Racecards
16:00 Fontwell Park
John Smith's Novices' Chase (Class 3)
- 3 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f
- Going: Good to Firm (Good places)(Chase: Good, Good to Firm places)
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Form 6-232P1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
mostly jumped well, led 3rd, clear 11th, canter
- Form PP0-PPP
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N R Mitchell
- Jockey D Laverty
jumped right, took keen hold early, led until 3rd, chased winner, mistake 6th, lost 2nd after 10th, well beaten after
- Form 5F4P43
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss Tor Sturgis
- Jockey R Lucey-Butler
tracked leading pair, went 2nd after 10th, no chance from next
Verdict
This looks a potential walkover for GREENBRIDGE who is taken to see off his two rivals with little bother. Alan King's gelding is rated 132 following on from a win here last time. That was over slightly shorter but he shaped last time as if it would be no problem and is taken to extend his winning streak to two. He hasn't always looked the most willing but this is a good bit of placement and he can carry his penalty to victory. Any danger (apart from the fences) may come from Personal Column. Tor Sturgis' gelding has over 30 lengths to find on the selection on their last clash but at least this decent hurdler is unexposed over fences and is open to some improvement; with ¿1850 on offer for second place this looks like being a good day at the races regardless. Lethal Gun has failed to complete on 8 of his 9 starts including between the flags. He is unlikely to beat his starting price of 250/1 last time but he might as well be that price. A poor turnout but a good opportunity for Greenbridge to win again.
Formwatch
Greenbridge (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Made virtually all, jumped right and clear 4th, headed briefly 5 out, ridden 3 out, kept on gamely, flat, won at Fontwell 2m 4f beg chase (4) gd in Mar beating Just Amazing (11-0) by 1l, 8 ran.
Lethal Gun (IRE) 250-1 (10-12) Prominent, jumped slowly 6th, lost place 9th, mistake 11th, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Or Jaune (11-8) at Exeter 2m 3f nov stks (3) gd in Mar, 6 ran.
Personal Column 20-1 (10-10) Held up, stayed on from 3 out to take poor 3rd last, last of 3, 31l behind Greenbridge (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f beg chase (4) gd in Mar.