Race Preview: Fontwell 3:15 (Class 5 Mares’ Handicap Hurdle)

This is a Class 5 handicap hurdle restricted to mares, run over 2 miles, 3 furlongs, and 29 yards. Fontwell’s unique figure-of-eight, undulating track often favours horses with previous course experience. With 7 runners, it’s a relatively small field for this grade.

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Runner-by-Runner Analysis

• Hello Cello (12-0):
  • Form: 6/42766-23. Comes here off the back of two solid placed efforts at Worcester in May/June, finishing 2nd off OR97 and 3rd off OR99. Returns after a 133-day break.
  • Rating: OR98. Jockey Ciaran O’Shea claims a valuable 7lb, bringing her effective weight down significantly to 11-7.
  • Notes: Has proven she’s competitive off this sort of mark. The break is a slight concern, but the jockey’s claim makes her very well-treated if ready to go. Strong contender.
• Plus Point (11-10):
  • Form: 5-72. Lightly raced mare with only three hurdle starts. Showed marked improvement on her latest run 163 days ago when finishing 2nd in a mares’ novice hurdle at Worcester over 2m4f.
  • Rating: OR94. Makes her handicap debut off what looks like a potentially lenient mark given her scope for improvement.
  • Notes: Unexposed profile is appealing. If she has progressed during her break, she could be better than this opening mark. Gavin Sheehan is a positive jockey booking. Interesting contender.
• Everest (11-6):
  • Form: 27056-337. Has excellent course form, finishing 3rd twice here over similar distances in June and August off today’s mark (OR90). Disappointed last time out at Plumpton (32 days ago) when finishing 7th.
  • Rating: OR90. Returns to her favoured track off the same mark as her good runs here.
  • Notes: Represents the powerful Gary Moore yard, who excel at Fontwell. If she bounces back to her course form from the summer, she is handicapped to go very close. Wears cheekpieces and a tongue-strap. Major player.
• Pate Mollee (11-5):
  • Form: 85P2P0-7. Has shown very little ability under rules. Was beaten 37 lengths on her seasonal reappearance 16 days ago.
  • Rating: OR89. Difficult to make a case for her on current form. Wears a first-time hood.
• Clear Storm (11-4):
  • Form: 6P432-23F. Very consistent mare who has finished 2nd or 3rd in four of her last five completed starts off similar marks. Fell 2 out when held in second last time (109 days ago).
  • Rating: OR90. Runs off the same mark as her placed efforts.
  • Notes: Reliable performer who usually runs her race but finds winning difficult (still a maiden after 8 starts). Likely to be in the mix again if her jumping holds up, but might find one or two stronger for the win.
• Yanka Blue (11-6):
  • Form: U68534. A 4-year-old taking on older mares. Showed gradual improvement in novice/maiden hurdles, finishing 3rd and 4th on her last two starts.
  • Rating: OR92. Makes her handicap debut. Needs to find further improvement to feature off this opening mark, but is unexposed.
• Ask Her Out (10-3):
  • Form: 108/680221P9-. Won off OR77 last December but form tailed off badly after, being pulled up and finishing a distant 9th on her last two runs in the spring. Returns from a 220-day break.
  • Rating: OR73. The lowest-rated horse and carries bottom weight, but needs to bounce back significantly after a layoff. Has placed form at Fontwell.

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Verdict

This looks likely to concern three main contenders: the course specialist Everest, the well-handicapped Hello Cello, and the unexposed Plus Point.

Everest‘s proven liking for Fontwell and her runs off this mark during the summer make her a very appealing candidate, especially representing the Gary Moore stable here. If she puts her last run behind her, she should go close.

Hello Cello ran two excellent races when last seen and benefits hugely from the 7lb claim. If fit after the break, she is arguably the best-handicapped horse.

Plus Point improved significantly last time and could easily progress past these rivals on her handicap debut.

It’s a tight call, but proven course form often counts for a lot at Fontwell.

1. Everest 2. Hello Cello 3. Plus Point