15:40 Fontwell

Wednesday 7 March 2018

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:40

Telephone Betting At Goodwin Racing Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 6.80s

Dicosimo^h⁸⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 132WS

14/1

Coming back down to a realistic mark now after a couple of moderate efforts in much better company than today's, but didn't exactly look a winner in waiting after a laboured effort at Sandown. Hopes are pinned on wind surgery working the oracle.

Form: 82P45P

Nesterenko³⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 130| D

12/1

Trip and ground both ideal, and is back on a winning mark, so has those things going for him, but not seen out since last March and yard have had a quiet season by their own standards. Others make a bit more appeal.

Form: 16/144P-

Okotoks³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 128

10/1

Probably found trip too sharp when midfield at Cheltenham in December and then got no run at Sandown last time, an effort probably best forgiven. Interesting on old form and is worth a second look.

Form: 14/40-70

Cabernet D'Alene⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Nick Williams| OR: 125| D

9/4

Improving quickly, winner of three of last four and has proven versatile as far as ground goes. Good ride to win easily last time and despite 10lb rise here, looked to have that in hand. Big chance again.

Form: 471611

Canyon City¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR: 120

10/1

Winner on second hurdles start at Huntingdon last year, has improved since then and may well have found heavy ground against him at Leicester last time. Warmed up for this with a run on the Flat and with improvement likely, isn't discounted.

Form: 3135

Battle Of Ideas²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 120

8/1

Winner at Plumpton in December but second there is hard to win with , so form not that solid. Well beaten two starts since but return to better ground may help. Still needs to find a bit more all the same.

Form: 2-731P6

Waiheke¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: L Heard| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 117| D

3/1

Impressive winner at Exeter in November but hasn't gone on from that at all, and despite finishing second back there last time, that's not strong form. Dropped 4lb for that and early days yet, but needs to get back on track now.

Form: 5142

Krugermac³⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 113| D

12/1

Not unfancied in a couple of much better races than this last year, but never really threatened in either and possible that he's on the downgrade now. Trip and ground fine but yard quiet, and he's clearly risky despite a good looking mark.

Form: 212/87-

Free Range^b1²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 113

8/1

Was found a weak maiden hurdle to get off the mark at the first attempt last year, not disgraced over fences last three starts but reverts to hurdles here and now blinkers employed. Hard to know what to expect and market best guide.

Form: 1-12434

Forecasts

Cabernet D'Alene (9/4), Waiheke (3/1), Free Range (8/1), Battle Of Ideas (8/1), Okotoks (10/1), Canyon City (10/1), Krugermac (12/1), Nesterenko (12/1), Dicosimo (14/1)

Battle Of Ideas might have his own way up front but he does need to find a bit more on form, and could be vulnerable late. In a tricky contest, the suggestion is CANYON CITY, who will find the ground here much more to his liking and should be fit enough after a recent spin on the Flat. He should have more to come over hurdles too. Cabernet D'Alene keeps winning and the handicapper may not have caught up with him yet. He looks the biggest danger. Okotoks gives the impression there's a race or two to be won with him and isn't to be taken lightly.