18:40 Fontwell

Thursday 16 May 2024

All17:1017:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:10

Starsports.Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:40 | Winning time: 4m 28.17s

Clinton Lane²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Fergus Gillard| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 100| CD

25/1

Caused a surprise when taking heavy-ground maiden over C&D in March but possibly amiss when pulled up at Hexham since and clearly comes with risks attached.

Form: 50791P-

Mermaids Cave⁸^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 88| C

11/8

Left yard-debut effort behind when winning 9-runner handicap hurdle at this course (19.1f, good) 8 days ago, comfortably. 7 lb penalty to carry now but looks the one to beat.

Form: 09837-1

Tara Iti^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Rob Hargreaves⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 94| CD

9/1

C&D winner who returned to form when third of 9 in handicap hurdle at Fakenham (16f, good) 9 days ago. Races off same mark and warrants respect.

Form: 4934P-3

At A Pinch³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: K Brogan| T: T Lawes| OR: 93

50/1

Yet to offer much in a handful of starts for this yard, well held at Market Rasen latest.

Form: 16/UPP0-

Sassified^p¹⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 93| C| D

11/2

Notched third success of the year when readily seeing off 11 rivals at this course (19f, good) in October. Below that form twice since but returns from a break and may have ground conditions to suit.

Form: 115176-

Phil Healy²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Joe Ponting| OR: 92

100/1

Bits and pieces of form for Graeme McPherson back in 2021 but made little impression on first start for new connections after a long absence last month.

Form: 93453/9-

Ray's The One^t,p²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: James Best| T: M Pattinson| OR: 89| CD

25/1

C&D winner but arrives out of sorts and is hard to make a solid case for. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 46/0849-

Emanate^p²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 86

16/1

Dual 2m winner at Worcester in late summer but below par of late on the Flat at Wolverhampton and was similar story back in this sphere at Kempton last month.

Form: P11457-

Executive Pool^b²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 84

11/2

Not scored since last year and hasn't done enough in recent outings to make him of real interest here.

Form: 8P7U45-

Gorcombe Moonshine^p²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford| OR: 78| CD

9/1

Several placed efforts in this sphere before making a winning start over fences here on Boxing Day. Had a couple of mishaps over larger obstacles more recently and bit to prove back over timber now. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 3/13U4F-

Mac Be Lucky⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 76

8/1

Back from 15 months off when good third of 9 in handicap hurdle at Chepstow (16f, soft) 56 days ago. Remains fairly treated and is not out of things.

Form: P147P/3-

African Sun^p¹⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Harriet Tucker⁽⁷⁾| T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy| OR: 67

80/1

Been some time since he troubled the judge and can only be watched. 7 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 556987-

Forecasts

Mermaids Cave (11/8), Executive Pool (11/2), Sassified (11/2), Mac Be Lucky (8/1), Gorcombe Moonshine (9/1), Tara Iti (9/1), Emanate (16/1), Clinton Lane (25/1), Ray's The One (25/1), At A Pinch (50/1), African Sun (80/1), Phil Healy (100/1)

MERMAIDS CAVE was having just her second start for James Owen when scoring in decisive fashion here last week and a 7 lb penalty may not be enough to prevent a follow-up success. Tara Iti and Mac Be Lucky can also make their presence felt.