16:20 Fontwell

Sunday 23 February 2020

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

Village House Hotel Findon Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 5m 50.95s

Cobaltic³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 115

7/1

Unexposed gelding who ran well finishing third on handicap bow last time on first start since a wind operation. Runs off same mark and top rider on board so no surprise to see him figure despite steadier of top weight.

Form: P2-383

The Raven's Return³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J W Mullins| OR: 112| BF| CD

4/1

C&D maiden hurdle winner last May on decent ground but handles soft too. Close third over 2m at Warwick latest and should remain competitive back up in trip off 3lb higher.

Form: 414623

Fort Denison⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 112

25/1

Nine-race maiden but has shown enough in three starts over hurdles to suggest he will win a race or two. Best effort penultimate start and this slightly longer trip should suit. Handicap bow and copes with soft ground.

Form: 428

Jamessaintpatrick⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 110

6/1

Off the mark last time on sixth start under Rules staying on determinedly in heavy ground at Warwick at around this trip on handicap bow. 4lb higher but showed good attitude that day and may not be at all far away.

Form: 7486-31

Ostuni^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 110| CD

10/1

Won this race 12 months ago off 10lb lower mark, scooting clear to score by 8 lengths. Restricted to just two starts since and had first race in nearly a year when pulled up here recently. Questions to answer now and will do well to win this again.

Form: 08412-P

Ventura Dragon^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 104

13/2

3-13 on Flat for Richard Fahey at up to 1m2f but yet to strike over timber for current yard. Fair second at Hereford in November and still going well enough at Leicester last time when fell 3 out. Chance if confidence hasn't been shaken.

Form: 3462PF

Chloe's Court^t1⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 103WS

6/1

12-race maiden who stays up to 3m2f and handles testing ground. Narrowly beaten at Hereford in December off 2lb lower and returns following win operation and with first-time tongue-tie applied.

Form: 85-3327

Downe Milking Lane³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Joshua Moore| T: Mrs D Grissell| OR: 102

66/1

Yet to race a place in six starts so far and hasn't cut too much ice in three starts this term over hurdles. Handicap bow but doesn't jump off the page as a winner-in-waiting.

Form: 09-4U45

Vital Sign¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: James Davies| T: R Rowe| OR: 102

33/1

Failed to score in six outings between the flags and now five starts under Rules. Not disgraced when fourth in Plumpton maiden hurdle three starts back but has done little in two outings since. Tough task.

Form: 2-59470

Et Apres Thou³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 98

3/1

Mainly disappointing first five starts but did better last time when step up beyond 2m to finish fifth of 16 at Taunton 2m3f, keeping on. Eased 1lb and represents fine yard so not out of this if able to build on latest promise.

Form: 59-0085

Invicta Lake^b,t¹³

Age: 13| Weight: 10-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 87| CD

25/1

Veteran who stays and handles testing ground. Last win came here in February 2019 but hasn't really gone with any great zest of late and races from 2lb out of the handicap. Jockey booking of some interest but will need to roll back the years.

Form: 4165-55

Non-Runners

Kilconny Bridge²

Weight: 12-4| Age: 6

T: A J Honeyball J: Non Runner

Twenty Twenty¹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 5

T: G & J Moore J: N F Houlihan

Shapiro²

Weight: 11-8| Age: 7

T: A J Honeyball J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Et Apres Thou (3/1), Kilconny Bridge (7/2), The Raven's Return (4/1), Twenty Twenty (9/2), Chloe's Court (6/1), Jamessaintpatrick (6/1), Ventura Dragon (13/2), Cobaltic (7/1), Ostuni (10/1), Invicta Lake (25/1), Fort Denison (25/1), Shapiro (25/1), Vital Sign (33/1), Downe Milking Lane (66/1)

An interesting handicap hurdle in which the mare Kilconny Bridge could bids for a four-timer after wining again at Exeter on Friday. She should be bang there but a chance is taken on ET APRES THOU who finally showed a glimmer of form last time and who may well show more stepped up again in trip off a light weight. Top weight Cobaltic could also have more to offer, while a case can easily be made for the likes of Twenty Twenty and the recent Warwick winner Jamessaintpatrick getting involved. Last year's hero Ostuni is not totally ruled out despite being 10lb higher but struggled badly when pulled up last time.