15:35 Fontwell

Thursday 26 December 2019

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

Southern Cranes And Access Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Kalarika^b,t³⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Kimber⁽⁸⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 100| D

Winning for the second time when victorious by 6L in a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m2f at Exeter (heavy) in December last year. Blinkers worn for the first time that day retained on her return from over 12 months off the track.

Form: 612/5P1-

Cardy¹⁰⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: H Whittington| OR: 100

Disappointing in two handicap starts since winning a mares only maiden hurdle at Worcester (2m, good-to-soft) in July. Interesting to see how she fares on her return from a break.

Form: 266175

Kendelu³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 100

Failed to figure in three starts so far most recently when 65L ninth over an extended 2m3f at Chepstow (soft) last month. Worth a check in the market on handicap debut.

Form: 679

High Up In The Air^p1³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 93| BF

Placed in a point-to-point on good ground in June 2018 but has disappointed in five starts under Rules and wears cheekpieces for the first time dropping markedly in distance having finished 16½L eighth at Plumpton (3m1f, soft) last month.

Form: 2695-78

Irska^t1¹²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Hicks⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 93

Showed ability when placed from two point-to-piont starts last December but has failed to shine in three Rules starts for this stable. Tongue tie tried for the first time on handicap debut following a break.

Form: 53-475

Lee Side Lady^p¹⁹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁶⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 92| CD

C&D winner finished second in a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Fakenham (good-to-firm) in June. Beaten 13L when sixth over the same trip at Uttoxeter (good-to-soft) the following month and interesting to see how she fares on her return from a break.

Form: 372-226

Avithos^b²⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Edward Austin⁽³⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 86

Followed up a 7L victory in a 2m7f mares' handicap hurdle in March with a third over the same C&D on good ground the following month. Races off a mark 10lb higher than for that Exeter victory and drops in distance on seasonal reappearance.

Form: 36P813-

Brandy Cross¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Page Fuller| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 80

First start back from wind surgery when 5L second in a C&D handicap hurdle on soft ground last month. Below that form when 23L fifth upped to an extended 2m5f here subsequently and return to this distance looks likely to suit.

Form: 3006-25

Spirit Of Rome^p,t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 80

23 race maiden was returning from a break when falling at the first in a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m5f on soft ground here earlier this month. Tongue tie worn for the first time that day is retained.

Form: 5P36-7F

Shimba Hills^p,t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L Hill| OR: 75

Pulled up over fences last month but put that effort behind him when finishing 10L third in a handicap hurdle over 2m at Plumpton (soft) at the start of this. Notable runner stepping back up in distance having won off higher marks in the past.

Form: 4U63P3

Positive Touch^h1¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: D L Williams| OR: 65

Point-to-point winner on good-to-soft ground over 3m in February. Pulled up in both starts since returning to Rules racing and races from out of the handicap, wearing a hood for the first time down in trip on handicap debut.

Form: 9P/1P-PP

Non-Runners

Thats My Rabbit⁶

Weight: 11-7| Age: 10

T: J & S Best J: Ben Jones

Cassivellaunus³¹⁶

Weight: 11-6| Age: 7

T: D Steele J: Fergus Gregory

Hold Me Tight²⁰

Weight: 10-8| Age: 5

T: P Gundry J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Thats My Rabbit (11/4), Kalarika (5/1), Avithos (13/2), Irska (8/1), Shimba Hills (8/1), Lee Side Lady (10/1), High Up In The Air (10/1), Brandy Cross (12/1), Cardy (14/1), Cassivellaunus (14/1), Kendelu (25/1), Hold Me Tight (25/1), Spirit Of Rome (33/1), Positive Touch (50/1)

KALARIKA can defy top weight to make a winning return from over 12 months off the track in this conditional jockeys' contest. The selection represents a good yard and with a promising jockey in the saddle he can see off recent winner Thats My Rabbit while third place can go to Lee Side Lady who can put a disappointing effort last time out behind her.