19:50 Fontwell

Thursday 24 August 2023

All17:0517:4018:1518:5019:2019:50

Crouchie's Equine Quest Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:50 | Winning time: 5m 25.1s

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Selected odds by:

Bashful Boy^p⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 125| C| D

5/1

After falling both starts in April, better than even returned to the Flat when recording back-to-back wins in May/June. Continued that form back over hurdles as he completed a cross-code hat-trick at Newton Abbot (21.6f) by 10 lengths from The Height of Fame last time. Not taken lightly.

Form: 455FF-1

Solo Saxophone^v²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 125

25/1

Won twice over hurdles at Worcester last summer but has struggled for form after 7 months off this season, pulled up on his last 2 starts including tried over fences on his latest outing. Back hurdling and needs the return of a visor to help spark a revival.

Form: 1123-PP

Name In Lights^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 122

10/1

After a spell over fences, got back on track reverted to hurdling when scoring in handicap at Newton Abbot (26.5f) in June. Below-par effot next time, but ran much better when third back at Newton Abbot (21.6f) last month. Capable of getting involved.

Form: F-3P193

Ile De Jersey⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 121| BF

8/1

Successful over fences at Southwell in November and, after 5 months off, ran her best race back over hurdles when third at Aintree (20f) in May. However, in refitted tongue strap, found less than looked likely in handicap chase at Market Rasen last time. Needs to resume her progess.

Form: 7/F14-37

Norley^p1,t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 121

16/1

Improved last season, scoring twice over hurdles before successful on second start over fences at Huntingdon in April. Ran well when narrowly denied in handicap chase at Bangor (20.3f) in June, but not in the same form next time. Back over hurdles with cheekpieces now applied.

Form: 311-324

Irish Prophecy²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Dylan Whelan⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 120

16/1

Went close in a Warwick handicap chase (25.4f) in September last year but hasn't gone on from that effort since, again not seeing out his race when mid-field at Bangor 20 days ago. Others more persuasive as he returns to hurdling.

Form: 52P-R46

Watergrange Jack²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 117

7/2

With the cheekpieces left off, gained a first success of the season when winning 10-runner handicap at Worcester (20f) 23 days ago, reverted to more patient tactics but having nothing to spare. More required as he goes up in grade.

Form: 35-R251

Uggy Uggy Uggy³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Bradley Harris⁽⁵⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 107

10/3

Going the right way and opened account in convincing style in novice at Stratford (18.7f) in July. Ran at least as well when runner-up in handicap at Cartmel (17.2) next time, faring best of those from off the pace. Major player.

Form: 94-4312

The Height Of Fame^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: G Sheehan| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 102| CD

5/1

Landed a 4-timer last season, winning twice at this C&D, and returned from 5 months off with a creditable second at Newton Abbot (21.6f) in July, albeit no match for Bashful Boy. Not discredited when making the frame at Worcester last time and he can give another good account.

Form: 1140-24

Thahab Ifraj²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: David Noonan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 99| C

28/1

Capitalised on a falling mark when successful at this course (17.7f) a year ago but below that level on his 4 subsequent starts. Back on the level, made more impact than of late when third at Bath last month, but others still make more appeal.

Form: 5167-76

Forecasts

Uggy Uggy Uggy (10/3), Watergrange Jack (7/2), The Height Of Fame (5/1), Bashful Boy (5/1), Ile De Jersey (8/1), Name In Lights (10/1), Irish Prophecy (16/1), Norley (16/1), Solo Saxophone (25/1), Thahab Ifraj (28/1)

UGGY UGGY UGGY has shown improved form on his last 2 starts, closing all the way to the line when runner-up at Cartmel on his latest outing, and he can continue his progress as he goes up in trip. Bashful Boy isn't taken lightly, though, in his bid for a cross-code 4-timer, while The Height of Fame can also go well back at this course.