14:05 Fontwell

Sunday 17 November 2019

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

Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 4m 38.40s

Song For Someone²²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: James Nixon⁽⁵⁾| T: T Symonds| OR: 136

8/1

Knows how to win, three times successful over hurdles last year and far from disgraced when sixth in Grade 1 Doom Bar at Aintree in April; this mark no gimme, but can go well fresh, and chances are there's more to come, so not ruled out.

Form: 122116-

Colonel Custard²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 134| BF

9/4

Twice won over timber as a novice last season on testing surfaces at Newton Abbot and Ffos Las; outclassed in Aintree Grade 1 on final start but showed up well on reappearance at Ffos Las (2m, soft; 11-4) last month and should go well.

Form: 15219-3

Zizaneur¹⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 130

10/1

French import, second in both outings for this stable before finding the Fred Winter too hot at the Cheltenham Festival; then fell in Listed Auteuil contest in May. Back from a layoff and should make further progress this term.

Form: F6220-F

Our Merlin¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 128| CD

5/1

Front-runner, couldn't sustain effort on return from a break at Newbury (2m½f, good to soft; 6-1) but likely to feel the benefit of that run now and eased a handy 2lb in ratings.

Form: 12F92-5

Ar Mest¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 127

6/1

Useful handicap hurdler, winner twice last winter at Leicester and Newbury on good ground; was still in the thick of battle when unseating rider on chase bow / seasonal return at Fakenham 18 days ago, now reverts back to hurdles.

Form: 93115-U

Gateway To Europe³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: N B King| OR: 126| C| D

7/1

Prominent racer, won over 2m3f here in August and followed up in 2m1½f Plumpton novice handicap a month later. Fair run since at Wincanton (fourth) but testing surface is an unknown factor.

Form: 322114

Trans Express^p¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 122

12/1

Six-time winner over timber, five of them around Exeter, with latest win at that track in March over 2m2½f from 3lb lower mark. Yet to threaten in three runs this term.

Form: 14-2488

Hier Encore²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁵⁾| T: N Dunger| OR: 106| C

8/1

Both career wins over hurdles have come over C&D on soft ground, though overall record reads 2-15 in this sphere. Runner-up here last month on first start for 221 days but has more to do from 4lb higher mark.

Form: F1041-2

Forecasts

Colonel Custard (9/4), Our Merlin (5/1), Ar Mest (6/1), Gateway To Europe (7/1), Song For Someone (8/1), Hier Encore (8/1), Zizaneur (10/1), Trans Express (12/1)

COLONEL CUSTARD just appeared to run out of puff in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las on his reappearance but that effort was enough to suggest the useful novice from last season is going to make further progress this term. He'll handle the ground and should have a leading say with that run behind him. Song For Someone is capable of going well fresh and connections deemed him good enough for the Grade 1 Doom Bar at Aintree in April, so he joins C&D specialist Hier Encore and Our Merlin on the shortlist.