16:35 Fontwell

Thursday 30 August 2018

All16:3517:0517:3518:0518:3519:0519:35

Avantis Wealth-High Return Alternative Investments Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 4m 16.0s

Magical Thomas^p,t⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 95| CD

5/4

Got off the mark for the season when producing a career-best at Stratford last week and returns to try and win this race for the 2nd year running. Under a penalty here but should give a good display in the light of his last few runs.

Form: 30-9421

Bulletproof^p⁸⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr G Treacy⁽⁷⁾| T: K O Cunningham-Brown| OR: 100

10/1

Unreliable type who hasn't won for a couple of years now although he can be excused his last run (would have needed the outing). Not one to have total faith in though but has slipped 5lb below his last winning mark.

Form: 3/4533-9

High Wells^b³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Durack| OR: 100

9/4

Had a breathing operation after his last run over hurdles (poor performance) and that appears to have helped him as his Flat form since has been decent; won a staying handicap at Bath when last seen. Nicely weighted now on his Flat form over hurdles.

Form: 339-

Clive Clifton⁴⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr C Dowson⁽⁷⁾| T: P York| OR: 89

50/1

Beaten a long way on his last three hurdles starts finishing well held on each occasion having shown some fair form on the Flat in the past. Unseated his rider on his point-to-point debut (May 2017); best watched after a long absence.

Form: 435/U-

Ataman^b1,t⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Cillin Leonard⁽¹⁰⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 88

12/1

Still a maiden on the Flat although some of his form has been fair in the past (well held of late in that sphere). 0-7 over hurdles and failed to impress in this discipline last time in first-time cheekpieces; blinkers now tried for first-time.

Form: 969P4-5

Ermyn's Emerald¹⁰⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: P Phelan| OR: 84

5/1

Modest in bumpers and over hurdles although his mark has now fallen a long way from where it initially sat. Returns from another break off his lowest mark yet but will have to improve on what he shown so far to make an impact.

Form: 4/P857-8

Sebs Sensei⁴⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Matthew Batchelor| T: D Steele| OR: 75

66/1

Very lightly-raced of late and hasn't really shown that much when he has been seen and now switches to a new yard. Well held when last seen at this course and hardly presents anyone with a solid betting proposition.

Form: P7P5/P0-

Blackadder⁷⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: James Davies| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 72

20/1

Races from out of the handicap for the 3rd start in a row and although he wasn't disgraced last time out at Southwell he's only modest at best. Looks best on sharp tracks and isn't the best of jumpers; one to watch only.

Form: 07/0-4B5

Non-Runners

So Sorry Sarah¹⁵

Weight: 11-12| Age: 9

T: O Murphy J: Fergus Gregory

Forecasts

Magical Thomas (5/4), High Wells (9/4), So Sorry Sarah (9/2), Ermyn's Emerald (5/1), Bulletproof (10/1), Ataman (12/1), Blackadder (20/1), Clive Clifton (50/1), Sebs Sensei (66/1)

A fairly weak event to open the card with and it should present MAGICAL THOMAS with a good chance of following up his win in this last year despite carrying a penalty for his Stratford win in a better race than this. High Wells is interesting if he can repeat his Flat form back over hurdles and if he can he looks well weighted on that while it would be no surprise to see more from the Olly Murphy duo So Sorry Sarah and Ataman this time around.