12:45 Fontwell

Thursday 26 December 2019

All12:1512:4513:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Visit attheraces.com Juvenile Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:47 | Winning time: 4m 55.50s

Black Abbey⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: H Whittington

15/2

Victorious on soft ground at Divonne in October but struggled on heavy going subsequently. Purchased for €13,000 at the sales last month and is worth a check in the market on stable and hurdling debut.

Form:

I Like Him^p¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: A Stronge| OR: 126

1/1

Placed over hurdles at Auteuil (1m7f, very soft) in a claimer in September and ran well when finishing 9L third in a soft ground 2m maiden hurdle at Warwick on debut for this yard earlier this month. One to note in this contest.

Form: 584833

Lonimoss Bareliere⁸⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: William Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton

28/1

Limited signs of ability on the Flat for Michael Appleby and finished a well beaten 27L sixth over an extended 2m at Market Rasen (good) on stable and hurdles debut back in September. Probably best watched at present.

Form: 6

Manucci³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Joshua Moore| T: Mrs A J Perrett

7/4

Victorious over an extended 1m3f at Bath (soft) in October and ran well when 23L second to a subsequent winner in a C&D three-year-old old on soft ground last month. One for the shortlist on this occasion.

Form: 2

Soldier On^t⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Kimber⁽⁷⁾| T: W G M Turner

14/1

Shown ability in two bumper starts most recently when 12½L seventh in a 2m1f event at Aintree (soft) last month. Likely more needed on hurdling debut however.

Form: 47

Crystal Tiara¹⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West

12/1

Completed a double when winning off a mrak of 54 over 1m2f at Nottingham (soft) in August. Changed stables since and is worth a check in the market on debut over hurdles.

Form:

Lucky Circle³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley

33/1

Eight race maiden under all codes and was beaten 36L when ninth in a big field three-year-old hurdle over an extended 1m7f at Catterick (good-to-soft) on stable and jumping debut last month. Others hold stronger claims.

Form: 9

Miss Harriett^t¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Benjamin Poste| T: P Gundry

40/1

Fair 24L fifth when making her hurdling debut in a C&D contest on soft ground earlier this month. First start for this yard that day and tongue tie worn on that occasion is retained.

Form: 5

Universal Song¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins

100/1

Well held in five starts on the Flat and it was a similar story when beaten 103L over hurdling debut in a C&D contest on soft ground just over two weeks ago. Probably best watched at present.

Form: 0

Forecasts

I Like Him (1/1), Manucci (7/4), Black Abbey (15/2), Crystal Tiara (12/1), Soldier On (14/1), Lonimoss Bareliere (28/1), Lucky Circle (33/1), Miss Harriett (40/1), Universal Song (100/1)

MANUCCI showed plenty of promise when runner-up to a useful looking rival on hurdles debut here last month and he can go one better than when finishing runner-up that day. The selection can get the better of the experienced I Like Him who was placed on his UK debut last time out. Black Abbey showed ability when winning on the Flat in France and he can finish third on his first start for his current trainer.