Fontwell (03 Sept 2006) Olswang Stable Staff Competition Handicap Chase

Prize money: £4,554 to winner for 4yo plus 2m 6f.

 Winning time [5m 28.70secs]

 1 BALLADEER (IRE) 8 11-5 Mr J E Tudor (7)

Mrs T J Hill SP: 11/4 f SFR: 117

b g King's Theatre - Carousel Music (On Your Mark) bred by Scott Hardy Partnership

chased leaders, led after 12th, ridden and headed after next, rallied gamely, led and blundered last, driven out

2 RIVER BAILIFF (IRE) 10 9-13(4 ow) Mr P York (7)

6 T D McCarthy SP: 15/2 SFR: 92

ch g Over The River - Rath Caola (Neltino) bred by Peter Dundon

held up, headway 11th, led after 13th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, no extra

3 THE NEWSMAN (IRE) 14 11-4 M A Fitzgerald

dist G Wareham SP: 9/1 SFR:

b g Homo Sapien - Miller Fall's (Stubbs Gazette) bred by Miss Maeve Chadwick

prominent until 10th, gradually lost touch, went moderate 3rd close home

4 WATCH THE DOVE 9 10-10 J Tizzard

hd C L Tizzard Extras: CP SP: 6/1 SFR:

b g Afzal - Spot The Dove (Riberetto) bred by Ryan John Price

led until 4th, stayed prominent, mistake 12th, weakened next

5 LAKE MERCED (IRE) 6 10-12 S Durack

dist Jonjo O'Neill Extras: BL SP: 8/1 SFR:

b g Charente River - Mitsubishi Art (Cure The Blues) bred by Aidan Sexton

tracked leaders, led 4th, hit 6th, mistake and headed 12th, weakening when blundered 3 out, virtually pulled up flat

UR GOLDBROOK 8 11-11 J E Moore

R J Hodges SP: 7/2 SFR:

b g Alderbrook - Miss Marigold (Norwick) bred by G Norman

held up, took closer order 7th, ridden after 11th, in touch when blundered and unseated rider 12th

PU ICY PROSPECT (IRE) 8 11-8 James Davies

D G Bridgwater SP: 6/1 SFR:

ch g Glacial Storm - Prospect Lady (Boreen) bred by Thomas Earney

never fluent, hit 2nd, lost touch 4th, pulled up before 7th

 7 ran

Non runners:KAPPELHOFF; LEOPOLD

 SP total percentage: 110.34

Winning owner: Ultima Business Solutions

TOTES: Win: £3.30; Places: £2.00, £3.30; EX: £28.30; CSF: £21.25; Tricast: £150.53

FONTWELL (05 May 2006)

Good

7:10 bgc Handicap Chase (class 4) (5yo+,0-115)

[off 7:10] £4,554.20, £1,337.00, £668.50, £333.90 16 fences 2m6f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Kosmos Bleu (FR) R H Alner 8 11-11 7 Andrew Thornton 7/4F 113 122 128+

2 11 Balladeer (IRE) Mrs T J Hill 8 11-4 Mr J E Tudor(7) 7/1 113 112 113

3 4 Eau Pure (FR) G L Moore 9 10-6 tb Jamie Moore 9/2 94 91 91+

4 8 Neltina Mrs J E Scrase 10 11-12 Leighton Aspell 8/1 114 102 102

PU Sento (IRE) A King 8 11-11 Robert Thornton 3/1 113 — —

PU El Viejo (IRE) L Wells 9 10-5 b Justin Morgan(7) 16/1 100 — —

6 ran TIME 5m 28.00s (slow by 5.00s) TOTAL SP 109%

1st OWNER: P M De Wilde BRED: Georges Lacombe TRAINER: R H Alner

2nd OWNER: Ultima Business Solutions

3rd OWNER: Trevor Painting

TOTE WIN £2.50 PL £2.00, £2.40; Ex £16.50; CSF £13.07

ANALYSIS: Another impressive winner as KOSMOS BLEU continued his rehabilitation, having lost confidence in a fall last season. He defied his 7lb penalty with any amount in hand, cruising into the lead and not having to be asked a serious question before being eased in the last 150 yards after only possible danger Eau Pure, who had been under strong pressure in closing hit the second last as she started to weaken.

The handicapper is not going to take kindly to this quickfire double, which will take Kosmos Bleu into a higher grade, but he looks on the upgrade after the hiccup in his confidence and a sound surface certainly looks to suit.

Balladeer enjoys this ground and course and consequently ran a better race. He was strongly ridden before the home turn and basically nicked a distant second after Eau Pure weakened and the handicapper has yet to cut him any slack.

Neltina remains disappointing as she shows glimpses of form in decent races but she was easily shaken off on the last circuitafter setting out to make all.

Sento could not build on his promising comeback run here last month, going on to the 'bounce factor' list.

