Celebrating The Life Of Trevor Schooley Handicap Hurdle
Class 4 Handicap Hurdle | 2m1f162y | Good ground | 5 runners

A small-field handicap around Fontwell’s tight, undulating circuit where tactical speed and jumping efficiency can be important. With only five runners, pace becomes a major factor.

Pace Assessment

Likely pace: Moderate rather than strong.

Potential leaders/prominent racers: Granny Hawkins and possibly Sun Joy.

Hold-up runners: Almuhit and Sixty Plus are capable of being ridden patiently.

In a five-runner race there is less likelihood of traffic issues than in larger fields, although Fontwell’s bends can still reward those holding a good position.


Going Suitability

Good ground

Granny Hawkins: Proven and thriving on good ground.

Almuhit: Handles good and yielding; conditions ideal.

Sixty Plus: Best recent hurdle form on good.

Sun Joy: Most wins have come on good ground.

Break Point: Handles good but recent form weak.


Distance Suitability (2m1f)

Granny Hawkins: Proven over 2m and looks well suited.

Almuhit: Effective from 2m to 2m3f; trip ideal.

Sixty Plus: Slight concern. Most recent best form came over further.

Sun Joy: Drop from 2m3f-2m5f may not be ideal.

Break Point: Trip fine if returning to best.


Track Suitability

Fontwell’s unique figure-of-eight layout suits agile jumpers with tactical speed.

Granny Hawkins: Running style suggests she should continue to suit.

Sun Joy: Previous Fontwell experience.

Almuhit: No obvious concerns.

Sixty Plus: No obvious negatives but sharper track and shorter trip may test him.

Break Point: Yet to prove himself at this level around this type of track.


Class Suitability

Almuhit: Strong positive. Fourth in a valuable 24-runner Punchestown handicap. This is easier.

Granny Hawkins: Rising through the grades and coping well.

Sixty Plus: Significant class drop from stronger handicaps.

Sun Joy: Well treated enough if bouncing back.

Break Point: Needs major revival.



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Runner-by-Runner Assessment

1. Almuhit (p)

Score: 8.5/10

Very solid profile. The Punchestown fourth reads particularly well in this company and his RPRs are among the strongest in the field. Harry Cobden is a notable booking. Returns after 43 days which is no concern.

The key question is whether he can reproduce that Punchestown effort in a tactical five-runner race.

2. Granny Hawkins (p)

Score: 9/10

Three consecutive hurdle wins and still progressing. Overcame trouble in running at Stratford and still won. Good ground suits, trip suits, and Alan King’s runners continue to perform well.

Only 6lb higher and her latest RPR puts her right alongside the principals. Most likely pace angle in the race.

3. Sixty Plus

Score: 7/10

Highest official rating in the race. Won four in a row last year but has struggled in stronger races since. The drop in grade is significant and James Owen’s yard remains in excellent form.

Concern remains that 2m1f around Fontwell may be sharper than ideal.

4. Sun Joy

Score: 5.5/10

Dual winner who should improve for last month’s comeback run here after a six-month absence. However, his strongest hurdle form has come over further and this shorter trip may blunt his stamina strengths.

5. Break Point

Score: 3/10

Needs a complete revival. Recent hurdle return was very disappointing and his maiden hurdle win came almost two years ago. Hard to make a strong case on current evidence.


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Have We Weighted The Race Correctly?

This is a race where:

1. Current form deserves extra emphasis because the field is small.


2. Pace position is more important than normal.


3. Raw ratings are slightly less important than tactical suitability.


4. No non-runners are shown in the racecard provided.


5. The race appears to revolve around Granny Hawkins and Almuhit, with Sixty Plus the main alternative if the principals underperform.




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Strongest Contenders

Granny Hawkins (p)

Progressive profile.

Three straight wins.

Suited by ground and trip.

Likely tactical advantage.


Almuhit (p)

Strongest recent piece of form in the race.

Class edge from Punchestown effort.

Major danger.



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Main Danger

Sixty Plus

Class dropper.

Best horse in the race on some historical figures.

Needs the race run to suit over this shorter trip.



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Interesting Outsider

Sun Joy

If improving significantly from his seasonal return, he could outrun expectations, though conditions are not obviously ideal.


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Private Tissue

Horse Tissue

Granny Hawkins 2/1
Almuhit 9/4
Sixty Plus 5/1
Sun Joy 10/1
Break Point 25/1



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Final Summary

The race looks primarily a match between the progressive mare Granny Hawkins and the class-dropping Almuhit. Granny Hawkins has fewer questions to answer, arrives in peak form, is proven under today’s conditions and should secure a favourable tactical position. Almuhit brings arguably the strongest piece of recent form but may find this tactical small-field contest less straightforward than a strongly-run handicap.

Smart Plays

Win Bet: Granny Hawkins (9/10)
Progressive, in form, tactically well suited and fully proven on the ground and trip.

Saver Bet: Almuhit (8.5/10)
The class horse on recent hurdle evidence and the biggest threat if reproducing his Punchestown run.

No each-way recommendation as there are only five runners.