15:50 Fontwell

Sunday 30 January 2022

All13:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:20

Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:53 | Winning time: 6m 1.76s

Tip Top Mountain^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 100

9/2

Gained breakthrough win in 20f Uttoxeter handicap chase in November and resumed progress when narrow winner at Plumpton. Should stay this far and shortlisted.

Form: 80-7141

Out The Glen^t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: O Murphy| OR: 99

10/3

Encouraging fourth for new yard in handicap hurdle at Huntingdon on return and duly built on that when winning at Leicester 18 days ago by ½ length from Spotty Dog, digging deep. May do better still.

Form: 25P5-41

Spotty Dog¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: M Hawker| OR: 95

9/2

Improved from out of the blue when runner-up over hurdles at Chepstow (19.5f, good) last March. Back to that level on third start over fences when close second at Leicester latest and respected.

Form: 25-UP92

Galtee Mountain^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: P G Murphy| OR: 90| C

7/2

Hurdles winner who has filled the runners-up spot on 2 of his 5 starts over fences, albeit not convincing with his jumping here last month. Just respectable third at Hereford since.

Form: 4-42423

Lickpenny Larry^t³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: T R Gretton| OR: 88

13/2

Shaped as if back to his best when third at Warwick on New Year's Eve, just stretched by the longer distance, so is potentially on a good mark returned to a more suitable trip.

Form: 15-P363

Menapian⁸¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes| OR: 79

33/1

Remains a maiden after 17 runs and pulled up in handicap Exeter on his belated debut over fences 81 days ago. Easily opposed.

Form: 3/3650-P

Vital Sign⁶⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: James Davies| T: R Rowe| OR: 74

11/1

Limited impact in various company, remote sixth of 11 in handicap chase at Lingfield (23.5f, good) 66 days ago.

Form: P5P-U66

Larcadio^b,t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Henderson| OR: 69

20/1

Winless after 18 run, 10¾ lengths fifth of 11 to Out The Glen in handicap chase at Leicester (22.7f, good to soft) 18 days ago.

Form: P457P5

Gorcombe's Rascal^b1,t1³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁵⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 69

28/1

Limited hurdler/chaser who has offered no encouragement so far this season.

Form: P2-PP4P

Forecasts

Out The Glen (10/3), Galtee Mountain (7/2), Tip Top Mountain (9/2), Spotty Dog (9/2), Lickpenny Larry (13/2), Vital Sign (11/1), Larcadio (20/1), Gorcombe's Rascal (28/1), Menapian (33/1)

LICKPENNY LARRY shaped as if back to his best when third at Warwick on New Year's Eve, just stretched by the longer distance, so is potentially on a good mark returned to a more suitable trip. This does look competitive for a class 5 though, with Tip Top Mountain and Out The Glen heading the dangers.