16:35 Fontwell

Thursday 29 August 2019

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

Visit attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 4m 11.9s

Far Bihoue^t⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 100WS

3/1

Drops into this grade for the first time having failed to improve for the switch to handicaps (wore a first-time tongue-tie last time); merely ran on late. Now had two wind surgeries, still looks vulnerable off this mark despite being a career-low.

Form: 486-653

Glimpse Of Gold^t⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 98

8/1

Capitalised on a drop in grade (selling handicap) to end a fair losing sequence at Southwell in March over a bare 2m. Patchy form since although he shaped well enough last time when third at Stratford (tough task with first two); mark testing enough.

Form: 35134-3

Magen's Moon¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr P York⁽⁵⁾| T: P York| OR: 96| BF

28/1

Started at short odds in all her last five Irish starts returning from a break but failed to take advantage of a falling mark. Makes her stable/GB debut having cost £9,500 earlier this month; has proved expensive to follow, others appeal more.

Form: 0/099-F9

Raving Bonkers⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: R Johnson| T: M Keighley| OR: 96

9/1

Poor form over hurdles, not matched his winning bumper form as yet. Failed to achieve anything more switched to handicaps, well held the first time, slipped up when last seen; remains on same mark; champion jockey takes over from 5lb claimer.

Form: 6F05-4S

Adrakhan^v1⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: J E Moore| T: J & S Best| OR: 95

33/1

Failed to impress on his first run for this yard having been sold cheaply from the Wilf Storey yard, finished well held at Uttoxeter. May have needed the run but the first-time visor needs to have an effect; one of the less enticing runners.

Form: 4F589/7

Petrucci^t⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 88

7/4

Well supported for his Stratford win in a first-time tongue-tie, also given some help by the handicapper, winning off a 16-month absence. Should be competitive under just a 7lb penalty; obvious worries about quick return temper enthusiasm.

Form: 75330/1

Little Folke^t⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: James Davies| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 94

28/1

Nowhere near the form that she showed when trained in Ireland switched to GB/this yard (had wind surgery after first start for them). Little sign of an upturn in her fortunes post that surgery, headgear reverts to a tongue-tie instead of hood.

Form: 690F-48

Musical Stardust²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 85| CD

7/1

C&D winner in June (weak handicap, favourite failed to fire); not disgraced in two handicaps since but hardly what you would call progressive. Only 3lb higher than for her win so not written off around a course that clearly suits.

Form: 57-2135

Never A Word^b,t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Ross Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 84| BF

7/1

0-17 over hurdles and having descended to a career-low mark he has to be of some interest. Ran better than for a while (penultimate start) before falling when in front at Stratford last time under an amateur; not ignored in a weak heat.

Form: 56845F

Bit Spicy^b,t¹¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: R Woodman| OR: 63

100/1

Yet to run in a handicap when in the weights and is once again wrong here, to the tune of 10lb this time. Even at this level is set a difficult task and hardly represents a sound proposition having been pulled up last time.

Form: 6PR/06-P

Forecasts

Petrucci (7/4), Far Bihoue (3/1), Musical Stardust (7/1), Never A Word (7/1), Glimpse Of Gold (8/1), Raving Bonkers (9/1), Magen's Moon (28/1), Little Folke (28/1), Adrakhan (33/1), Bit Spicy (100/1)

The obvious solution to this opening handicap looks to be with the rejuvenated last time out Stratford winner Petrucci who overcame a long absence to land a well-directed gamble last time. Penalised 7lb he could deliver a similar blow but this is a quick return after a long absence and the safer option may be to support MUSICAL STARDUST each-way back over a C&D that suits her off a mark that is still workable. Magen’s Moon hasn’t shown much over hurdles so far but lurks on a dangerous mark while connections could well be expecting more than we have seen so far over hurdles from Raving Bonkers with Richard Johnson booked.