15:30 Fontwell

Monday 6 February 2023

All13:2013:5514:3015:0015:3016:0016:30

South Coast Skips Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 4m 38.9s

Auriferous¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

2/1

Fairly useful on Flat (stays 16.5f) and successful at Southwell (12f) back in March. Plenty of creditable efforts in defeat thereafter, keeping on for third at Newbury (2m) in July. Acquired for 50,000 gns in August and shaped well under a kind ride on hurdles debut 10 days ago. More to come.

Form: 4

Belgarum²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

125/1

Limited impact in a bumper/over hurdles.

Form: 6-79

Bohemian Lad^t⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball

25/1

Mahler gelding. Half-brother to bumper winner/fairly useful hurdler Dollys Destination. Dam (h85) bumper winner. Tongue tied and just minor promise in a Chepstow bumper in December.

Form: 7

Estacas²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul O'Brien| T: D G Bridgwater

50/1

Winner of a strong Ascot bumper for Andreas Wohler but was extremely easy to back when well held on hurdling/stable debut at Chepstow last month. Something to prove on the back of that.

Form: 13-0

General Medrano⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C LavelleWS

6/1

Showed promise both starts in bumpers and did the same sent hurdling when eighth of 15 in 2m novice at Chepstow in November, unable to sustain effort after making headway 2 out. Also failed to see race out at Leicester but a subsequent wind op may well help his cause.

Form: 3/384

San Fermin⁴⁹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 115

15/2

Half-brother to useful chaser Billaway and, having won a bumper, made a pleasing start to his hurdling career when third in a novice at Stratford in June 2021. Off since the following September so well-being is taken on trust.

Form: 5U2/132-

Tapley⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: M G Nolan| T: Miss S Smith| CD

1/1

Winning start under Rules in a Fontwell bumper in October and showed plenty to work on sent hurdling when fourth of 12 in a Newbury maiden (16.3f) in November. Similar efforts in defeat since and he should be on the premises again.

Form: 2-19452

Shewearsthewellies²⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: Mrs L Hill

66/1

Made frame both starts in Irish points, fourth last time (Apr 2022). Market may guide on Rules debut.

Form: 34-

Non-Runners

Capstan¹⁴⁶

Weight: 10-9| Age: 4

T: Mrs L Richards J: M Goldstein

Forecasts

Tapley (1/1), Auriferous (2/1), General Medrano (6/1), San Fermin (15/2), Capstan (10/1), Bohemian Lad (25/1), Estacas (50/1), Shewearsthewellies (66/1), Belgarum (125/1)

There should be plenty more to come from AURIFEROUS as a hurdler given his Flat form, and following a promising start at Huntingdon, he's fancied to build on that and score. A breathing operation may well help General Medrano's finishing effort and he's second choice, with Tapley likely to give it another good shot.