15:40 Fontwell

Tuesday 11 December 2018

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

John And Maryanne Birch Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 4m 45.1s

Briac¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Price⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 99

8/1

First run for current stable since joining from Mark Pattinson's yard when falling at Hereford last month. Runs off the same mark and is feasibly treated.

Form: 513-3PF

Snowy Oscar^t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: L P Aspell| T: N J Gifford| OR: 98

18/1

Wore a hood for the first time when pulling up on handicap bow at this track last month. The headgear is removed and he competes off 2lb lower.

Form: 86F48-P

Dan Gun¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Alain Cawley| T: F O'Brien| OR: 95

3/1

Irish import who was making his debut for this stable when a staying-on fifth of eight at Exeter. Runs off the same mark and can do better.

Form: 050065

Zante^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 94

20/1

Returning from a break when a tailed-off sixth of 10 at Plumpton last month. Big step forward is needed off 2lb lower.

Form: 264/79-6

Sky Full Of Stars²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 94

9/4

Having his first outing for this stable after leaving James Ewart's yard when third of 14 at this course last month. Beaten 17L that day, but may be sharper this time and 1lb lower mark offers hope.

Form: 42422-3

Mazalto²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: P Phelan| OR: 92

10/1

Out of the frame in six starts over hurdles, latterly in handicap company at this venue. Readily opposed despite lower rating.

Form: UF5P5-9

L'Attesa^p⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 92| D

100/1

Little to shout about since joining current stable from Ireland, where he won three times. Hard to fancy despite continued fall in the weights.

Form: 86P-8P0

Laketour Leader²¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: A Glassonbury| T: R Rowe| OR: 90

20/1

Has failed to hit the frame in six runs over timber. Best watched as he makes his first appearance since finishing sixth of 13 at Plumpton in May.

Form: 88570-6

Owners Day³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost| OR: 89

25/1

Two ordinary efforts since joining this yard from Neil Mulholland. Down 7lb, but hard to fancy on form.

Form: P8-6950

Fading Icon²³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-10| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 97

25/1

Well-beaten sixth of 10 in a C&D juvenile contest last month. Makes her handicap debut and is worth a look in in the betting.

Form: 466

Blue April^b²¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 83| CD

9/2

First outing since May, but stable is in really good form and it is fair to assume he will be primed for a bold bid off last winning mark over C&D in January. Interesting in a a weak contest.

Form: 41926-0

Kingston Mimosa⁴⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Harry Stock⁽⁵⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 78| CD

40/1

Nicely treated on his best form, but has not run since September of last year and presumably has had his problems. Best watched unless the market speaks in his favour.

Form: P34/760-

Dont Call Me Doris⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: Miss Sarah Robinson| OR: 64

100/1

No sign of any real ability in five starts, latterly in handicap company. Huge task from 9lb out of the handicap

Form: 0P/0-P0P

Forecasts

Sky Full Of Stars (9/4), Dan Gun (3/1), Blue April (9/2), Briac (8/1), Mazalto (10/1), Snowy Oscar (18/1), Zante (20/1), Laketour Leader (20/1), Fading Icon (25/1), Owners Day (25/1), Kingston Mimosa (40/1), L'Attesa (100/1), Dont Call Me Doris (100/1)

A modest handicap hurdle which looks best left to BLUE APRIL, who represents an in-form stable off his last winning mark. Dan Gun caught the eye on his first run for this yard and can improve, while chances can be given to the likes of Briac, Sky Full Of Stars and handicap debutant Fading Icon.