15:25 Fontwell

Monday 8 December 2025

All12:5513:2513:5514:2514:5515:25

John And Maryanne Birch Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • 3YO plus  |   Class 5  |   2m 1f 162y  |   Heavy (Soft in places)  |   7 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 15:25  |   Winning time: 4m 45.34s
1st
Horse silk
1
Calshot Spit
512-0
14/1
T: Miss S WestJ: M Goldstein
Chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, stayed on well from last, led final strides op 16/1
2nd
Horse silk
sh
2
Bridge
512-0
10/1
T: G & J MooreJ: Freddie Mitchell (5)
Midfield, chased leaders 4th, outpaced after 3 out, headway and switched right to challenge before last, stayed on to lead final 110yds, headed final strides op 17/2 tchd 8/1
3rd
Horse silk
1
5
Storming Nelson
611-4
4/1
T: Mrs S GardnerJ: Lucy Gardner
Prominent, raced wide 4th, led approaching 2 out, ridden when hung badly right after last, headed final 110yds, no extra final 50yds op 6/1
4th
Horse silk
16
6
Crossbeau
611-4
10/11f
T: Tim VaughanJ: S Bowen
Led, headed approaching 2 out, jumped right 2 out, no extra when switched left before last, weakened flat op 11/10
5th
Horse silk
18
7
Smart Casual
710-10
9/2
T: A J HoneyballJ: R P McLernon
Held up in rear, headway 6th, hit 3 out, weakening when jumped right 2 out op 4/1
6th
Horse silk
nse
3
Our Papa Smurf
411-10
20/1
T: G & J MooreJ: Caoilin Quinn
Chased leaders, midfield 4th, struggling from 3 out op 16/1 tchd 22/1
7th
Horse silk
13
4
Master Dunraven
511-4
20/1
T: N P MulhollandJ: C O'Farrell
Towards rear, struggling when mistake 3 out, soon faded op 8/1
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Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£17.10Pl:£4.70, £3.80EX:£140.90Trifecta:£557.90SF:£135.14Swingers:£8.50, £7.50, £6.50

Forecasts

Crossbeau (10/11), Storming Nelson (4/1), Smart Casual (9/2), Bridge (10/1), Calshot Spit (14/1), Our Papa Smurf (20/1), Master Dunraven (20/1)

Verdict

CROSSBEAU was much improved when making a winning return at Chepstow last month and is fancied to follow up with Sean Bowen retained in the saddle. The market should offer plenty of clues regarding the returning Moore runners, handicap debutant Our Papa Smurf perhaps the most likely of the pair on paper. Of the rest, Smart Casual should take a step forward from his reappearance, while Master Dunraven merits a market check.

  1. CROSSBEAU (IRE)
  2. OUR PAPA SMURF
  3. SMART CASUAL

Previous Winners

2024
Motazzen
Weight: 10-9  |Age: 6
J: Brendan Powell  |  T: Miss H C Knight
4/1

Prize Money

1st: £3,248.002nd: £1,494.003rd: £747.004th: £374.005th: £186.00

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