13:40 Fontwell

Saturday 6 October 2018

All13:4014:1514:5015:2015:5516:3017:05

Royal British Legion Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:47 | Winning time: 6m 52.50s

Fraser Canyon^t,v²⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: David Noonan| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 97

12/1

A drop in the weights and a first-time visor appeared to be the catalysts for his Musselburgh win on his penultimate start. Up 3lb for that last win he ran with credit back at the same venue; of interest despite a break given the yard's current form

Form: 43/5P12-

Premier Rose^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 94

6/1

Yet to regain the heights she scaled when first joining this yard. Cheekpieces return but she was pulled up on the only previous occasion they were used.

Form: 113-U58

Love The Leader³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: J Farrelly| OR: 93

16/1

Form tailed-off last year and recent return from a 10-month break was no more encouraging at Southwell. Handicap mark now fair but hard to fancy at present.

Form: 9P990-0

Beautiful People^t³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: R Johnson| T: R T Phillips| OR: 93| BF

5/1

Southwell winner who was soundly beaten when 5lb "well-in" at Sedgefield. The shorter trip may have been to blame, but she has work to do here with a higher mark kicking in.

Form: 565-210

Keep To The Beat²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: P Phelan| OR: 88| BF

7/1

Went close over C&D in June and the run may have been needed when a beaten favourite 12 weeks later. Fit from a spin on a Flat and has to be a contender in a weak contest, however a career record of 1-38 tempers enthusiasm.

Form: 307-234

Apachee Prince^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: David England| T: O Murphy| OR: 87

7/1

Record of 2-38 and finally down to his last winning mark. Sort this yard do well with and signs were positive in a poor race last time. Closely matched with Fraser Canyon on last season's form.

Form: 24U-8P3

Hollow Park^t¹⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 85

20/1

Mixed form since switching to handicap hurdles, though there was improvement following wind surgery. Off since pulling up on last two starts in June and career high mark demands she is at her best.

Form: 931-2PP

Mount Vesuvius^t²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 82

33/1

Not the most frequent of winners these days and he has soon got into trouble on last two starts. Last run was in a seller off a 10 month break and there would appear to be issues that need to be resolved.

Form: 4234P-6

Midnight Queen^p³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 80| D

8/1

Point-to-point winner landed a modest Newton Abbot chase over this distance before tripping up over hurdles last time. Stable operating at a 40% strike rate in last two weeks so one to consider

Form: P5-1F1F

Backoftherock^h³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: S Bowen| T: D A Rees| OR: 77

9/2

Trainer capable of finding the right race for this type and there was promise in this dual-winning point-to-pointer's latest effort when staying on over shorter on first run back from a layoff. On an attractive mark now switching back to hurdles.

Form: 243FP-4

Mr Mulliner^b³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson| OR: 74

7/1

No match for an easy winner over C&D in August but it signalled a return to form for this four-time winner.

Form: PP7U42

Flugzeug^p²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-1| J: J E Moore| T: J W Mullins| OR: 72| C| D

33/1

Winner of five races but out of form currently and tailed off in this last year. Hard to recommend.

Form: 8PP-330

Non-Runners

Mauna Kea¹²⁴

Weight: 11-9| Age: 6

T: P Gundry J: Nick Scholfield

The Last Melon³⁴

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: J Bennett J: David Bass

Forecasts

Backoftherock (9/2), Beautiful People (5/1), Mauna Kea (5/1), Premier Rose (6/1), Apachee Prince (7/1), Keep To The Beat (7/1), Mr Mulliner (7/1), Midnight Queen (8/1), Fraser Canyon (12/1), Love The Leader (16/1), Hollow Park (20/1), Mount Vesuvius (33/1), The Last Melon (33/1), Flugzeug (33/1)

Tim Vaughan is 4-10 in the last two weeks and holds a good hand here with Fraser Canyon and MIDNIGHT QUEEN. The topweight has strong claims on last season's form but Alan Johns opts for the selection and the hint looks worth taking. The mare landed a minor race over fences and was going well until stumbling at Sedgefield last time. She looks more progressive than her rivals and her stamina is proven. Beautiful People has a tough task off her new mark, whilst Apachee Prince and Keep To The Beat are difficult to win with. Mauna Kea and Backoftherock cannot be dismissed and should offer each-way value in a weak contest.