14:15 Fakenham

Saturday 7 April 2018

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:40

Dunton Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 4m 3.30s

Ashkoul^t⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-4| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 122

9/2

Useful performer on the Flat and off the mark at the third attempt over hurdles at Market Rasen (soft) on Boxing Day. Slightly below par at Southwell last time but no surprise to see him bounce back on his handicap bow.

Form: 2215

Gregarious^h²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 116| D

11/2

Returned from a barren spell over fences to win over hurdles at Towcester (heavy) last month, gamely scraping home in a gruelling battle. Always a chance that those exertions may have taken an edge off him but respected all the same.

Form: 9-P42F1

Capitoul⁸⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 115| D

11/2

Scored for this yard at Ayr (heavy) last season and looked set to add to that tally before taking a heavy fall at Lingfield in November. Underwhelming since then, however, dropping away tamely at Leicester last time. Less to do now.

Form: F-6F660

Walsingham Grange^v²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Kielan Woods| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 115| D

7/2

Mudlover who made all to score at Bangor over 2m at Bangor (heavy) in February and then bounced back from an average run to go close from this mark in the mud at Towcester latest. Not hard to envisage another big run.

Form: 732153

Polly's Pursuit^h⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 114| BF| D

10/3

Bumper winner who won a maiden hurdle at Southwell (2m4f, good) last June but has been unable to add to her tally in handicaps. Struggled at Exeter (soft) last time but not beaten far at Doncaster previously and is player on that form.

Form: 212835

Dinsdale^p,t1¹²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: J Kington⁽³⁾| T: M Scudamore| OR: 112| DWS

11/2

Largely a disappointment since winning a 2m soft ground juvenile hurdle at Newbury last March by 1¼L. Beaten 20L when last seen out at Lingfield (2m, soft) in December but now getting some respite from the handicapper, dropped 5lb.

Form: 143-P74

Excellent Team^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 110| D

10/1

Gained the last of three hurdle wins at Ludlow (good to firm) off a 2lb lower mark in October but has been a little disappointing in three starts since then, the last two in unsuitably testing conditions. May do better now.

Form: 44157P

Non-Runners

Ardmayle³³

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: A Stronge J: G Sheehan

Forecasts

Polly's Pursuit (10/3), Walsingham Grange (7/2), Ashkoul (9/2), Dinsdale (11/2), Gregarious (11/2), Ardmayle (11/2), Capitoul (11/2), Excellent Team (10/1)

An open race in which a positive market move for Dan Skelton's handicap debutant Ashkoul could be significant considering he also saddles Excellent Team with brother Harry booked. If the money doesn't arrive, a solid case could be made out for Nicky Henderson's POLLY'S PURSUIT who probably found a stiff 2m2f at Exeter too much of a test in soft ground last time. She is better judged on narrow defeat at Doncaster previously and better ground here will undoubtedly suit. Walsingham Grange is also respected.