15:15 Fontwell

Friday 29 March 2019

All14:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:5017:20

Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 4m 15.30s

Bitofblinding¹⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: J E Moore| T: G & J MooreWS

7/1

Offered something to work on from his course bumper debut before failing to progress in a better race at Ascot when last seen. Now goes hurdling for the first time after wind surgery; place prospects only.

Form: 68

Blazing Glen¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: A E Jessop| OR: 77

100/1

Poor maiden who is now 0-18 under Rules and has shown no real signs of ability; hard to imagine he will be involved here. Better off in low-grade handicaps in the future.

Form: RPP0-97

Ifyoucanseemenow²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling

6/1

Pedigree would suggest that more time and an even longer trip will be needed; has very much shaped like a stayer in his two bumper outings so far. Goes hurdling for the first time but will need to improve to trouble the market leader.

Form: 88

Jonnigraig^h1¹⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Teal⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Teal| OR: 108

7/1

Modest form when with Willie Mullins in Ireland with some placed efforts in bumpers and over hurdles the best he can offer. Took a backward step on his initial start for this yard at Uttoxeter in October; raced too freely to do himself justice.

Form: 4-53638

Le Ligerien^h²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 121| BF

2/11

Reached the frame on all five starts over hurdles finishing in the runner-up slot the last three times, including on handicap debut last time. This represents his easiest task in a while; well clear at the weights on official ratings, hard to beat.

Form: 434222

Richie Valentine^t³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden

28/1

Only had two bumper starts so far (separated by a year) the first for Martin Keighley and was easily brushed aside on both occasions. Is a half-brother to a useful bumper winner/hurdler Spice Girl; may do better over hurdles.

Form: 7-8

Solar Glory¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: L P Aspell| T: N J Gifford

18/1

Disappointed in all three bumpers (well found in the market on debut) before having a wind op and faring little better when tried over hurdles. Market support on a couple of occasions would suggest he had more ability than shown so far.

Form: 5785

Makin It²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: M Goldstein| T: P York

100/1

Modest maiden on the Flat when with William Knight at up to 1m4f, mostly finished well beaten. Pulled up on his debut in point-to-points and makes little appeal on hurdles debut returning to race under Rules.

Form: P

Forecasts

Le Ligerien (2/11), Ifyoucanseemenow (6/1), Jonnigraig (7/1), Bitofblinding (7/1), Solar Glory (18/1), Richie Valentine (28/1), Blazing Glen (100/1), Makin It (100/1)

This looks an excellent opening for LE LIGERIEN to gain some reward and break his maiden having chased home some useful types of late. The battle for the places should be rather more competitive than that for winning with Bitofblinding one of the more obvious candidates along with Ifyoucanseemenow. Solar Glory is worth checking in the market given his prominent position on a couple of occasions while a first-time hood may well assist Jonnigraig to settle better.