16:25 Fontwell

Friday 30 August 2024

All15:5016:2517:0017:3518:1018:4519:20

Rapunzel Me Curls For The Girls Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 5m 28.34s

Belgarum^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 89| C

7/4

Built on previous promise after a wind op when easily bagging 7-runner 19.5f course handicap (good to firm) in June. Fared best of those ridden prominently at Newton Abbot (21f) next time and out of the race at the first there next time. Respected back here.

Form: PP-314U

Smurfette⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: T Ellis| OR: 88

11/1

Modest form. 14/1, creditable sixth of 10 in handicap chase at Cartmel (17f, good to firm) 41 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 20-5P56

Barrakhov^p,t⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 88

6/1

Career best when winning 9-runner handicap chase at Uttoxeter (3m, good to soft) in June and shaped as if stamina possibly stretched when third over a slightly longer trip there since. Down in distance now with cheekpieces also back on. Considered.

Form: 352-413

Prime Pretender^p¹⁰⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Osian Radford⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 86| BF

18/1

Maiden under Rules but runner-up 4 times in handicap chases off higher marks in 2022/23 season and has won 3 points since then. Pulled up on latest point start in May but still an interesting runner here.

Form: P/3111-P

Camino Rocio^p³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss H C Knight| OR: 82

11/2

Milan gelding who ran well when reaching the frame in a pair of 2½m Worcester handicap chases in June. Has shaped as if stamina stretched by 3m+ on his 2 outings since and can fare better back at shorter.

Form: 8-52445

Groom De Cotte^t⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: R P McLernon| T: G Brown| OR: 80

16/1

Long-standing maiden who ended time with Sean Curran with a respectable third over hurdles at Stratford in May but has been down the field in 2 outings over fences for this yard.

Form: 9F5-307

Invictus De Brion⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 80

9/2

Plumpton bumper winner in September 2022. Only poor form over hurdles since but his fourths in handicaps at Worcester and Newton Abbot this summer show he can be competitive from his mark if taking to fences at the first attempt.

Form: 95PP/44

J'ventile⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: O Signy| OR: 77

40/1

Little impact in bumpers/over hurdles, including a handicap last month. Can only watch now chasing.

Form: 5/0P8-8P

Buck Of Maine^b¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 75

14/1

Improved when third in a 19.5f Stratford handicap chase in first-time blinkers last month but failed to back it up at Market Rasen since.

Form: 5P-8037

Double Or Quits⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: K Brogan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 60

25/1

No form of worth in bumpers/over hurdles and would be a shock winner from out of the weights on her chase debut.

Form: P00/4P-5

Forecasts

Belgarum (7/4), Invictus De Brion (9/2), Camino Rocio (11/2), Barrakhov (6/1), Smurfette (11/1), Buck Of Maine (14/1), Groom De Cotte (16/1), Prime Pretender (18/1), Double Or Quits (25/1), J'ventile (40/1)

PRIME PRETENDER is well handicapped on the form he showed in the 2022/23 season and 2 point wins in April suggest he could retain enough ability to take advantage of his reduced mark. Belgarum already has a course chase win to his name this summer and is second choice ahead of Barrakhov.