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15:45 Fontwell Park

Totesport.com National Spirit Hurdle (grade 2) (Class 1)

  • 7 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 4f
  • Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
  • Surface: Turf
  • £60,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 4m 53.10s
  • Off Time: 15:45:18
  • 7 Ran
1
Silk - EMERALD GREEN and YELLOW (quartered), WHITE sleeves and cap
11/4
  • Form 7-1FF23
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-11
  • Official Rating 158

chased leaders, blundered 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out

2
Silk - Emerald Green and White (quartered), Orange and White halved sleeves, Orange cap, White star

Lough Derg (FR)

8 v DCD
5/2
  • Form 661142
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-11
  • Official Rating 163

led, ridden after 7th, narrowly headed approaching 2 out, rallied gamely, led last, stayed on well, ridden out

3
Silk - Maroon, light blue epaulets, light blue sleeves, maroon stars, quartered cap
11/1
  • Form 03/2421-
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-11
  • Official Rating 138

chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out

4
Silk - Emerald green, orange hoops, white cap
17/2
  • Form 53-2234
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-11
  • Official Rating 154

held up, headway after 3 out, close 4th when ridden next, kept on same pace

5
Silk - PINK and BLACK stripes, diabolo on sleeves
  • Form 2121-FF
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-7
  • Official Rating 148

held up, smooth headway after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, every chance last, kept on but no extra final 75 yards

7
Silk - Yellow, large Dark Green spots, Dark Green cap
  • Form 694562
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-3
  • Official Rating 148

tracked leader, ridden into narrow advantage approaching 2 out, headed last, kept on, no extra

8
Silk - BLACK, YELLOW disc, striped sleeves and cap

Just Beware

57 p C
200/1
  • Form 197374
  • Age 7
  • Weight 10-10
  • Official Rating 91

soon lost touch

6
NR
  • Form 2125-P4
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-3
  • Official Rating 95

Nonrunner

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

PIERROT LUNAIRE is the pick with Afsoun and Lough Derg the others to make the short list. Two falls do not make good reading at any level but this race actually represents a drop in grade for Paul Nicholls' charge and with effectiveness on this surface assured, he receives our vote. Afsoun has always been a couple of pounds below championship class. Ultimately he has become difficult to place and it may be the percentage call to oppose again. Lough Derg ran another stormer at Ascot. He runs that track about 10lb better than anywhere else but backers are sure to get another good run for their money here. Straw Bear has sensibly reverted to hurdling after a very modest chasing career. He has the capability of winning this provided that he has not become sour. Pouvoir returns from a long absence so the market needs to be watched. Hills Of Aran put up a career best to give Kasbah Bliss backers a momentary fright at Haydock last Saturday. Geography and Just Beware are outclassed. Pierrot Lunaire gets the nod.

Formwatch

Afsoun (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Tracked leading pair, ridden approaching 2 out, jumped left, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Celestial Halo (11-4) at Sandown 2m lst hdl (1) sft in Jan.

Lough Derg (FR) 17-2 (11-12) Led, ridden after 3 out, strongly pressed from next, narrowly headed flat, rallied gamely near finish, just held, 2nd of 14, hd behind Serabad (10-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) hvy.

Pouvoir (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, hit 5th, headway 2 out, soon challenged for 2nd going well, led approaching last, stayed on strongly flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Dec '07 beating Good Bye Simon (11-7) by 5l, 8 ran.

Straw Bear (USA) 9-1 (11-7) With leader, ridden and weakened before 2 out where slightly hampered, 4th of 7, 34l behind Harchibald (11-7) at Kempton 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Dec.

Pierrot Lunaire (USA) 5-1 (11-7) Slight lead, headed 3 out, weakened, left moderate 4th and hampered 2 out, no chance when fell at the last in race won by Harchibald (11-7) at Kempton 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Dec, 7 ran.

Hills Of Aran 25-1 (11-5) Led, clear approaching 3 out, headed after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Kasbah Bliss (11-13) at Haydock 3m 1f hdl Grd 2 (1) sft.

Just Beware 50-1 (9-7) Behind, effort after 3 out, ridden and beaten when hit 2 out, hung left before last, 4th of 8, 28l behind Aimigayle (10-6) at Kempton 3m mrs hcp hdl (2) gd in Dec.

Geography (IRE) 20-1 (9-13) Well in rear, stayed on from 3 out, nearest finish, 4th of 12, 9l behind Hello Moscow (11-3) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy.