Racecards
15:56 Fontwell Park
Happy Birthday Les Gilbert Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f 165y
- Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £13,400 added
- Winner: £6,535
- 2nd: £3,011
- 3rd: £1,505
- 4th: £754
- Form 227223
- Age 7
- Weight 12-4
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey Charlie Hammond
made all, ridden and 1 length ahead at the last, stayed on gamely run-in
- Form 56-4F22
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer A J Honeyball
- Jockey Ben Godfrey
chased leading pair until lost place before 4th, struggling in 4th before 4 out, rallied into 3rd next, no impression when weakened into 4th before the last
- Form 44-P386
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 100
chased leaders out wide until lost place and behind 3rd, lost touch 6th, continued tailed off
- Form 323132
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey Sean Houlihan
held up in 5th, hit 3rd, closer in 3rd 7th, went 2nd next, 1 length down and ridden last, stayed on run-in, always held
- Form 52552P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer T R Gretton
- Jockey James Best
chased moderately, chased winner, went left 6th, hit 8th and lost 2nd, chased leading pair, blundered badly and lost 3rd 3 out, went modest 3rd again before the last
Verdict
ROSE SEA HAS has won just once in 17 starts over fences but has been very consistent at this level and deserves to get his head back in front. Le Coeur Net has gradually been running into form and last month's second at Plumpton was his best run for some time. En Coeur landed a Plumpton handicap in January but a 6lb rise has halted his progress in two runs on this track. Lincoln Lyn has shown glimpses of ability over hurdles and makes her chasing debut on a very low mark as does winning point-to-pointer Happy Larry, who has shown nothing to date over timber.
Formwatch
Rose Sea Has (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Led, not fluent 5th, ridden and headed after 2 out, 3rd and held last, 3rd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Yggdrasil (11-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Le Coeur Net (FR) 14-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders out wide, went 2nd before 8th, ridden and held when mistake 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Minella Hub (12-2) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Happy Larry (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Raced wide, chased leader, every chance 3 out, losing place when not much room approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 15l behind Pillar Of Steel (11-2) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
En Coeur (FR) 9-2 (10-2) Mistake and rider lost iron briefly 1st, close 3rd, went 2nd 4th, slight peck 6th, pushed along and lost 2nd approaching 3 out, went 2nd again run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 3 3/4l behind Black Gerry (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Lincoln Lyn 13-2 (11-0) Rear mid-division, pushed along and headway after 4 out, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (5) sft in Feb.