12:32 Fontwell

Monday 26 December 2022

All11:5712:3213:0713:4214:1714:5215:27

Barber Kurakina Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:32 | Winning time: 7m 0.18s

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Selected odds by:

The Street²³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 120

14/1

Fairly useful hurdles winner last term but he's fallen at the first on both starts over fences this term at Hereford and Chepstow. Back hurdling now and shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 4125-FF

Good News^v³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs L Richards| OR: 117| CD

10/1

4-time course winner who also bagged 10-runner handicap hurdle at Kempton (24.5f) 35 days ago, keeping on gamely. Well in the mix.

Form: 11-1141

Martha Brae⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 114| C

17/2

Course winner who arrives on the back of a good second of 15 in handicap hurdle at Exeter (21.6f) 52 days ago. Firmly in the picture.

Form: 5165-42

Carlow Farmer^p,t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: M F Harris| OR: 113

33/1

Unreliable sort. 22/1, first run since leaving Charlie Longsdon when below-form seventh of 12 in handicap hurdle at Chepstow (23.6f) 23 days ago, going in snatches. Others are preferred.

Form: UP21P-7

Norton Hill^p,t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 110

5/2

Bumper winner for Jack Barber who has shaped well over an inadequate trip on both runs for his current yard, fast-finishing third of 11 on handicap debut at Exeter last month. Player with this longer distance very much in his favour.

Form: 124-33

Spike Jones^t³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Burton⁽⁵⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 107| BF| C

7/2

Breakthrough win over hurdles at Catterick in March and he posted a respectable third of 6 there 38 days ago. Shortlisted.

Form: 3331-33

Prince Des Fichaux^t⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: S Thomas| OR: 105| BF

10/3

Fair form so far over hurdles and had a wind op prior to coming in a respectable fourth at Bangor on reappearance in October. Remains with some potential.

Form: 223-4

Beaufort West^p⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: A Irvine| OR: 102| C

18/1

Course winner who posted a good second of 7 in handicap hurdle at Plumpton (25f) 42 days ago. One for the shortlist.

Form: 341-P32

The Tin Miner^v⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁷⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 97| D

16/1

Very consistent sort but he was pulled up in handicap hurdle at Plumpton (25f) 42 days ago. Sort to bounce back.

Form: 3342-3P

Non-Runners

Paricolor²³

Weight: 12-2| Age: 6

T: D Pipe J: Philip Armson

Forecasts

Norton Hill (5/2), Prince Des Fichaux (10/3), Spike Jones (7/2), Paricolor (11/2), Martha Brae (17/2), Good News (10/1), The Street (14/1), The Tin Miner (16/1), Beaufort West (18/1), Carlow Farmer (33/1)

Plenty in with a shout but NORTON HILL looks the way to go given this son of Fame And Glory now gets the chance to tackle a staying trip for the first time having shaped well over shorter distances on both starts for his current handler. Course winner Beaufort West heads the list of dangers, although both Paricolor and Good News are weighted to have a say too in a competitive handicap.