FIFTH RACE 3.50

The Skomal Memorial

HANDICAP HURDLE

The Bowen Family

RACE (CLASS 4)

for four yrs old and upwards, x Total prize fund

£10000

Owners Prize Money. 1st £4039, 2nd £2019, 3rd £1010, 4th £505, 5th £252. (Penalty Value £5281) Weights raised 2lb and paragraph 34 of the Weights and Handicapping Code complied with where applicable

Leading course trainer (17-22): F O’Brien (33 wins from 112 runners, 29%) runs ARMCHAIR FARMER

Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): D Skelton (7 wins from 47 runners, 15%) runs GRILLON DE MONTY colours no horse age st-lb

Longest Traveller: THE QUESTIONER trained by O Greenall & J Guerriero, Malpas, 144 miles.

1 JUDICIAL LAW (IRE) (37) 1513-04

6 12-0

Br B g Fame And Glory - Miss Overdrive Jonjo O’Neill Jr J

O Mrs Gay Smith Jonjo O’Neill, Cheltenham T

B Michael Tobin Ashford Stud, Wasdell Group, Ashford Stud S

TIMEFORM VIEW Has presumably met with problems since doing so well last season (3 wins), seemingly needing the run after another 6 months off at Exeter recently Eased 3lb and not dismissed upped in trip TFRHHHHI BHA118

2 ARMCHAIR FARMER (IRE) (30) 321212 CD BF 7 11-12

Br B g Brian Boru - Cobajay Lady (IRE) Jack Hogan (5) J

O P J King & Son Fergal O’Brien, Cheltenham T

B Barry Murphy Barncastle Holiday Let S

TIMEFORM VIEW Resumed his progress back from 3 months off when winning 8-runner handicap hurdle at Exeter (23.1f, good to soft) last month, clear from halfway andeasedabout4lengthslateon.FoldedtamelyatDoncaster7dayslaterbutpossiblyfoundtheracecomingtoosoon.Worthanotherchance. TFRHHHHI BHA116

3 ERNEST GRAY (IRE) (23) 0-4541P

6 11-10

Br B g Walk In The Park (IRE) - Emily Gray (IRE) Tom Cannon J

O Mr Andy Peake Alan King, Barbury Castle T

B Suroben Ltd Goodwin Racing Ltd S

TIMEFORMVIEWUsefuldualbumperwinnerwhoappearedtoimproveforthestepupto24.4f/switchtohandicapcompanywhenlanding a 4-runner contest at Doncaster (24.4f) in March. Pulled up back on softer ground at Newbury since, though. TFRHHHII BHA114

4 GODREVY POINT (FR) (44) 213-F55

7 11-10

Br B g Coastal Path - Quetzalya (FR) David Bass J

O Syders & Burkes Richard Bandey, Kingsclere T

B Mr Christophe Doudeau Tote S

TIMEFORM VIEW Runner-up twice before getting off the mark in a 25f Hereford maiden hurdle last February Disappointing over fences this season but no forlorn hope now returning to hurdles. TFRHHHII BHA114

5 LET’S HAVE ANOTHER (IRE) (30) 1-510P4

7 11-8

Br B g Fame And Glory - Rocella Lady (IRE) Bradley Roberts (7) J

O The Fox and Duck syndicate Clare Hobson, Royston T

B Mr D. Delaney Clare Hobson Racing S

TIMEFORM VIEW Lightly raced 7-y-o who gained second success in small-field Market Rasen novice (20.6f) in October However, ran a moody race sent chasing at Uttoxeternexttimeandhasn’tbeenbackathisbestbackoverhurdlessince.FirstrunforyardafterleavingOllyMurphy.Cheekpiecesbackon. TFRHHIII BHA112

6 LANSPARK (IRE) (96) 145-252 D

8 11-4

Br B g Milan - Sparky May Mitchell Bastyan J

O Coral Racing Club for Colleagues

B Ruxley Holdings Ltd

Robbie Llewellyn, Swindon T

TIMEFORM VIEW Dual winner last season who ran respectably without looking well treated when second in 6-runner handicap at Exeter (23.1f, heavy, 16/5) in January First run for yard after leaving Joe Tizzard for £13,000 Cheekpieces also applied.

7 GRILLON DE MONTY (FR) (111) 11/1F-2P BF 8 11-1

Br B g Crillon (FR) - Pat’s Girl (FR)

O Mr Clarke Ohrstrom

B Elevage de Monty

TFRHHHII BHA108

Harry Skelton J

Dan Skelton, Alcester T

TIMEFORM VIEW 7-y-o who won 3 cross-country chases at Blain-Bouvron-Le-Gavre in April/May 2021 and showed he retains plenty of ability after when runner-up in Southwell handicap hurdle in November Proved a disappointment here on Boxing Day, though. TFRHHHII BHA105

8 THE QUESTIONER (IRE) (24) 221134 BF 7 10-9

Br Ch g Ask - Cush Bach (IRE) Henry Brooke J

O The Salmon Family

Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero, Malpas T

B R. McCarthy Amelia Knight Holdings Limited, Swansway S

TIMEFORMVIEWWona3mhandicaphurdleatAscotinNovemberandmadeasuccessfulswitchtofencesatDoncaster(31/4m)beforeexcellentthirdinNorthWales

DECLARED RUNNERS 8 2022: NO

Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn first time by No 6. Tongue Strap worn by No 2.

Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No 4, 5, 8.

Stewards Note:

GRILLON DE MONTY: Following its run on 26/12/2022 it was reported that the horse hung left and stopped quickly

THE QUESTIONER: Following its run on 23/3/2023 it was reported that the horse did not jump fluently

Probable S.P’s: 7-2 Armchair Farmer (IRE), 11-2 Lanspark (IRE), The Questioner (IRE), 6-1 Godrevy Point (FR), 7-1 Judicial Law (IRE), 8-1 Grillon De Monty (FR), 10-1 Ernest Gray (IRE), 20-1 Let’s Have Another (IRE)

THE QUESTIONER was let down by his jumping at Sedgefield last time, but he’d been progressing well prior to that and looks interesting now returning to hurdles having won an Ascot handicap when last seen in this sphere. The step up in trip could suit Judicial Law, while Armchair Farmer can be give given another chance having possibly found the race coming too soon at Doncaster. TIMEFORM PREDICTION:

TODAY’S RACE SPONSORS THE BOWEN

Who was Skomal?

30 years ago this year, Skomal won two hurdle races in 7 days at Huntingdon.

He was discovered in, and bought from a riding stables in the midlands. He was the sole racehorse in what had to be the smallest national hunt yard in the country. Trained by a husband and wife team, Mally was retired after his two wins and lived on into his twenties.