14:20 Fontwell

Sunday 23 February 2020

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

Sussex Equine Hospital Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 6m 9.37s

Victors Serenade⁶⁶⁵

Age: 15| Weight: 12-1| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 112

16/1

Returning to the fray at the age of 15 nearly four years since his last run under Rules when third off 125 at Ffos Las. Been a fair performer in his time so off 13lb lower connections must feel he still has it in him to bring him back to the track.

Form: 7P312/3-

Away For Slates^h¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: J E Moore| T: M F Harris| OR: 110| C

16/1

Rattled up a hat-trick this time last year at around 2m3f but has made little impact since in five starts, unseating rider last two. Stamina to prove at this trip but has fallen back to a feasible mark if he stays.

Form: 15P-4UU

Echo Watt^h¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: R Hobson| OR: 109

10/11

Failed to score over hurdles but has looked different gear in two outings over fences, hacking up last time over 3m at Uttoxeter in heavy ground. 12lb higher now but he looked well ahead off handicapper so every chance he can add to that win.

Form: 5/8P9-21

Acaro⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Stan Sheppard| T: R Walford| OR: 108| C

6/1

Only win in 14 starts came here last mark in heavy ground over 2m3f. Placed a couple of times since but has a bit to prove after two modest effort of late and others make more appeal.

Form: 19-337P

Shintori⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 104| C

10/1

Two wins last term at around 2m3f and won first time out this campaign at Plumpton in November. Has disappointed and not seen it out last two runs so questionable whether longer trip this time will help. Eased 1lb since last outing.

Form: 351-144

Alf 'n' Dor^b,t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: T J O'Brien| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 104

20/1

Last win came off this mark at Ffos Las in March 2019 but has looked out of sorts in his last four starts and is hard to enthuse over despite easing down the wieghts.

Form: 1-39P4P

O'Rahilly^p,t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 88

14/1

Modest 10-race maiden campaigned mainly at around 2m. Underwent wind surgery in December and struggled only start since here last month. Dropped 4lb since but has to siginficantly raise his game to figure at this new trip.

Form: 464436

Big Time Frank³³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: P Gundry| OR: 81

5/1

Badlky out of form this season having run up a sequence of six susccessive second places last term. Remains a maiden after 23 starts and it would be a big surprise if her were to get off the mark in this contest from 2lb out of the handicap.

Form: 3-30686

Forecasts

Echo Watt (10/11), Big Time Frank (5/1), Acaro (6/1), Shintori (10/1), O'Rahilly (14/1), Away For Slates (16/1), Victors Serenade (16/1), Alf 'n' Dor (20/1)

It's very hard to escape the claims of recent runaway Uttoxeter scorer ECHO WATT. Despite a 12lb rise in his handicap mark he is completely unexposed in this sphere and is fancied to make it two wins from three starts over fences. Most of his rivals are really struggling at present so despite his advanced years and long absence from action, Victors Serenade cannot be ruled out of the equation as his good yard must have seen something in his work to keep the 15-year-old going. Acaro and Shintori are not completely out of the reckoning but need to produce more than they've shown of late to figure.