12:25 Fontwell

Sunday 17 November 2019

All12:2512:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:45

Visit attheraces.com Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:25 | Winning time: 5m 52.70s

Pleney⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 12-7| J: Mark Galligan⁽⁷⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 105

2/1

Produced best effort over jumps when second on seasonal return at Hexham (2m7½f, soft; 5-1) last month, just getting run out late on. Drop in trip should suit and big player if building on that showing.

Form: 7994-P3

Good News²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs L Richards| OR: 95| CD

11/8

Was returning from a 514-day absence when scoring last month at Fontwell (2m5½f, soft; 16-1), bumped up 5lb for that win but given 25 days to get over it and merits a place on any shortlist with Rex Dingle negating the extra weight.

Form: 45P/U5-1

First Assembly³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 91

9/1

Has started at 66-1 in all three novice hurdles so far and yet to finish within 30L of a winner; will need a sizeable step forward for the switch to handicaps.

Form: 56775-4

Hold Me Tight^t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Gundry| OR: 90

12/1

26-race maiden across all codes, came closes over 2m2½f at Newton Abbot in May (second) but poor in three runs since and while back on same mark now; this trip may prove further than ideal.

Form: 85-2630

Polar Light²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 87

40/1

Good effort when runner-up on her handicap debut over hurdles at Plumpton (2m4f, good) last winter but 0-6 over timber and was already in trouble when unseating on last month's comeback. Questions to be answered.

Form: 50020-U

Jonnigraig^h¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Teal⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Teal| OR: 83

13/2

Runner-up in Worcester maiden hurdle (2m7f, good; 8-1) in September on first run after a wind operation; has struggled in two handicaps since and make little appeal despite sliding mark here.

Form: 0-85295

Bluebell Sally³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: C J Gray| OR: 80

33/1

Modest form in maiden/novice hurdles and beaten 46L in a handicap at Wincanton over this sort of trip last month on quick ground. Mare has plenty to prove at this juncture.

Form: 646545

Non-Runners

False Getaway¹⁹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: J D Frost J: Non Runner

Robin De Broome⁸⁷

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: O Murphy J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Good News (11/8), Pleney (2/1), Jonnigraig (13/2), Robin De Broome (8/1), First Assembly (9/1), Hold Me Tight (12/1), False Getaway (20/1), Bluebell Sally (33/1), Polar Light (40/1)

Good News produced a fine display to win here after a long layoff last month, he's fairly treated in his follow-up bid with his rider taking off the 5lb increase. A repeat of that effort will see him in the firing line but this might go to PLENEY. He finished third on reappearance at Hexham last month and the pair that beat him have advertised the form as being strong since. Tim Vaughan's charge must have strong claims if building on that. Robin De Broome has been backed in two runs for this trainer but hasn't justified the support just yet.