14:30 Fontwell

Sunday 9 September 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:1016:4017:10

Happy 60th Birthday Geoff Yates Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 4m 19.8s

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Selected odds by:

Acquirer¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: R Hughes

33/1

Eight-race Flat maiden whose best run came in blinkers at Bath in June, but he ran poorly in the headgear at Wolverhampton last time, and goes without on hurdles bow.

Form:

Bodes Well³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex

8/1

Not a bad sort at around 1m on the Flat, although he didn't seem to stay further on handicap bow. Some promise when fourth at Market Rasen on hurdling debut, but needs to jump better if he's to progress.

Form: 4

Chaparral Prince⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

15/8

Bred to stay, and improved when fifth of eleven to Polish in a 1½m maiden at Salisbury in June. Heavy ground a valid excuse last time, and the type to make a bigger splash over timber.

Form:

Mercer's Troop³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton

20/1

Half-brother to a fairly useful hurdler, and capable of similar form himself on AW for Archie Watson. Turf efforts not so good, though, so interesting to see how he fares for new yard now switching codes.

Form:

Mutanaqel^h1,t1³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe

25/1

Pick of his Flat form came on AW, but shown useful enough form on turf for Owen Burrows, albeit still a maiden. Hal-brother to a winning hurdler/chaser, and fitted with a hood and tongue tie for first time. Plenty of variables to consider.

Form:

The Accountant^p1⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy

50/1

Struggled in two AW maidens earlier this year. Signs of ability at Market Rasen on hurdles bow, but went backwards last time, and now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 46

The Naughty Step⁷¹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: J R Boyle

100/1

Well held in varied company on the Flat, and doesn't appeal at all now trying a different discipline.

Form:

Twenty Twenty¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

16/1

Half-brother to top-class hurdler Supasundae (also a smart bumper performer), so a bit disappointing that he made his Flat debut in a seller, when well beaten. May do better now sent jumping, but risky.

Form:

Angel Of The North²³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

20/1

Did win on the Flat, but that came when visored in an AW handicap off a plater's mark, and not an obvious type for the winter game. Still, appears leading yard's main hope on riding arrangements, so needs a second look.

Form:

Nordican Bleue¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| BF

5/4

Won maiden and minor event on last two Flat starts for Ludovic Gadbin in France, and made an excellent start over hurdles when second to Chief Justice at Worcester recently. Will take the beating if repeating that effort.

Form: 2

Powerful Society²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: James Davies| T: Mark Gillard

50/1

Fair at best on the Flat, and below form on last couple of starts in that sphere. Should stay in new sphere, but makes limited appeal starting out.

Form:

Red Miracle²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: R T Dunne| T: B R Millman

50/1

Plenty of stamina to draw on for this game, but took a heavy fall on hurdles debut at Stratford, and jumping again let her down at Newton Abbot last time.

Form: F4

Roser Moter⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton| BF

50/1

Pedigree gives hope that she will make a hurdler, but became a little disappointing on Flat for Eve Johnson Houghton, and picked up by shrewd new yard for just £4,000 last month.

Form:

Swiss Psalm¹¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Harry Stock⁽⁵⁾| T: Mark Gillard

200/1

No solid form on the Flat, and while her dam is a half-sister to a useful performer in this discipline, she makes very little appeal.

Form:

Forecasts

Nordican Bleue (5/4), Chaparral Prince (15/8), Bodes Well (8/1), Twenty Twenty (16/1), Angel Of The North (20/1), Mercer's Troop (20/1), Mutanaqel (25/1), Acquirer (33/1), Red Miracle (50/1), The Accountant (50/1), Powerful Society (50/1), Roser Moter (50/1), The Naughty Step (100/1), Swiss Psalm (200/1)

Time may tell that NORDICAN BLEUE ran into a smart prospect when second at Worcester on her hurdles bow, and she looks the likeliest winner on the evidence of that run. Chaparral Prince appeals most of those without hurdles experience, and ought to make a fist of his new discipline, while Mercer's Troop might prove best of Dan Skelton's trio despite jockey bookings suggesting otherwise.