13:40 Fontwell

Sunday 6 September 2020

All13:1013:4014:1014:4515:2015:5016:20

attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 4m 40.40s

Innocent Touch²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 125

18/1

Ran well on his final outing last term but doesn't appear to have returned in much form this time round.

Form: 3353-80

Pagero³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 125

11/10

Has thrived under this rider, landing a hat-trick with another improved display at Newton Abbot on return and seeming to have more in the locker, so he's the one to beat again.

Form: 28811-1

Esprit De Baileys²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 124

8/1

Fit from the Flat and back on the up over hurdles when scoring at Uttoxeter (well positioned in steadily run race) in July. Undone by a rise there next time, though.

Form: 21/0-15

Empreinte Reconce^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 123

15/2

Scored twice at Newton Abbot around this time last year and back on track with reappearance behind him when good second at Stratford last month. Should give another good account.

Form: 1120-92

Capone^b²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: G Sheehan| T: C J Mann| OR: 123

4/1

Form: 12/673-3

Vancouver^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 120| D

7/1

Unreliable sort who ended a losing run in a 15-runner event at Uttoxeter 20 days ago, so a degree of caution is advised for all he's a big player if in the same form.

Form: 0323-51

Building Bridges^t³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 118WS

20/1

Won on hurdles debut/first run for this yard at Huntingdon (15.7f) in November and was back on track when fourth at Uttoxeter on handicap debut. Breathing problem at Southwell next time.

Form: 1F4-40

Soldier To Follow^p1¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lawes| OR: 115

66/1

Flat winner for Andrew Balding and best effort in this sphere when third of 14 in a Huntingdon novice in March. Tame display in first-time tongue strap on handicap debut at Bangor recently, though.

Form: F5U3-P

Annie Odds^t²²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: James Bowen| T: A Stronge| OR: 114| D

100/1

33/1 winner of a Clonmel maiden hurdle last February but yet to show anything for current yard. Has been off 7 months.

Form: 051/PP0-

Norman The Red⁸³³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Matthew Batchelor| T: C Poulton| OR: 110| C

50/1

Won here in April 2018 and was running well prior to falling at Uttoxeter next time. Has left John E. Long and not been seen since, though.

Form: F2461U/

Forecasts

Pagero (11/10), Capone (4/1), Vancouver (7/1), Empreinte Reconce (15/2), Esprit De Baileys (8/1), Innocent Touch (18/1), Building Bridges (20/1), Norman The Red (50/1), Soldier To Follow (66/1), Annie Odds (100/1)

PAGERO is the most progressive one in the field and is taken to land a 4-timer having had a bit to spare at Newton Abbot on his return. Capone shaped encouragingly from too far back at Market Rasen on his latest outing, so he also makes some appeal along with the Empreinte Reconce.