Mulholland and Murphy look for Sunday success at Fontwell Park

Fontwell Park stages a competitive seven-race card on Sunday.
Neil Mulholland has a fine Fontwell record / Picture: GettyNeil Mulholland has a fine Fontwell record / Picture: Getty
Neil Mulholland has a fine Fontwell record / Picture: Getty

The feature contest of the day is the £10,500 Handicap Hurdle (1.40pm). Vancouver was successful on his latest start for Neil Mulholland and looks capable of further progress as he steps up in trip. Pagero is chasing a four-timer having returned from a break with a narrow victory at Newton Abbot on his latest start. 19lb higher in the handicap than when his winning run began, his trainer Jonjo O’Neill is a dab hand at eking out more improvement from his runners and is therefore of major interest.

Olly Murphy’s yard are just starting to fire with the stable enjoying a 22% strike-rate in the last fortnight. Presence Of Mind is unbeaten in his last two starts and looked a nice prospect when scoring at Catterick last time. He will have to step up again on his first foray into handicap company, but remains of interest.

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Esprit De Baileys disappointed on his latest start at Uttoxeter when only fifth and looks ready for this step up in trip, whilst Empreinte Reconce represents Colin Tizzard and JP McManus and should improve from his second at Stratford last month.

Innocent Touch needs to return to winning ways, but has some smart form in his back catalogue. He has been well-beaten on two starts this term, however Richard Johnson is an eye-catching jockey booking.

The £8,035 Novices’ Handicap Chase (3.50pm) is another competitive event. Easyrun Dae Vassy ran out a smart winner over course and distance last month for Paul Nicholls and targets further riches here. Despite a 5lb rise in the weights, a reproduction of that effort could make him tough to beat.

Buster Edwards makes his debut over fences as he returns to action for David Pipe. A smart hurdler, he could develop into a nice prospect over the larger obstacles this term. Others to mention include the unexposed Pontresina, recent Uttoxeter winner Schnabel and £48,000 buy Top Up The Fashion who is one to note on chasing debut.

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The £7,273 Juvenile Hurdle (2.45pm) is another interesting event in which local trainer Gary Moore, who enjoyed a treble at Fontwell’s last meeting, saddles Big Jimbo. The three-year-old ran a race full of promise behind the exciting Hiconic at Bangor on his hurdling and should improve a bundle for that effort.

However, Topkapi Star is a lovely prospect as shown by his smooth win on hurdling debut at Uttoxeter in August. Trained by Amy Murphy, the Newmarket handler has her team in sensational form and is operating at 21% strike-rate in the last two weeks.

Another fascinating runner in Orchestral Rain who has his first run for Dr Richard Newland since moving to the yard from Ireland in what looks a race well worth keeping an eye on. Similarly, David Pipe saddles newcomer Highlander Madrik who had some smart form in France and is of interest here.

Gary Moore also has an interesting runner in the opener as Quloob bids to defy a penalty for his recent win at the track. He takes on top-weight Courtandbould who remains a lovely prospect for Fergal O’Brien despite being beaten last term, whilst Britain’s champion trainer Paul Nicholls saddles Bob Pebble who fell at the first hurdle at Newton Abbot but remains open to plenty of improvement.

Fontwell Sunday Selections

1.10pm Quloob

1.40pm Pagero

2.10pm Joly Maker

2.45pm Topkapi Star

3.20pm Frau Georgia

3.50pm Easyrun De Vassy

4.20pm Grizzman

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