4.30pm Fontwell Tips & Betting Preview 17/08/2017

A field of nine go to post for the final race of the afternoon at Fontwell on Thursday afternoon, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: After having excuses in the main this season for David Pipe, CHIC THEATRE can return to the winners enclosure in a very winnable race under Tom Scudamore. He won at Market Rasen in December off a three pound higher mark back in December and that race looked stronger than this, having excuses this season. Conditions are firmer today but he’ll handle those fine and he should take all the beating in a field where many of these find winning very difficult. The main danger is likely to be David Weston’s Solstalla, who is interesting now upped in trip.

1 BARATINEUR – Former Nicky Henderson recruit whose best form is at the two mile trip, signing off from that yard with two poor runs over this distance at both Market Rasen and Plumpton. He makes his stable debut here for Richard Hawker after being bought for only £8,000 and he makes limited appeal at this trip as his stamina is far from assured. Robert Hawker takes the ride and seven pounds off his back but others are preferred.

2 PROUTS PUB – Course and distance winner who’s had mixed results in handicaps for Nick Gifford, but he’s failed to build on a second here back in April, pulling up at Plumpton subsequently. He fell at the seventh on his latest start here over course and distance and more is needed here under seven pound claimer Miss Worsley. Possible each way claims at his best but that is far from guaranteed.

3 BOBBLE EMERALD – Four wins from twenty starts so he’s not shy of winning and this nine year old is now only a pound above his last winning mark. He returns from a 138 day break today which is a negative, but he can go well fresh and he will handle conditions. Richard Johnson is up first time with is another positive and there is no reason why he shouldn’t go well, so he is considered.

4 GUN SHY – Another course and distance winner for Deborah Faulkner who has been mainly over fences of late, but his stable debut for this yard didn’t go to plan as he was pulled up in a seller. He lost touch a fair way out and although he may be happier back into handicaps, he makes very limited appeal here and looks vulnerable. Conor Orr takes off seven pounds which is useful but others are readily preferred.

5 CHICH THEATRE – Lightly raced seven year old for David Pipe who is now three pounds below his last winning mark, which came in a tougher race than this at Market Rasen in December. He’s been poor in the main since, but this is very much winnable and Tom Scudamore takes the ride, which furthers his claims. Conditions will suit and his latest run was more encouraging, so preference is readily for him today.

6 SOLSTALLA – Five year old mare who has placed on her previous three runs for David Weston, last seen at Worcester where she stayed on well to snatch second late on over the two mile trip. She remains on the same mark and although her stamina isn’t assured, her previous efforts have suggested she will take to it well. Nico De Boinville retains the ride and with conditions fine, she’s another to consider.

7 MAGUIRE’S GLEN – Nine year old who won a chase out in Ireland for Elizabeth Doyle, but a rise in the weights was enough to see him well beaten on stable debut for Grace Harris at Ffos Las.He now returns to hurdling off the same mark as his chasing one and he looks up against it here under three pound claimer Conor Ring. Conditions are likely to be too lively as well today and others make more appeal.

8 GET HOME NOW – Tends to be hard to win with but he did return to the winner’s enclosure on his latest at Worcester for the in form Peter Bowen team. He kept on strongly under today’s ride to clear away late on and although he has an eight pound rise to contend with, if he runs like that again he’s got a very good chance here under a ten pound claimer who is improving at a rapid rate. Has to be respected with conditions to suit.

9 RAMORE WILL – Made a creditable stable debut for Chris Gordon on his latest start at Straftord, finishing third and although he was beaten a fair way, he should be happier back up in trip here under David Noonan. The hood goes on which gives him each way claims, but this is a trickier race than his latest start and he’s likely vulnerable for win purposes considering he’s still a maiden after ten goes.