El Viejo did not look happy from an early stage.

FONTWELL (11 Apr 2006)

Good

2:30 Peters plc Novices' Chase (class 3) (5yo+)

[off 2:30] £7,828.75, £2,312.50, £1,156.25, £578.75, £288.75, £145.00 13 fences 2m2f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 The Local C R Egerton 6 11-5 A P McCoy 4/1 120 — —

2 nk Lord On The Run (IRE) J W Mullins 7 10-12 W McCarthy(7) 6/4F 117 — —

3 1 Lewis Island (IRE) G L Moore 7 11-9 J E Moore 13/2 117 — —

4 5 Balladeer (IRE) Mrs T J Hill 8 11-5 A Thornton 14/1 113 — —

5 ½ Matthew Muroto (IRE) R H Alner 7 11-0 D Jacob(5) 9/2 109 — —

6 20 Lord Gunnerslake (IRE) Miss C J E Caroe 6 10-13 A C Coyle 50/1 90 — —

7 26 Kilindini Miss E C Lavelle 5 10-10 B Fenton 7/1 — —

7 ran TIME 4m 27.20s (slow by 7.20s) TOTAL SP 112%

1st OWNER: Barry Marsden BRED: Chippenham Lodge Stud And Rathbarry Stud TRAINER: C R Egerton

2nd OWNER: Mrs Alurie O'Sullivan

3rd OWNER: Ashley Carr

TOTE WIN £3.50 PL £2.50, £1.40; Ex £10.30; CSF £10.64

ANALYSIS: No wish to denigrate a great ride from Tony McCoy but he was helped by having two horses who know how to lose, chasing him up the run-in.

Not that THE LOCAL is a paragon of virtue, despite having seven career wins now. He is quick enough to sulk if taken on for the lead, but he got his way here under a most positive ride. He was often ten lengths clear but was also careful over some of his fences and he looked like being swamped into the straight being under strong pressure as his two rivals stalked him at a couple of lengths remove.

Lord On The Run had broken his duck under a positive ride after some near misses, but he gave best up front and could not quite get past his motivated rival. While on official ratings he has run a shade above himself, he leaves the impression that he is best when dictating, and a return to those tactics can bring further reward.

He is certainly turning out to be a better chaser than hurdler, as his physique suggested.

Lewis Island needed revving up atthe start, showing his usual tendencies of thinking about it. He slipped on landing over the first which was not his fault and thereafter he took a good grip and looked ready to strike, along with the runner-up in the straight.

He went left towards his rivals on the run-in but again has run to within a few pounds of his rating.

Balladeer and Matthew Muroto could never land a blow but plodded on.

The former was staying on best, befitting a horse with winning form over further and the ground is coming his way.

FONTWELL (17 Jan 2006)

Soft

3:40 Clinically Proven Cortaflex Handicap Chase (class 3) (5yo+,0-125)

[off 3:40] £7,605.60, £2,246.40, £1,123.20, £561.60, £280.80 15 fences 2m4f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Walcot Lad (IRE) A Ennis 10 9-11 2p R Stephens(3) 4/1 94 88 100+

2 2½ Pietro Vannucci (IRE) Jonjo O´Neill 10 11-2 R Johnson 9/2 110 101 115+

3 nk Balladeer (IRE) Mrs T J Hill 8 11-7 R Thornton 5/1 115 106 118+

4 dist Avitta (IRE) Miss Venetia Williams 7 11-7 S Thomas 6/1 115 — 93

5 17 Macmar (FR) R H Alner 6 11-3 v1 A Thornton 7/2F 111 — —

6 dist Translucid (USA) C Von Der Recke 8 11-12 M A Fitzgerald 15/2 120 — —

UR East Lawyer (FR) P F Nicholls 7 11-2 Christian Williams 8/1 110 — —

7 ran TIME 5m 33.80s (slow by 45.80s) TOTAL SP 114%

1st OWNER: Camis Burke Middleton Heaps BRED: Jim Ruane TRAINER: A Ennis

2nd OWNER: John P McManus

3rd OWNER: Ultima Business Solutions

TOTE WIN £6.10 PL £1.60, £3.90; Ex £35.50; CSF £22.40

ANALYSIS: A fair event for the money and run at a reasonable gallop for the conditions. From 2lb out of the handicap, WALCOT LAD, a standing dish here over 21/4m, won for the first time over two and a half - his fifth victory in total at the track and sixth inall - outstaying his rivals to record his a second victory of the season. Having dropped to a mark that gives him a chance, it will hopefully be exploited, albeit at a modest level.

Pietro Vannucci was always up with the pace and ran creditably. He was not foot-perfect at a couple and was out-jumped at the last, though was looking held at the time. These days, this is perhaps as good as he is, though he would be better off on a sounder surface.

Balladeer held every chance and inched closer towards the finish, suggesting he might have appreciated further in this ground.