Fontwell, Wednesday 6 May 2026 — Good Going
A midweek six-race card at Fontwell on good ground. The going suits horses with a bit of class and tactical speed, and the three races below give us genuine angles to work with. Jonjo O'Neill's yard is firing blanks over the past fortnight (0/18), so anything they run deserves an extra squint before backing.
6:12 — Mercedes-Benz Of Chichester Novices' Hurdle (2m1½f)
Selection: La Cadalora (15/8, Bet365/William Hill/Coral)
Harry Fry's yard is quiet at the moment (0/3 last 14 days) but the formbook is telling enough on this one to overlook the trainer stats. La Cadalora was a fair stayer on the Flat for James Fanshawe and her move to Fry looks like a deliberate targeting operation. She went to Wincanton in a new headgear combination, won comfortably at 1m7f on good ground, and the form sets up neatly for this. The distance steps up slightly, the going matches, and she has already shown she travels well fresh in her new environment.
Flash Man is the obvious market rival at 2/1 and there is no question he is talented. Tom Cannon rides and the Plumpton win was genuine. But he carries a penalty here and La Cadalora, having run just twice over hurdles and returned a win, arguably has more upside. At 15/8 with the selection carrying less weight and no penalty, the value is on the mare. Short-priced, but she looks the right favourite to be.
5:42 — KSR Lighting Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (2m5½f)
Selection: Washington Singer (9/4, Bet365/William Hill)
Chris Gordon has had two winners from nine runners over the past fortnight, which is a perfectly respectable strike rate at this level. Washington Singer arrives here off the back of a narrow win at Plumpton (2m4f, good) where cheekpieces were fitted for the first time and he looked a transformed horse. The handicapper has only nudged him up 3lb for that victory, which at this level is a gift.
The longer trip of 2m5½f at Fontwell should suit a horse that was staying on strongly over 2m4f. Dylan Johnston, who rode him at Plumpton, keeps the ride. Horses that have looked awkward and then found a gear with headgear are always worth following before the handicapper catches up. He hasn't yet.
Jamaicaine is a threat at the same price but she is 10lb higher than her last win and that hat-trick of victories came in softer conditions. Good ground and an extra couple of furlongs tips it Washington Singer's way.
6:42 — KSR Lighting Handicap Chase (3m2f)
Selection: Land Girl's Luck Each-Way (11/2, Bet365/William Hill)
Max Comley's seven-year-old mare is a three-time hurdle winner taking to fences and her chase debut at Exeter told a decent story. She finished fourth of ten, the 2m3f trip was on the sharp side for her, and today's 3m2f is a completely different proposition. Horses that have done their winning over hurdles at staying trips regularly make up into genuine chasers when given the right opportunity, and this looks it.
The field has significant flaws throughout. Boys Of Wexford (9/2) is the market leader off the back of a win at Taunton, but he went up 6lb and his record of failing to back up good runs is well documented. Anytrixwilldo (13/2) is 1-14 as a chaser and the O'Neill yard is stone cold at present. Gata Ban has some ability but has been running flat in a string of runs.
Land Girl's Luck gets a conditional jockey allowance through Freddie Mitchell, stays well, and the extra distance here plays to her strengths. At 11/2 each-way in an 11-runner handicap chase, the each-way returns make her compelling.
Today's NAP
Odds: 9/4 — Bet365 (others: 9/4 William Hill, 4/1 Betfair Exchange)
The cheekpieces transformed him at Plumpton on good ground and the handicapper has been lenient with a 3lb rise. Chris Gordon's yard is in form, Dylan Johnston keeps the ride, and the step up to 2m5½f at Fontwell suits a horse that was finishing strongest late over 2m4f. This is the horse most likely to follow up before the assessor catches up properly.