18:17 Fontwell

Friday 25 April 2025

All17:1517:4718:1718:4719:1719:47

Dartagnan Menswear Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:18 | Winning time: 5m 30.1s

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Selected odds by:

Sunshine Diamond^p²⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 119

9/1

Struck at second time of asking over hurdles in Ireland last summer, landing a 3m Wexford maiden with first-time cheekpieces enlisted. Followed up from the front on debut for new yard at Southwell (24.3f, good to firm) in October and this 6-y-o may well have more to offer now handicapping.

Form: P7-5611

Casa Loupi^p⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Rob Hargreaves⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117

22/1

Returned from absence to capitalise on reduced mark in an amateur jockeys' race on Military Gold Cup day at Sandown (2m, soft) in January. Followed up over the same C&D next time but failed to fire when bidding for the hat-trick at Warwick and looks vulnerable now that his new mark has kicked in.

Form: 0F3-11P

Shengai Enki^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Luke Scott⁽³⁾| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 114| CD

10/1

Has proved better than ever with cheekpieces refitted in recent months, scoring over C&D in February and thereabouts all 3 starts since. Remains on a workable mark and should make his presence felt.

Form: 751322

Marlacoo⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 112

2/1

Bumper winner in Ireland and opened hurdles account at the fifth attempt when landing the odds in a 6-runner Ayr novice (19.5f, heavy) last time. Major player back in handicap company.

Form: 132F21

Super Sabre Sam^p1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Brendan Powell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 111| BF| C

9/2

Landed a 19f maiden here in October and placed in handicaps at Windsor and Ludlow on first 2 starts of this year. Stamina perhaps stretched upped to 3m at Newbury last time and he's worth considering back down in trip here with cheekpieces enlisted.

Form: 6-18339

Valadon⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 110

13/2

Dual winner in juvenile hurdles in 2023/24. Didn't take to chasing on reappearance and not in top form both starts over timber since, either. Hopes now pinned on this step up in trip sparking a return to form.

Form: 113-434

Churchills Boy^t1⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 109| C

16/1

Bumper winner and already a dual winner in this sphere in 2022/2023. However, he was beaten a long way when returning from a lengthy absence at Southwell and will need to leave that well behind if he's to play a leading role in this contest. Tongue strap added.

Form: P11P4/9

Up The Straight²³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: N F Houlihan| T: R Rowe| OR: 103

28/1

Fairly useful chaser at his best but it's been almost 3 years since his latest success and he was pulled up on most recent start in this sphere in December.

Form: 360-PP2

Kingston Gent⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 101

8/1

Point winner who has shown a fair level of ability in maiden/novice hurdles this winter but improvement was not forthcoming on handicap debut at Exeter last time.

Form: 3-19355

Rebel Intentions^t⁹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 100| CD

11/1

C&D winner in 2023 and added to his tally at Kempton in October. Little to shout about since, though, and others look safer here.

Form: 0-2100P

Forecasts

Marlacoo (2/1), Super Sabre Sam (9/2), Valadon (13/2), Kingston Gent (8/1), Sunshine Diamond (9/1), Shengai Enki (10/1), Rebel Intentions (11/1), Churchills Boy (16/1), Casa Loupi (22/1), Up The Straight (28/1)

Neil Mulholland fields two live candidates here in SUPER SABRE SAM and Sunshine Diamond. The latter is unexposed under Rules and is bound to be popular in his hat-trick bid but preference is for Super Sabre Sam, who was successful over C&D on his sole previous visit here and the trip (3m) was probably to blame for his below par display at Newbury last month. Marlacoo has barely put a foot wrong in his career to date and he has to be feared.