17:35 Fontwell

Wednesday 4 May 2022

All17:0017:3518:1018:4019:1019:4020:10

Read Kevin Blake On attheraces.com Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:35 | Winning time: 5m 14.02s

Art Of Illusion¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex| OR: 107

2/1

Posted a fair effort on hurdling debut when runner-up in 21f Kempton novice in February. Failed to repeat that effort at Ffos Las but worth another chance.

Form: 2/723-

Ben Lilly^p1⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 108

10/3

Useful seven-time Flat winner at up to 2m for David Brown. Stepped up on low-key hurdles debut when fourth in a 12-runner Newbury novice in January but proved a disappointment on handicap debut at Ffos Las last time. Needs to get back on track following a break fitted with first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 449-

Fountains Chief^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball

3/1

Left form of Rules debut behind when making all in a 5-runner bumper at Stratford a year ago. Fit from points and nearly added to his tally in 4-runner event here last time, collared post having made most. Longer trip should suit now hurdling and must enter calculations.

Form: 12FF22-

Mount Pleasant⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson

10/1

Showed ability when fourth in 16-runner Exeter bumper (16.7f) on debut back in December, every chance 2f out and weakening final 1f. Went backwards from that at Hereford 4 months later though, so has a bit to prove now going hurdling up in trip.

Form: 46-

Newtonian³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: O Sherwood

6/1

Fair form when placed in a brace of bumpers. In need of the experience on January's hurdles debut and fell 5 out here last time.

Form: 235F-

Royal Sam⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

16/1

Winning pointer who shaped as if in need of the experience in a Sedgefield bumper on Rules debut in March, running green. Makes hurdles debut up in trip.

Form: 16-

Dunatara³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs D Grissell

200/1

No show in 2 bumpers.

Form: 96-

Non-Runners

Itsnotwhatyouthink²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: N J Gifford J: Tabitha Worsley

Forecasts

Art Of Illusion (2/1), Fountains Chief (3/1), Ben Lilly (10/3), Newtonian (6/1), Mount Pleasant (10/1), Royal Sam (16/1), Itsnotwhatyouthink (16/1), Dunatara (200/1)

FOUNTAINS CHIEF has shown enough in bumpers to suggest she can be highly competitive in a race of this nature over hurdles, so she gets the nod with this longer trip promising to suit. Art of Illusion failed to repeat his Kempton second at Ffos Las last time but is worth another chance, with Ben Lilly and Newtonian others to consider in a weak maiden.