17:34 Fontwell

Thursday 14 May 2026

All17:3418:1018:4019:1019:4020:10

Mercedes-Benz Of Chichester Mares' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 1f 162y | 10 Runners | Turf

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill

£140,000 4-y-o, Berkshire mare. Runner-up sole start in Irish points and placed all 3 outings in bumpers, shaping like a stayer in the making,

Form: 2/332-

Flash Bardot⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss H C Knight

Useful at best on Flat (stays 13.5f) but below that level in 2025 (sold from Jack Channon for 10,000 gns in December). Did at least offer something to work on sent hurdling when third at Haydock last month (second has won since).

Form: 3-

Hidden Fortune³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| BF

Irish point winner who has found only one too good on both her starts in bumpers. Looks an interesting hurdling newcomer.

Form: 1/22-

Queens Up²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: Mrs R Ford

Placed on second of 2 starts in points but little encouragement sent hurdling last month.

Form: P/3P7-

Rock Sensation¹⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: Nick Scholfield

Has made an underwhelming start over hurdles considering her bumper promise (winner at Southwell last spring). Off 5 months and has left Ben Pauling.

Form: 271/4U3-

Saffron Belle⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Mrs S Gardner

Showed no sign of ability in bumpers and didn't get far on hurdles bow at Newton Abbot last month.

Form: 00U-

Secret Des Lune⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: David Noonan| T: Ben Clarke| D

Maxios mare who benefitted from the step back up in trip when winning a Plumpton bumper 2 months ago. Type to do well over hurdles.

Form: 221-

Shutfrontdoor²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 105| CD

Made a successful debut in bumper here a year ago and easily best effort over hurdles when second at Plumpton (2m) last month, leaving the impression she has more to offer over further. Leading contender.

Form: 12F22-

Sorgean^t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry

£24,000 3-y-o, £38,000 4-y-o. Runner-up on second of 2 starts in Irish points and had a bit up her sleeve when winning a 5-runner bumper at Wincanton on Rules debit last month. Will make a hurdler.

Form: P/21-

Whodunit⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Freddie Gingell| T: J Tizzard

Well held in bumpers at Wincanton and Newton Abbot.

Form: 08-

Forecasts

Hidden Fortune (15/8), Sorgean (4/1), Shutfrontdoor (5/1), Secret Des Lune (6/1), Flash Bardot (7/1), Diamond White (7/1), Rock Sensation (16/1), Whodunit (25/1), Queens Up (150/1), Saffron Belle (250/1)

SHUTFRONTDOOR shaped like this stiffer test will suit when runner-up at Plumpton last month and she can put her hurdling experience to good up against a few who have shown promise in bumpers, notably Hidden Fortune and Secret des Lune.