picture (6/1), Hands Of Stone (15/2), Brother Norphin (8/1), Thundering Home (25/1)

Princess Roania certainly wouldn't be winning out of turn and she has the form to play a big role, while she ran well last time out. She's respected but hard to side with. Big Picture was backed on debut for this yard but failed to justify the support, he's not one to write off totally as yet. Flanagans Field has knocked on the door lately and ought to give another good account down in trip but the nod goes to BLUE APRIL, who ran with promise for a long way on his seasonal reappearance at Plumpton and should be that little bit more tuned up for the experience running out of an in-form yard.