rebelfm

FONTWELL PARK
11TH APRIL 2013
Soft dead ground after heavy overnight rain
Not too cold and overcast little wind

SERIOUS MIXTURE (pos)
SM led for much of the race and hurdled really well in this two and a half miles novice hurdle but never really stretched the field and was a bit of a sitting duck  when picked off approaching the last by the very experienced in this sphere hot favourite Seebright. SM was reported as having finished tired and in truth the going was very difficult to get through today.  On balance though I think SM stays this trip fine but I would like to see him pushing on at a faster pace next time out as has the ability to pick up a reasonable novice event. Good strong looking ex Irish pointer who I think will be OK over fences in due course but in the meantime can win over hurdles based on this effort.

HOWARDS LEGACY (needs good ground so remains a pos)
This looked a good novice chase with the Paul Nicholls’ horse Bucks Bond, a dual chase winner on tight tracks Camden as well as HL pitting wits. It developed into a right slog going home between C and BB with the latter just prevailing. HL was one I had liked a lot when he won a good novice at Leicester. Having seen him run two times before this run I had formed the opinion that this is a difficult horse to ride as has his quirks. But today his jumping was very poor jumping with little confidence and although never looking like he was going to fall he was losing so much ground at each fence that  Aidan Coleman had little choice but to pull him up rather than risk injury. Whilst he has ability and you have to be wary that he could slot in sometime, I would have left him alone because this was a step back from his excellent Leicester grade 3 win. However as I noted in my Leicester and Cheltenham spiel  this horse needs good ground, a strong jockey and 3 miles. This sapping ground was all against him and he is still worth perservering with in the summer.

BELLOSGUARDO (worth a look so a slight pos)
This was not a bad race for a grade 5 16f handicap hurdle with the rapidly improving Goochypoochyprader skipping clear from the turn into the straight to win with style and clearly this 6yo is a step ahead of the handicapper being at the top of his form. She beat off several combatants and it was the staying on Bellosguardo who stood out as the most likely future winner given continues off a 94 mark in this grade. He finished in good shape and is clearly fitter now from his exertions at Chepstow. I think he looks like he will be better on good or faster ground ov er perhaps two and a half miles trip.

SEVEN NATION ARMY (pos)
Super looking grey gelding who came to GB after a useful Naas bumper third. Made all in htis bumper and quickly put them to the sword 2 furlongs out. He looks a very good hurdler in the making and can win bumpers off a penalty.

JOLLYS CRACKED IT (pos)
Well bred being a half brother to the very high class Crack Away Jack. Built on his first run fourth today with a very encouraging runner up to such a high quality bumper winner. He quickened fine but was eased a bit when it was clear Seven Nation Army had the race won.