14:20 Fontwell

Sunday 26 January 2025

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:22

Southern Cranes & Access Ltd Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 5m 52.98s

Maximum Effort³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: James Davies| T: Noel Williams| OR: 104

9/2

Yet to get his head in front but ran okay back in a handicap when fifth of 17 at Chepstow (19.4f, good) in November. Went in snatches when pulled-up at Uttoxeter last time but could be competitive in this modest race if on a going day.

Form: 53P-75P

Chankaya^p⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 102

14/1

Winner at Taunton (19f, soft) in February last year for Mitchell Hunt but poor on two runs for current yard and others look appealing.

Form: 8261-07

Westtara²⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs D Grissell| OR: 99

33/1

Well held in bumpers and left previous efforts behind when third in maiden at Plumpton in April 2024. Finished last season with a creditable third of 7 in a handicap hurdle at this course (25.8f, good), despite being keen. Returns from 8-month absence with place claims.

Form: 33R37-3

Hot Rod Lincoln^p³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Nick Scholfield| T: S Hodgson| OR: 98| CD

11/2

C&D winner for Harry Fry and had wind operation before first start for current yard, raced in cheekpieces to finish fourth in a handicap hurdle at Lingfield (23f, good to soft) 39 days ago. Given his patchy record there's no guarantee he will back that up.

Form: 3/1PPP-4

Summer In Milan⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 97

6/1

Showed ability on his only start in Irish bumpers (for P. M. J. Doyle) having earlier won a point. Low-key start over hurdles so far for this stable, struggled on handicap debut here latest (17.7f, soft) but he's still lightly-raced and no surprise if step up in trip brings about a better effort.

Form: 34-7478

Shuil Ceoil^p²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: James Bowen| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 96| BF| D

6/4

Fair winner at 22f over hurdles but unable to match that form over fences. Very interesting on return to smaller obstacles for respected trainer/jockey combination.

Form: 4P5554

Constant Friday¹⁰¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: N F Houlihan| T: R Rowe| OR: 91

66/1

Modest hurdler got off the mark when winning an 11-runner handicap hurdle at Plumpton (20.5f, good) but has been off the track for over years and is likely to need the run unless the market suggests otherwise.

Form: 6PP351/

Vendant⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: R Rowe| OR: 84

14/1

Placed in points but well held only start in bumpers and yet to get competitive over hurdles, struggling on handicap debut in November and while he's entitled to strip fitter for that effort, his handicap mark doesn't look overly generous.

Form: 30/868-5

Onnaroll^h,t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: James Best| T: Cynthia Woods| OR: 69

18/1

Remains a maiden after 21 runs and he came in only sixth of 11 in a handicap hurdle at Plumpton (20.5f, good to soft, 28/1) 41 days ago. Slightly up in trip but similar outcome expected from 9 lb out of the handicap today.

Form: 8-7FP66

Getaway Cory^p,t¹⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Lewis Saunders⁽⁷⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 69

16/1

Long-standing maiden for Kayley Woolacott and no signs of improvement in a couple of starts for new connections, including on chase debut at Fontwell last month. Tough ask from 9 lb out of the handicap today.

Form: P21-196

Non-Runners

A Tickatickatiming²⁰²

Weight: 11-8| Age: 7

T: Miss S West J: M Goldstein

Forecasts

Shuil Ceoil (6/4), Maximum Effort (9/2), A Tickatickatiming (5/1), Hot Rod Lincoln (11/2), Summer In Milan (6/1), Vendant (14/1), Chankaya (14/1), Getaway Cory (16/1), Onnaroll (18/1), Westtara (33/1), Constant Friday (66/1)

This looks a winnable race and SHUIL CEOIL shouldn't need to improve to take this now racing off a 7 lb lower mark than when last seen finishing fourth over hurdles. Maximum Effort and Summer In Milan both need to leave disappointing efforts behind, though the latter is relatively lightly-raced and could prove the main danger to the selection.