14:45 Fontwell

Monday 11 December 2017

All12:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:40

John And Maryanne Birch Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:47 | Winning time: 4m 49.1s

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Selected odds by:

Sensible Friend³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 110

10/1

Moderate form in three bumpers and three novice hurdles although latest start was his best when fourth over course and distance. Opening mark appears high enough although open to improvement.

Form: 393-884

The Mighty Ash³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Ian Popham| T: Mrs F M Shaw| OR: 110

25/1

Maiden of five starts was tailed off on his handicap debut at Ascot last month. Hopefully strip fitter today and this not as strong a race however still has a bit to prove.

Form: P/8246-0

Argyle^v²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 104

6/1

15-race maiden ran one of his best races to date when second on his first race of this season last time out at Lingfield. Left on the same mark today and with that in mind he is a leading contender.

Form: 438-2

Maroc^p,t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 102

20/1

Ran well without success on the flat this summer so his return to hurdling last week was a disappointment when pulled up. Off the same mark here he isn't easy to fancy now.

Form: 543-P

Marmont¹³³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 100

13/2

Career something of a mixed bag with three good runs out of eight career starts. Career high mark here on return and softer ground is a doubt. On the plus side he ran well here on his only previous visit.

Form: 5-68283

Jebs Gamble^p⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: N J Gifford| OR: 100

15/2

Course and distance second on penultimate start his best run to date. 6lb higher but not far off that level when fourth on return at Plumpton six weeks ago so could be ready to go close here although soft ground is an unknown.

Form: 368-524

Born Legend^b²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-9| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 107

5/1

Already had plenty of hurdling experience for his age and off the mark last month at Bangor where he won pretty easily. That was first time on soft ground so perhaps that is the key and switched to handicaps here he looks to have every chance.

Form: P6P31

Our Merlin⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: H Cobden| T: R Walford| OR: 86

6/4

Off the mark last week at Plumpton where he coasted to success by some 21 lengths. Runs here under a 7lb penalty and surely get much bigger rise than that from handicapper so likely well in.

Form: 700-6F1

Celma Des Bois²²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: A Glassonbury| T: R Rowe| OR: 90

20/1

Showed bits of promise for Paul Nolan but next to nothing since switched to current yard and leap of faith required at present.

Form: 35P87-9

Forecasts

Our Merlin (6/4), Born Legend (5/1), Argyle (6/1), Marmont (13/2), Jebs Gamble (15/2), Sensible Friend (10/1), Maroc (20/1), Celma Des Bois (20/1), The Mighty Ash (25/1)

OUR MERLIN absolutely bolted up at Plumpton last week and providing he handles the quick turnaround will take some beating with the 7lb penalty surely still leaving him well below his soon to be revised mark. Born Legend steps into handicaps after winning last time out himself and he has scope for improvement so rates an obvious danger. Argyle ran well in his first handicap at Lingfield so he too is worth considering off the same mark.