19:25 Fontwell

Saturday 16 June 2018

All17:5018:2518:5519:2519:5520:2520:55

Netbet Sport Handicap Chase

Off time: 19:25 | Winning time: 6m 53.1s

Guerrilla Tactics²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 105| D

11/4

Best effort since returning from a break came when finishing a short-head second at Warwick (good) last time out. Raised 6lb for that effort and likely to run his race once more.

Form: 311F4-2

Barlow^p¹⁹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 95| BF

11/2

Respectable efforts the last twice including over 3m2f at Doncaster (good-to-soft) when last in action back in December. Worth a check in the market returning from a break.

Form: 503P/34-

Chill In The Wood¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Bannister| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 92

10/1

Huntingdon winner on good ground in April and followed that up with a 7L second over C&D subsequently. Disappointed latest start but not written off just yet.

Form: 36/U1-28

Midnight Bliss^t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryony Frost⁽³⁾| T: C Fryer| OR: 91

9/2

Successful four times in point-to-point company this spring and made a winning return to Rules when the impressive winner of a handicap chase at Fakenham (3m, good) earlier this month. One for the shortlist despite a 13lb rise in the weights.

Form: 1211-11

Railway Storm^p³⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: W G M Turner| OR: 89

16/1

Point-to-point winner at the March but held since including in a hunter chase here a month ago. More needed on his return to handicaps.

Form: 5144-44

Broughtons Bandit¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Mr C Dowson⁽⁷⁾| T: P York| OR: 85| BF

50/1

Placed in a point-to-point in April 2017 but struggled in two starts in that sphere this spring. Others hold stronger claims in this contest.

Form: 3553/3P

Roparta Avenue^v¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 85| CD

3/1

Finished runner-up the last twice and beaten just a nose over this trip in a handicap hurdle here earlier this month. Races off a mark 9lb higher than for his course success over hurdles last November.

Form: 2414-22

Bobonyx^v¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: D L Williams| OR: 79

12/1

29 race maiden but came within a neck of rectifying that when finishing runner-up over an extended 3m2f at Sedgefield (heavy) in April. Fair fourth since but likely to find at least one too good once more.

Form: 22832-4

Hardtorock^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: David Noonan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 73| C

10/1

Good effort in finishing third over C&D on good ground when returning from a break at the end of last month. Races from out of the handicap here.

Form: 103PP-3

Just Skittles¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁷⁾| T: R C Harper| OR: 51

66/1

Maiden point-to-point winner on good ground last month and finished runner-up in that sphere over 2m5f last time out. Interesting to see how he fares back under Rules.

Form: 7P6P/12

Forecasts

Guerrilla Tactics (11/4), Roparta Avenue (3/1), Midnight Bliss (9/2), Barlow (11/2), Chill In The Wood (10/1), Hardtorock (10/1), Bobonyx (12/1), Railway Storm (16/1), Broughtons Bandit (50/1), Just Skittles (66/1)

MIDNIGHT BLISS looked an improved performer back under Rules last time out and she is taken to follow up that success with a victory in this staying handicap chase. Roparta Avenue has run well in defeat the last twice and looks capable of chasing the selection home ahead of top weight Guerrilla Tactics who was narrowly beaten at Warwick last time.