15:32 Fontwell

Wednesday 10 March 2021

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3215:0215:32

MansionBet Cheltmas Countdown Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:42 | Winning time: 5m 16.20s

After The Fox^p1²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Chester Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 100| D

11/1

Improved to make second handicap start a winning one at Warwick (19f, heavy) in December but hit hard by the handicapper and beaten a long way twice since. Cheekpieces go on now.

Form: 76F147

The Wire Flyer^b³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: J L Flint| OR: 100

3/1

Capitalised on a much-reduced mark to easily open his account at Ffos Las in the mud last month. Raised 11 lb but still respected on this follow-up bid.

Form: 6-36031

Ocean Voyage^p1¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jamie Bargary| T: Ian Williams| OR: 96

17/2

Fair winning hurdler in Ireland but hasn't fired in 4 starts (3 hurdle, 1 chase) for new yard this winter. Mark on the slide but would need to see market support to consider in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 0P-8597

Spirit Of Rome^p,t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Archie Bellamy⁽⁷⁾| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 88| CD

7/2

Second win of the season when seeing off 12 rivals at Taunton in January. Out of depth in listed novice last time and probably still in form.

Form: 16361P

Gregarious^p,t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 87WS

40/1

Disappointing end to his time with Lucy Wadham last term and he has offered little since joining current stable. Wind op since last seen (also tongue tied first time) needs to make a difference.

Form: P5-P668

Galtee Mountain^p1¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: M D Grant| T: P G Murphy| OR: 87| CD

9/1

Dual 19f hurdle winner last season but not proving easiest to catch right this term, beaten a long way at Wincanton last time. Needs to react positively to first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 573848

Big Picture⁸³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 84

14/1

Dual hurdles winner in 2018/19 but off for nearly 18 months prior to finishing well held at Exeter in December. Can only watch after that.

Form: 19F/4U-0

Just Henny^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Harry Reed| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 82

9/1

First past post on C&D handicap debut (subsequently disqualified for taking wrong course) in November. Pulled up next time but had yet to be asked for effort when falling 3 out back here latest.

Form: 8P-7DPF

Little Vern^t⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 82

9/2

Third in a bumper in 2019. Poor form over hurdles since but did offer more encouragement when returning from over a year to finish third over 2¼m here in December. Step back up in trip may help.

Form: P88/7P-3

Lapford Lad⁶⁰⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 80| BF| D

25/1

Pair of Newton Abbot wins in early-summer 2019 but absent since finishing fourth there in July of that year. Betting perhaps the best guide to what's expected.

Form: 4/1F144-

Eos⁷⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs D Grissell| OR: 78

100/1

Lightly-raced maiden who is probably best watched following 2 years out of action.

Form: 0950/

Non-Runners

Darkest Day²³

Weight: 11-9| Age: 6

T: G & J Moore J: J E Moore

Bullsempire³⁷

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: C Hobson J: James Davies

Postie¹¹¹

Weight: 10-13| Age: 5

T: J M P Eustace J: Harry Bannister

Ermyn's Emerald¹⁰⁰

Weight: 10-12| Age: 9

T: P Phelan J: N F Houlihan

Definite Winner³⁴

Weight: 10-6| Age: 10

T: S Hodgson J: Nick Scholfield

Forecasts

The Wire Flyer (3/1), Spirit Of Rome (7/2), Darkest Day (9/2), Little Vern (9/2), Ocean Voyage (17/2), Galtee Mountain (9/1), Just Henny (9/1), After The Fox (11/1), Ermyn's Emerald (12/1), Big Picture (14/1), Definite Winner (20/1), Lapford Lad (25/1), Bullsempire (25/1), Postie (33/1), Gregarious (40/1), Eos (100/1)

A wide-open finale. DARKEST DAY has been knocking on the door this year and gets a tentative vote. The Wire Flyer, a last-time-out winner at Ffos Las, Just Henry and the Colin Tizzard-trained Little Vern head the dangers.