Fontwell, Sunday 24 May: Tips and Analysis

Fontwell, Sunday 24 May: Tips and Analysis

A seven-race Sunday card at Fontwell on good to soft ground, with sunny conditions keeping it from deteriorating further. Three races stand out on this card and there are some genuine angles worth chasing, including a handicap chase where the form book points clearly at one runner who got mugged last time. The Epsom Derby is less than two weeks away if you need something to look forward to mid-week, but for now, Fontwell deserves your attention.

2:00 — KSR Lighting Novices’ Hurdle (2m3f)

This is a two-horse race on paper, and the market has it right for once. Flash Man at 4/5 (Boyle Sports, Betfred) and Handmedownastar at 5/4 (Boyle Sports, Betfred) dominate, and both have solid recent form in this grade.

Flash Man is my selection. Toby Lawes has him in sharp form, winning at Plumpton last month and then running at least as well when second under a penalty here over 2m1f just 18 days ago. He steps up slightly in trip today, which looks like a positive rather than a concern. He already won on the Flat in France, suggesting he handles a variety of conditions, and this good to soft surface is perfectly adequate. He is the leading contender by some margin and the 4/5 available with Boyle Sports and Betfred reflects his superiority.

Handmedownastar offers some interest at the bigger price. The Irish point winner has placed in each of his two hurdle starts including a clear second at Newton Abbot over the same trip on good to soft last month, so he handles the ground. He could make this competitive, but Flash Man’s course experience from less than three weeks ago tips the balance.

Selection: Flash Man, 4/5 (Boyle Sports / Betfred)

3:10 — Sun Racing Summer Jumps Championship Handicap Chase (3m2f)

The standout race of the card, and the form angle here is crystal clear.

Gata Ban Each-Way at 5/2 (Boyle Sports / Betfred) is the pick. This nine-year-old mare ran a career-defining race over the same course and distance just 18 days ago, looking like the winner until collared on the run-in. She beat Friends Don’t Ask that day, and Friends Don’t Ask reappears here too. Crucially, she is back off the same mark having been denied a deserved victory through no fault of her own. Neil Mulholland’s yard has sent out two winners from 19 runners in the past 14 days, which is not a yard flying but suggests enough activity to keep the string ticking over.

The 5/2 is fair value given she has course form, was arguably unlucky last time, and goes again quickly which suggests connections are confident she has come out of that run well.

Prince Cleni at 2/1 (Boyle Sports) is the one who complicates things. Gavin Sheehan takes the ride and the Spotlight notes he went close in the 2024 edition of this very race. Christian Williams has sent out one winner from 10 runners recently. He finished second at Fakenham over 3m5f last month after an incident-packed season, and the step back to Fontwell where he has previous form makes him a serious contender. But at shorter odds than Gata Ban, the value sits with the mare.

Jack’s Jury makes his quick reappearance after an early mishap on Wednesday and the stable has a good record of bouncing horses back quickly, but he has stamina to prove over 3m2f on just his second chase start.

Selection: Gata Ban, 5/2 (Boyle Sports / Betfred)

3:45 — Mercedes-Benz Of Chichester Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (2m5½f)

A small five-runner field but a genuinely open race. Miss Goldfire is the obvious form pick having won over course and distance earlier this month, but the 5lb rise brings her into range of rivals who were not running at their best that day.

Miss Goldfire at 2/1 (Boyle Sports / Betfred) remains my selection. Harry Fry has had one winner from three runners in the past 14 days, a decent strike rate for a smaller operation at this time of year. The C&D win this month under Ciaran O’Shea, who retains the ride, was a proper performance and she is now 3-15 over hurdles with a record that shows she can string good runs together when the conditions suit. The 5lb rise is fair and still leaves her competitive at this level. Good to soft suits.

Shutfrontdoor at 9/4 (Boyle Sports / Betfred) is the danger. She was placed on three of her four hurdle starts and ran third here just ten days ago, moving up in trip today which could unlock extra improvement. Gary and Josh Moore have sent out zero winners from 21 runners in the past 14 days, which is a significant cold spell that cannot be ignored. Horses from this yard deserve watching closely until that form turns around.

Smugglers Haven has not run since a first-fence fall in December, and while her Cheltenham chase win last autumn was a career-best, the question marks around her fitness and the trip drop make her a risk at 11/4.

Selection: Miss Goldfire, 2/1 (Boyle Sports / Betfred)

Today’s NAP