16:20 Fontwell

Friday 29 March 2019

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

Alex And Travis Celebration Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 5m 27.40s

Manning Estate²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 120

7/2

Taken a while for the penny to drop over hurdles (off the mark at fourth attempt; race rather fell apart at Doncaster). Looks ready for a step up in trip (makes handicap debut); mark looks feasible and should go well.

Form: 262421

Deebaj³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117| D

6/1

Ran out a facile winner in testing conditions at Lingfield (2m4f) late last year off an 11lb lower mark; has since been tried over longer trips. Not disgraced on either occasion since but the mark does look one that has the handicapper in control.

Form: 0-75138

Vue Cavaliere^h³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 115

50/1

Fair form over obstacles when trained in France (hurdles winner in heavy conditions) but looked harshly treated for her handicap/GB debut at Exeter. Dropped 6lb for that initial effort this run may well reveal more about her.

Form: 3-5639

Espoir De Loire¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 114

13/8

Back from a break and a wind op to show improved form last time when getting off the mark at Warwick, won a shade cosily. The third (Tikk Tock Boom) has won since to give the form some substance; looks sure to go well again.

Form: 1-2351

Sammylou^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 112

15/2

Nicely weighted on some of his bumper form when getting off the mark at Huntingdon in January; didn't go unbacked at big prices. Given a 9lb rise for that win (rather severe), which anchored him last time; same mark here; work to do off it.

Form: 500B13

Fawsley Spirit^b²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling| OR: 112

14/1

Quickly switched to fences this season for his chase/handicap debut (failed to complete twice from three starts). Usual blinkers back on last time returned to hurdles but failed to impress with his finishing effort; looks stable number two.

Form: 37-U3P4

Victarion^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 109

5/1

Chasing form has so far proved to be below that over hurdles; no surprise therefore to see him back over hurdles last time (failed to stay 3m). Some promise in that effort and not ruled out off a gradually falling mark back in trip.

Form: 4-305F8

Non-Runners

Steel Bob¹⁸

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: George Baker J: M Goldstein

Fenlons Court²¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: J W Mullins J: Non Runner

Howlongisafoot¹⁵⁶

Weight: 10-7| Age: 10

T: C Gordon J: Tom Cannon

Forecasts

Espoir De Loire (13/8), Manning Estate (7/2), Victarion (5/1), Steel Bob (5/1), Deebaj (6/1), Sammylou (15/2), Howlongisafoot (12/1), Fawsley Spirit (14/1), Fenlons Court (20/1), Vue Cavaliere (50/1)

The Ben Pauling yard have certainly perked up of late with the trainer two-handed in this handicap hurdle with Fawsley Spirit and ESPOIR DE LOIRE, the latter looking the much better of the duo after his Warwick win which saw him score with a bit in hand. Manning Estate won well enough at Doncaster and isn’t harshly treated for his handicap debut over a trip he ought to appreciate. Steel Bob had a tough race last time but can’t be left out of this and neither can Victarion who ran well for a fair way last time over 3m, this distance will suit him far better.