14:55 Fontwell

Sunday 28 January 2024

All13:1213:4514:2014:5515:2515:5516:30

Dr. Mark Signy 70th Birthday Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 6m 10.32s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Captain Claude^t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 100| CD

13/8

Slow burner over hurdles but made a winning debut over fences over C&D before following up here (26f) on Boxing Day. Should make a bold bid for the hat-trick.

Form: 412-311

Mister Murchan⁴⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: N F Houlihan| T: R Rowe| OR: 99| CD

12/1

Mostly out of sorts last term though ought to have won off reduced mark here final start (idled and collared last 50 yds) and was all the better for return when second at Lingfield 7 weeks ago.

Form: P552-82

The Scorpion King^p³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: O Signy| OR: 98

8/1

Unreliable maiden over hurdles and not an obvious chasing type.

Form: 730-4P6

Leading Swoop⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 97

9/2

Fair maiden hurdler who was all the better for return when third at Lingfield. Goes chasing now but didn't show much in points.

Form: 7542-P3

Sir Rock⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: K Brogan| T: T Lawes| OR: 96| CD

4/1

Irish point winner who made all over hurdles here (21.7f) in May. Refused to race here on his return but got back on track with 2 solid efforts at Stratford and Huntingdon before making a winning chase debut at Plumpton, showing a better attitude than has sometimes been the case. Player.

Form: P-1R351

Spotty Dog²⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Reed| T: M Hawker| OR: 95| BF

33/1

Dual winner over fences during a mixed 2022/23 campaign, albeit final start at Warwick in May best excused having suffered tack issues. However, possible he'll strip fitter for this first outing for 8 months.

Form: 2P186-P

William Philo^b⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: James Best| T: B Lund| OR: 93| CD

25/1

Strong in the betting when getting off the mark over fences here (26f) in April on final outing for Robert Walford. Little encouragement in a pair of starts for current yard, though, and he's opposable in current form.

Form: 2331-P6

I Love You Sivola^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes| OR: 92

14/1

Fair hurdler/chaser in France but not much encouragement for current stable.

Form: 23-7656

Ivilnoble⁴⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: Ben Ffrench-Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 75

14/1

Just the one win to his name over fences and has failed to complete last 3 starts, showing nothing at Wincanton after almost 2 years off last month.

Form: 222PP/P

Forecasts

Captain Claude (13/8), Sir Rock (4/1), Leading Swoop (9/2), The Scorpion King (8/1), Mister Murchan (12/1), I Love You Sivola (14/1), Ivilnoble (14/1), William Philo (25/1), Spotty Dog (33/1)

CAPTAIN CLAUDE has taken very well to fences and is fancied to complete the hat-trick despite the drop back in trip possibly not being ideal. Sir Rock showed a better attitude than has often been the case when making a winning chase bow at Plumpton so looks the obvious threat, with Mister Murchan best of the others,