15:20 Fontwell

Wednesday 14 February 2024

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:55

Southern Cranes & Access Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 4m 40.60s

Nashville Nipper¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-1| J: K Brogan| T: T Lawes| OR: 111

18/1

Landed 2m Plumpton handicap hurdle in January 2022 and proved he retains all his ability back from a long absence when just failing in a 3-runner event over C&D on Boxing Day. Not quite in same form when third at Sandown 19 days ago.

Form: 4312/23

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Heure De Gloire^b,t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 110

10/1

Has gradually worked her way back to form this season and returned to winning ways in 6-runner event at Ffos Las (15.8f, heavy) 13 days ago, racing clear and coming home unchallenged. This is tougher but she's respected as a last-time-out winner.

Form: 15-7641

He's A Latchico²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 108| CD

6/4

Fairly useful on the Flat and improving all the time as a hurdler, winning a brace of handicaps at this venue last summer and even better form in finding only one too good the last twice. Big player.

Form: 811622

Intimate³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 108

16/1

Placed in a bumper in France and improved further when finishing a close third upped to 2½m at Uttoxeter (heavy) in December. Underperformed switched to a handicap at Wincanton subsequently, though.

Form: 2/88-236

Bucephalus³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Cobden| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 105

7/1

Fairly useful 1¼m Flat winner for current yard who is yet to finish out of the frame in 5 starts over hurdles, albeit failing to fully see things out having again taken a keen hold when third at Plumpton (15.9f, soft) last month. Likely to run well once more with Cobden taking over in the saddle.

Form: 324/33

Tying The Knot⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: D C O'Brien| OR: 103

200/1

Much improved when winning a juvenile hurdle at Hereford (2m) for Alan King last winter but underwhelming since, including on the Flat last summer.

Form: 351P8-0

Copper Cove^t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Benjamin Macey⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 101| BF

4/1

Bumper winner who ran up to his best after 3 months off when second of 10 in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (15.8f, heavy) 18 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 4667-72

Stopherandgo³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Bryan Carver| T: K Pickard| OR: 100

150/1

Took a big step forward from debut to land a Wincanton novice in March. Backed that up when second at Ludlow but has cut little ice in handicaps since, including for current yard.

Form: P126-P9

Torneo²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 109

7/2

Fairly useful winner on Flat in France for Jean-Claude Rouget. Opened his account over hurdles in facile fashion in a weak race at Wetherby (2m, heavy) recently and looks a very interesting runner on handicap debut with 4-y-o allowance.

Form: 231

Forecasts

He's A Latchico (6/4), Torneo (7/2), Copper Cove (4/1), Bucephalus (7/1), Heure De Gloire (10/1), Intimate (16/1), Nashville Nipper (18/1), Stopherandgo (150/1), Tying The Knot (200/1)

HE'S A LATCHICO shaped well in finishing clear of the rest with a fellow improver at Lingfield last month and is a confident selection to maintain his unbeaten record at this track. Fairly useful Flat winner Torneo is easily most interesting of the opposition now switched to a handicap armed with a handy 4-y-o weight allowance. Bucephalus is proving consistent and makes most appeal of the rest.