National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell

The National Spirit Hurdle, a Grade Two event over 2 1/2 miles at 16.40 CET this afternoon at Fontwell, has often enough been won by stars of the hurdling scene, but that will not be the case today as the field looks sub-standard. Clerks Choice (Oliver Sherwood/ Leighton Aspell) ran a good race to be 6th in last year´s Champion Hurdle and that form would certainly suffice to win this, but all his performances since then have been well below that level. We prefer Duc de Regniere (Tom Symonds/ Denis O´Regan) and The Knoxs (Paul Nicholls/ Daryl Jacob), both of whom receive 3 lbs. The latter has been chasing, while the former has been well beaten on his 2 starts for this trainer and spent most of his time with Nicky Henderson unavailingly chasing Big Bucks; however we think that this is the ideal race for him and is our selection.

The novice chase here at 15.35 is a very tricky race and all 5 runners could win. Trenchant (Bob Buckler/ Andrew Glassonbury) won nicely on his first race for his new trainer and was the best of these over hurdles. but the consistent Cucumber Run (Henderson/ David Bass) is a big danger despite his penalty. The Queen has fewer runners over jumps than her late mother, but she should take the hunter chase at 17.15 with Barber Shop (Henderson/ N. de Bainville); he was easily the best of these in younger days and came back from a long layoff to win easily at Fakenham 9 days ago.

The card at Towcester is very poor, but we expect John Ferguson and Jack Quinlan to win both divisions of the novice hurdle at 15.20 and 15.50 with Asaid and Creekside respectively. Both won well first time out over hurdles before failing in better company; back at this level they should win again. Tom George and Paddy Brennan enjoyed a highly successful day at Kempton yesterday and continue in the same vein with Nodebateaboutit in the handicap chase at 17.55. He seems nuch improved and can complete a hat-trick here, even though he meets Rebel Swing (Sue Smith/ Henry Oliver) on 11 lbs worse terms for a neck.

There is much better racing at Naas, although some of the fields are quite small by Irish standards. Seabass (Ted and Ruby Walsh) has been brilliantly handled to win his last 5 races, but we think he is up against it in the Grade Two chase at 17.05. Tranquil Sea (Edward O´Grady/ Barry Geraghty) is the class act here, but we also like Zaarito (Colm Murphy/ Davy Russell), who always goes well at this track. Ruby should in any case win the Grade Two novice hurdle at 16.25 on Willie Mullins´ Felix Yonger, while we hope German-bred Shot from the Hip (O`Grady/ Mark Walsh can get back on the winning trail at 15.55.

Fontwell - betting forecast:
1. Race: Madam Noso - Oscar Davy - Brough Academy
2. Race: Sir Du Bearn - Chariot Charger - Cucumber Run
3. Race: Rateable Value - Rigadin De Beauchene - Magot De Grugy
4. Race: The Knoxs - Third Intention - Bally Legend
5. Race: Barbers Shop - Hills Of Aran - Palypso De Creek
6. Race: Spirit D`Armor - Bold Adventure - Sircozy
7. Race: Utopian - Lombard Light - Two Oscars