Race type - Jump
Fontwell
Course details
GUIDE - For Racecourse
Left-handed, flattened oval circuit of 1m4f.
Set in the Sussex countryside, Fontwell has been in existence since 1924 and is unique amongst National Hunt tracks on account of it's figure-of-eight chase course, which is located inside the hurdles track. Racing tends to be low quality but is nearly always competitive and attracts race-goers in their droves, with the course regularly being voted the "Best Small Racecourse in the South East".
Principal Races
Top billing goes to the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle, which is run in late February and is named after the champion hurdler who won five times here. It is sometimes used as a stepping stone to the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, although more often than not it's contested by hurdlers just below top class, with Celestial Halo successful in 2011. The now-retired Lough Derg won back-to-back runnings (2008-2009) and his never-say-die attitude won him quite a following. The course also stages the valuable Southern National Handicap Chase in November; won in 2011 by Giles Cross.
Course Characteristics
The hurdles track is about 1m4f round and is quite sharp in nature, which favours the more the light-framed, speedier types and front runners have a decent record, as you'd expect. On the chase course, horses are nearly always on the turn so long-striding gallopers are inconvenienced and horses that run well here do so again and again - look out for the adage 'C&D' next to a horses name as this signifies a course and distance winner. The ground can get very heavy and testing in the depths of winter, placing more of an emphasis on stamina.
Top Trainers
Gary Moore is the trainer the bookmakers respect most with his 56 winners coming at a strike rate of 20%. Champion trainer Paul Nicholls tends to run his lesser lights here but they are often still good enough and his strike rate of 33% (31 winners / 94 runners) is second to none. Brendan Powell operates on a much smaller scale but is frequently amongst the winners here and his jockey son (Brendan Powell jnr.) is good value for his claim. Alan King is another trainer to note, as is Tim Vaughan, especially during the summer months and with Richard Johnson booked to ride.
Top Jockeys
Jamie Moore, often riding for his father Gary, leads the way over the past five seasons with 45 winners, with his aggressive style of riding well suited to the track's configuration. Tony McCoy is not far behind with 40 winners and his strike rate (28%) makes him a jockey worth following. Richard Johnson, Robert Thornton and Leighton Aspell have also enjoyed their fair share of success here and the latter has been particularly profitable to follow with a £1 on all his rides yielding a handsome £30+ profit.