15:20 Fontwell

Sunday 25 February 2018

All14:2014:5015:2015:5516:2516:5517:25

totepool National Spirit Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 4m 57.75s

Lil Rockerfeller^b1⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR: 160| CD

5/2

Game and genuine, often looks hard work but responds well to pressure. Won this in 2016. so conditions ideal, change of headgear after a below-par effort last time but this is easier and every chance of getting back to winning ways.

Form: 420-316

Old Guard⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 149

11/4

Has returned to something like his better form this year, not beaten far by My Tent Or Yours in the International and then a respectable effort behind Wholestone. Drying ground a help and should be thereabouts.

Form: 713154

Air Horse One³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 147| D

10/3

Has progressed nicely over the past year and this trip seems to suit better than shorter. Good second in a competitive handicap last time and may reverse earlier form with Old Guard here. Not discounted.

Form: 40-4302

Cap'n⁸

Age: 15| Weight: 11-3| J: Unknown| T: Miss C Dyson

Form: 035

Clyne³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 149| D

12/1

Bit disappointing this season, unable to lay a glove on The New One at Haydock last time (despite suitable conditions) and a beaten favourite before that. Needs to bounce back to best now and even that may not be good enough.

Form: 23-2324

Dr Des²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 140| D

13/2

Improving nicely and made light work of a relatively simple task at Towcester last time. Previous second to a well-fancied Supreme horse looks good and he could be the fly in the ointment today.

Form: 421221

Eaton Hill⁵⁶

Age: 14| Weight: 11-3| J: Unknown| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 122

Form: 3P1-063

Jeannot De Nonant²⁹

Age: 14| Weight: 11-3| J: Unknown| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 133

Form: 38-4354

No Hassle Hoff⁸

Age: 14| Weight: 11-3| J: Unknown| T: D Skelton| OR: 140

Form: 24-1493

Norman The Red³³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Matthew Batchelor| T: J E Long| OR: 102

200/1

First run for new yard, not seen on a racecourse since last March but even his very best form leaves him well short of what's required here.

Form: 932F/24-

Ubak²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 145

8/1

Useful handicap hurdler on his day and would be capable of getting involved on his best form, but it's been something of a steady decline for a while now, Bit better last time out but needs to build on that if he's to hold a chance.

Form: 4/054-76

Value At Risk¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 145| BF| D

28/1

Not really hit the heights that he looked like doing once upon a time, well beaten over fences last time (made favourite) and previous win at Doncaster nothing to write home about. Plenty to find.

Form: 75-2716

Colin's Sister²⁹

Age: 15| Weight: 11-2| J: Unknown| T: F O'Brien| OR: 142| D

Form: 15-1433

Forecasts

Lil Rockerfeller (5/2), Old Guard (11/4), Air Horse One (10/3), Dr Des (13/2), Ubak (8/1), Clyne (12/1), Value At Risk (28/1), Norman The Red (200/1)

The admirable Lil Rockerfeller will find this a bit easier than some of the tasks he's faced over the last twelve months, and the fact he was placed in a Stayers Hurdle shows his class. If he can put a disappointing effort behind him then he's the one to beat, but AIR HORSE ONE, after a shaky start to his hurdling career, is really finding his stride now and with ideal conditions here, can take the prize. Old Guard is just short of top class but is happy at this level, and the improving Dr Des is not to be dismissed lightly either.