15:25 Fontwell

Sunday 15 November 2026

All12:3013:0513:4314:2014:5015:25

Maria's And Aidie's 25th Wedding Anniversary Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle

3YO plus | Class 5 | 2m 5f 164y | 11 Runners | Turf

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Joe Anderson⁽³⁾| T: T Britten| OR: 95

Maiden but improved as anticipated for the step back up in trip when second of 11 in handicap at Bangor (2½m) back in May. Has since left Charlie Longsdon (for £22,000) and joined rookie trainer successful with only runner since taking out full licence at time of writing. Worth chancing.

Form: 44835-2

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Black Dakota¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Robbie David⁽⁵⁾| T: Daisy Hitchins| OR: 93| BF

6/1

Showed more than previously in this sphere when 9½ lengths third in first-time hood on handicap debut at Fontwell (2¼m) in October. Left the impression 18.5f was still too much of a test of speed for him at Stratford recently so he's worth a second look back up in trip.

Form: 546435

County Champs²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Freddie Gordon| T: C Gordon| OR: 91

11/4

Long-standing maiden but knocking firmly at the door of late, finding one too strong for a fifth time in 7-runner event over C&D (good to soft) last month. In the mix again but his profile suggests he'll probably find at least one too good.

Form: 22-PF22

Ami Bondhu²⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Tabitha Worsley| T: N J Gifford| OR: 89WS

15/2

Still a maiden in this sphere but ended last season with a hat-trick of third-placed efforts. He's needed his reappearance last 2 seasons and that will probably be the case again back from 8 months off (has had breathing operation in interim).

Form: 42/0333-

One For Rian⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 86

6/1

Runner-up only start in Irish points but little impact over hurdles, including when upped in trip on return/handicap debut at Fontwell (19f, good to soft) early last month. Too soon to be writing him off, however.

Form: 2/70P9-5

Hawa Jumeirah^t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes| OR: 85

12/1

Modest middle-distance winner on Flat. Finished third in back-to-back handicaps at Newton Abbot in July but was seemingly flattered back in a novice when third of 7 at this course (19f, good to soft) last month.

Form: 833643

Vendant²²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: R Rowe| OR: 83

9/1

Still a maiden but he wasn't discredited when second of 7 at Fontwell in March. Already struggling when departing there the following month and off since.

Form: 524P/2F-

Charles Morin^b,t1¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Callum Pritchard| T: B J Murphy| OR: 77

5/1

Blinkered for the first time over hurdles and ran his best race in this discipline when second of 11 at Sedgefield (2½m, good to soft) 12 days ago, keeping on despite looking rather awkward under pressure. First-time tongue tie applied and he's no certainty to be in the same mood here.

Form: 0U/4-682

Lily Grace²¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Ned Fox⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 71

20/1

No sign of ability and makes her return from 7 months off.

Form: 80/0550-

Always Force It^h⁷⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Ben Godfrey| T: H Brown| OR: 69

33/1

Shaped well in pair of handicap hurdles for Gavin Cromwell in autumn 2023 but no show in 7 starts for present yard the following year, including over fences. Can only be watched back hurdling after a lengthy absence.

Form: 967325/

Court One²⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽³⁾| T: R Rowe| OR: 67

14/1

Showed a bit more when second in a pair of 19.5f Lingfield novice handicaps at end of 2025 but below that level since, including from well out of the weights at Huntingdon when last seen 9 months ago.

Form: 62236P-

Forecasts

County Champs (3/1), Charles Morin (7/2), Asta La Vista (4/1), Vendant (7/1), Black Dakota (8/1), Ami Bondhu (10/1), Hawa Jumeirah (12/1), One For Rian (14/1), Court One (33/1), Lily Grace (33/1), Always Force It (50/1)

Cases can be made for a few of these, but ASTA LA VISTA ran his best race when finishing runner-up at Bangor back in the spring and with this extra distance a possible catalyst for further progress, Tom Britten's new recruit is taken to get off the mark. County Champs has had plenty of goes and he may have to settle for another silver medal, with Charles Morin and Black Dakota taken to fight out third.