14:52 Fontwell

Monday 26 December 2022

All11:5712:3213:0713:4214:1714:5215:27

Southern Cranes And Access Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:52 | Winning time: 7m 23.46s

Another Emotion^b²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Dylan Kitts⁽¹⁰⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 112

28/1

Dual chase winner (at around 3m) in early-2021. Best effort last season when second at Hereford (25f) in February but hard to draw many positives from his 3 subsequent outings, pulled up at Haydock on his latest outing 26 days ago.

Form: P72P-9P

Jeffery's Cross^p1³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 112

85/40

Maiden hurdle winner (at 21f) who has made a promising enough start over fences, runner-up behind a marked improver at Bangor (3m) 4 weeks ago. Further progress distinctly possible for leading yard and drop in class another plus. Good claims in first-time headgear.

Form: 531-D22

Djin Conti⁶³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁷⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 106

22/1

Dual scorer over fences for Harry Whittington in spring 2019 but failed to complete in hunter chase events/between the Flags when last seen during 2021. Has since switched yards, so interesting what the market makes of him.

Form: 218PPU/

Coolvalla^p³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 106| CD

13/8

Largely progressive hurdler and he's scaled new heights over fences, building on his reappearance/C&D success with a career-best display at Lingfield (23.5f) 32 days ago, finding plenty to lead run-in. Likely more to come back up in trip.

Form: 4415-11

Mister Tickle^t⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 106| CD

11/1

Completed quick-fire hat-trick over fences during second half of 2021 (scored twice over C&D) but he's essentially been disappointing since, including when pulled up back over hurdles at Lingfield (23f) last month.

Form: 134-54P

Great Khan^t³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: J R Wildman⁽⁷⁾| T: P Henderson| OR: 104

80/1

Poor strike rate in Ireland and well held in 2 runs for this yard a year apart (never in it over hurdles at Exeter late last month).

Form: 59PFP-P

Little Red Lion^b²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 99

15/2

Three-time winner over fences/hurdles in 2020/21 but last term was a write-off and no immediate upturn on back of breathing operation/9 months off over hurdles at Uttoxeter (23.3f) 20 days ago.

Form: F/P6P5-8

Born At Midnight²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: W G M Turner| OR: 90

11/2

Has found his feet over fences of late, making it 2 wins from last 3 starts in the style of one who may yet have more to offer at Wincanton (26.7f) 25 days ago. Well worth a second look from 6 lb higher mark.

Form: B2F-121

Allardyce^b²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Henderson| OR: 77

20/1

Losing run stretches back to early 2020 and whilst he took step back in right direction (in refitted blinkers) when placed over hurdles on his penultimate start, his exploits over fences either side have essentially been disappointing. 7 lb "wrong" at the weights here.

Form: 560-P33

Forecasts

Coolvalla (13/8), Jeffery's Cross (85/40), Born At Midnight (11/2), Little Red Lion (15/2), Mister Tickle (11/1), Allardyce (20/1), Djin Conti (22/1), Another Emotion (28/1), Great Khan (80/1)

C&D winner COOLVALLA took another step forward and defied a 10 lb rise in the weights in the process when making it 2-2 over fences at Lingfield 32 days ago, looking all stamina in the process. He gets the nod to complete the hat-trick back up in trip, with Born at Midnight and Jeffery's Cross others expected to play lead roles.