2.45pm Fontwell Tips & Betting Preview 19/10/2016

Ten runners have been declared for an interesting Class 3 handicap hurdle over about 2m5f on Wednesday’s Fontwell card. Read our full race preview for our experts’ betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: Catherines Well will be a tough nut to crack if she picks up where she left off last December and there could also be more to come this season from the other mare, Yes I Did. However, at the prices, it’s worth giving another chance to WESTERN MILLER, who was probably a shade unlucky not to make a winning handicap debut in March and has been given a break since two lesser efforts in the spring. After four starts in novice company, Hawkhurst has repaid only £879 of the £200,000 he cost after his impressive Irish point debut in late 2014 and, although he remains in excellent hands, he still has quite a bit to prove. Turban, a smart chaser when with Willie Mullins, is tricky to weigh up on his debut for Paul Henderson but has been dropped to a tempting hurdle mark and any market support will need to be taken very seriously.

1 Billy No Name – Probably found 2m too sharp when tailed off in the Sussex Champion Hurdle in March and ought to find this race easier, but was hiked up 11lb for his heavy-ground win there (2m4f) two starts ago and needs to produce a new career-best performance on today’s seasonal debut.

2 Turban – Smart over fences when in the care of Willie Mullins; has changed hands since heavy defeat at the Punchestown festival in April and it’s not easy to predict how he’ll fare now back over hurdles on first outing for nearly six months, but he’s certainly been given a chance by the handicapper in this sphere.

3 Yes I Did – Won three times in novice company last season (2m-3m1f); can sometimes harm her chance by refusing to settle and it was disappointing she couldn’t make more of a splash in a couple of Listed events in the spring, but she remains one to be interested in; makes handicap debut today.

4 Board Of Trade – Didn’t need to be at his best to win a run-of-the-mill Huntingdon maiden (2m4f, good to soft) in February, his fourth start over hurdles, and his finishing effort back there in April was disappointing; subsequent break might have done him good but he’ll certainly need to up his game to strike in this grade of handicap.

5 Hawkhurst – Lightly raced 6yo who changed hands for £200,000 soon after impressive Irish point debut in December 2014 but was a beaten favourite in three of four subsequent novice/maiden hurdles; in good hands and it would be reckless to write him off at this stage, but he took a heavy fall on latest outing in March and comes with risks attached.

6 Chartbreaker – Displayed improvement to Kempton novice hurdle (2m5f, good) for Paul Nicholls in March but was offloaded after never-dangerous third over that C&D on handicap debut the following month; will need to better that performance here but ran a big race for his new trainer on the Flat when last seen in July; cheekpieces refitted.

7 Catherines Well – Looked progressive towards the end of 2015 and was eased down to score by 12l at Doncaster (2m3f, good to soft) in December, her second handicap; not seen since then and now 9lb higher but fitness is unlikely to be in issue and there’s every chance she has more to offer.

8 Parish Business – Last season’s switch to chasing didn’t go to plan and he was soundly beaten when reverting to hurdles for last two starts, the more recent with cheekpieces tried (now removed) in July; well handicapped now but has a huge amount to prove.

9 Western Miller – Still lightly raced and would probably have made a winning handicap debut at Newton Abbot (2m5f, soft) in March had he not blundered at the final flight; disappointing on both subsequent outings but been given a break and can’t be ruled out.

10 Letemgo – Lost his way when in the care of Giles Smyly last season and changed hands after pulling up in a chase in May; dropped out rather tamely when returning to action over 3m1f here last month and, although he may come good for Chris Gordon at some stage, he’s too risky at present.

myracing Forecast Prices: 4/1 Hawkhurst, Catherines Well, 9/2 Yes I Did, 7/1 Board Of Trade, 8/1 Billy No Name, Chartbreaker, 10/1 Turban, Western Miller, 16/1 Parish Business, 25/1 Letmego