Fontwell Southern National race day: Preview and tips

It’s the feature race on a card of seven and is worth £20,000.

One interesting entry is Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Pettifour, who won the Sefotn Hurdle at Aintree a few years back.

Then there’s Venetia Williams’ runner Emperor’s Choice, who won three times early this year on heavy ground.

Entries for the rest of the card are excellent, with plenty of past Fontwell winners among them.

The Toteexacta Salmon Spray Handicap Hurdle features Foxcub, trained by Tom Symonds, who won at Fontwell’s October Festival.

Elsewhere Paul Nicholls’ runner in the 2.55 will attract plenty of interest - Benvolio, who has had wins at Wincanton on soft and heavy ground.

The gates open on Sunday at 10.30am and the first race is at 12.45pm, with the last at 4pm.

There’ll be a pets’ corner, funfair and bouncy castles for youngsters and Channel 4 will show the Southern National, which goes off at 1.50.

Our tips: 12.45 Brass Monkey, 1.15 Harry’s Farewell, 1.50 Buck’s Bond, 2.25 Foxcub, 2.55 Benvolio, 3.30 Rozolenn, 4.00 Absolute Shambles.

See Thursday’s Observer for a report and pictures from Fontwell - plus news of a new fixture coming up at Goodwood in 2014