Teesside Evening Gazette

Jonjo’s ful of hope that his charge Wil turn things around at Fontwell

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WILFUL let favourite backers down at Huntingdon earlier this month but is taken to recoup those losses in theBest Odds Guaranteed At Yeeehaaa.Bet Maiden Hurdle at Fontwell.

Jonjo O’Neill’s charge always looked to be struggling to cope with Lexie’s Moon recently but he did at least battle on gamely when going down by just three-quarters of a length, with that pair well clear of the rest.

The five-year-old had earlier beaten a consistent performer in Largy Force at Catterick before chasing home previous winner Wendigo at the same track.

All the evidence suggests Wilful is a solid individual capable of coming out on top in a race of this nature.

In D’Or flourished under more forceful tactics when romping home by 12 lengths at Ludlow last week and can follow up in the Daily Price Boosts At Yeeehaaa.Bet Handicap Hurdle.

Amateur rider David Maxwell will hopefully keep things simple again and a 7lb penalty for such a convincing victory is not a concern, especially as he would have an extra 5lb to carry on top of that on his reassessed mark.

David Pipe has been firing in a few winners of late and Royal Mer can help maintain the momentum in Wetherby’s Bulloughs Cleaning Services Handicap Chase.

The six-year-old has shown a liking for soft ground on a number of occasions and picked up his third success of the season when scoring comfortabl­y at Leicester earlier this month. Title-chasing Harry Cobden can make the trip up to Yorkshire worthwhile by landing the Full Circle Series Punchestow­n Festival Handicap Hurdle on Knowwhento­holdem.

He was in the saddle when the nine-year-old prevailed by eight lengths at Newbury for Anthony Charlton recently and retains the ride despite Neil Mulholland now

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taking over training duties. Imperial Alex ended a frustratin­g sequence of runner-up efforts in fine style when hacking up by a wide margin at Chepstow on heavy going and can go in again in the Vickers.Bet Handicap Chase.

On the all-weather at Southwell, King’s Fountain catches the eye in the Boost Your Acca At BetMGM Novice Stakes from the in-form Andrew Balding yard.

The son of Too Darn Hot made a promising racecourse debut when staying on to finish fourth at Sandown last September and there was just a feeling that a subsequent Newmarket sixth may have come too soon after that. Having been given a full winter break to strengthen up, this half-brother to four winners should now be well set to start showing his true worth.

Lough Leane goes for a five-timer in the first division of the Stay Golden With BetMGM Safer Gambling Handicap and another 5lb penalty may not be enough to stop him judged on a facile success at Wolverhamp­ton last time out.

 ?? ?? Jonjo O’Neill’s Wilful can recoup recent losses today
Jonjo O’Neill’s Wilful can recoup recent losses today
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 ?? ?? Royal Mer (right) on the way to victory in January – he goes at Wetherby today
Royal Mer (right) on the way to victory in January – he goes at Wetherby today

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