McFabulous will be lovin' it in Fontwell's National Spirit Hurdle

When Paul Nicholls brings runners to Fontwell it usually pays to take note, and Harry Cobden will be aiming to get the day off to a flying start on board ASHUTOR in the Enjoy Champagne Piaff Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (2:40).

Of course, it’s understandable that the Gary Moore-trained High Up In The Air demands favouritism in the hunt for five successive victories, but there is a certain risk attached.

With the ever-drying conditions, it looks like we’ll be seeing Good To Soft ground on Sunday, and the seven-year-old has only raced twice on ground firmer than soft. Once, when finishing a fifteen length second in a point-to-point on Good ground, and also when being tailed off on Good To Soft here in 2019.

Being a son of Famous Name, the drying conditions will be going against him and at 11/8 he looks opposable.

If you’re a forgiving type of person, then Anemoi may be worth giving another chance after being beaten fifty-two lengths at Newbury last time out. He clearly never travelled that day and could give a good account if taking to this step up in trip.

But, Paul Nicholls boasts an impressive 40% strike rate at the course over the last five years and it may be worth opting for his candidate ASHUTOR to land the spoils off top weight.

Follow Jack Dawling Racing on Twitter.

Having course figures of 213, this seven-year-old undoubtedly knows his way up the gruelling Fontwell straight and returns from a needed break after finishing an underwhelming third here in September. He’d had four runs in a month and a half and that showed as he looked a tired figure when last seen.

He runs well fresh and the drying ground shouldn’t be a worry so he looks the one to beat now stepped up in trip.

Selection: ASHUTOR 5/2

The feature of the day seems to revolve around the Ditcheat based trainer once again, as McFABULOUS aims to take one step closer to Aintree glory in the Loch Lomond Whiskies National Spirit Hurdle (3:10).

This son of Milan has been in red-hot form this season, notching up two wins from his three runs, and has only been beaten by the top-class Thyme Hill and Paisley Park in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.

Even in defeat that day, he put in a gallant run and perhaps made his challenge slightly early. Regardless, it was a creditable performance against the two stop stayers in Britain.

His reappearance win in the Persian War was very comprehensive and his triumph in the Relkeel Hurdle ahead of On The Blind Side was comfortable. Considering that this has been the plan since that day, he is definitely the one to beat.

Brewin’upastorm displayed a commanding win in a handicap at Taunton last month and deserves respect up in Grade, although I do worry that this will be too hot for Olly Murphy’s recruit.

So, it may be the Dan Skelton-trained Molly Ollys Wishes who chases home McFabulous who’s been having a very successful season.

Winning her last three appearances, this mare put in a career best to land Listed honours by fifteen lengths a fortnight ago and will indeed need another career best should she want to land the spoils here.

Selection: MCFABULOUS 5/4

Of the rest of the card, NORTHERN POET could be potential each way value in the Piaff The Champagne Of The Open Handicap Hurdle (4:10)

This son of Yeats is very versatile ground-wise and has been knocking on the door on his last two runs over obstacles, finishing a respectable second behind subsequent winner Thibault and third behind Zhiguli at Plumpton.

He’s raced over both 2m4f and 3m so this trip should be no issue, and may be potentially overlooked at 9/1.

Selection: NORTHERN POET 9/1 EW