13:40 Fontwell

Saturday 17 March 2018

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

E.B.F. Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 6m 2.96s

Big Robin²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson

13/8

Picked up for £70,000 in April 2016, and was a winner on her first start since wind surgery at Taunton last month (2m3f soft). She still appears to be a work in progress, but is much respected under a penalty.

Form: 41/8F-1

Belle Empress²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss E C Lavelle

8/1

Cost £65,000 in May 2015, but didn't see any further racecourse action until January of this year. She has shown some minor promise so far over hurdles, more so at Lingfield latest (2m3f+ heavy), but has stamina to prove upped in trip.

Form: 1/53

Boola River²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Kevin Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins

50/1

Far from convincing in point-to-points (1 from 14), and has appeared equally light on ability in both starts over hurdles, so couldn't be considered.

Form: P143-30

Chloe's Court³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Matt Griffiths| T: R Walford

20/1

Shaped perfectly respectably on debut in a Wincanton bumper on Boxing Day (2m heavy), but you could only say her initial effort over hurdles at Plumpton in January (2m) was disappointing. Upped in trip, and needs to show more.

Form: 45

Illtellmema⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: Miss S Smith

9/2

Sold for £27,000 after taking a 3m Killeagh point-to-point in January by 3L. By Milan and is a sister to 2m4f-3m1f hurdle winner Queeny, so should have no issues with either trip or ground on rules/stable debut.

Form: UP-P21

Jolly Jet²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Garner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L C Jewell

100/1

Half-sister to Phil Kirby's 2m4f hurdle winner Transient Bay. However, much like that horse, it appears that she'll need time to be seen at her best. Dismal on both hurdles starts thus far, and has next to no chance here.

Form: P9

Oscars Little Rose⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: S Thomas

16/1

Raced prominently on her hurdles debut at Lingfield in late January (2m heavy) but wasn't strong enough to see off her rivals, ultimately beaten shy of 5L by She's Gina. Upped in trip, but with stamina in her pedigree.

Form: 63

Potters Sapphire^b²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: L Wadham

2/1

Remains a maiden despite seven career starts, but signs that she's slowly getting her act together of late, producing a career best effort when beaten 1½L by Rouergate (2m+ soft, Market Rasen). Well worth another try over further.

Form: 833-532

Strawberry Spirit^p1²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy

25/1

Unseated rider on her hurdles debut at Huntingdon in January (2m4f+ soft), and that appears to have negatively impacted upon her confidence, with a pair of modest efforts since. Rebuilding process today in first time cheek-pieces.

Form: 57U45

Welcome Polly^p⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann

50/1

Milan mare (cost £14,000 in May 2016), but fair to say she's achieved precious little in three starts over hurdles this winter, and appears to be in need of a switch to low grade handicaps.

Form: 3/P06

Forecasts

Big Robin (13/8), Potters Sapphire (2/1), Illtellmema (9/2), Belle Empress (8/1), Oscars Little Rose (16/1), Chloe's Court (20/1), Strawberry Spirit (25/1), Boola River (50/1), Welcome Polly (50/1), Jolly Jet (100/1)

Potters Sapphire has plenty of racecourse experience, and she produced her strongest effort yet at Market Rasen latest, and on that evidence she should be suited by stepping back up in trip. For those seeking slightly more value, Illtellmema rates as a potentially interesting rules debutante for Suzi Smith, with her pedigree strongly implying that she'll have no issues with either trip or ground conditions. However, the more obvious play is the Nicky Henderson trained BIG ROBIN. She is clearly a work in progress, and has a 7lb penalty to carry for her Taunton success, but on balance she's found a relatively weak contest in which to attempt to do so.