WORTH THE WAKE
2.55 FFOS LAS - AK BETS HOME OF FREE BETS HANDICAP HURDLE 2M4F
I FULLY expected JASMIN DE
GRUGY to run better on his handicap debut at Wincanton last time and in finishing second to the improving Plaisir Des Flos he did just that.
But I can’t help but think a winning opportunity went begging, the winner getting first run on the selection and holding him off on the run-in as the pair pulled miles clear.
The handicapper wasn’t fooled, sticking Jasmin De Grugy up 8lb for that effort but frankly Anthony Honeyball has found one of the weakest handicaps of the day for him.
4.20 FAKENHAM - GAMBLE PLANT NORFOLK NATIONAL HANDICAP CHASE 3M5F24Y
IT’S always worth looking at horses who show improved form in these marathon events, particularly around specialist circuits like Fakenham, and the latest renewal of Norfolk National can go to last year’s third WAKE UP EARLY, who looks overpriced in the overnight market.
The son of Doyen led from the outset until the last 110yds just found him out last year, and he was beaten just over two lengths in third, despite being found to have bled from the nostrils.
To emphasise how well handicapped he is today, he was giving second home Jony Max a pound last year after the rider’s claim was taken into account, yet he gets 5lb from that rival today, and you’d fancy that will be enough to turn the form around.
Ignore
He comes here fresh, which is a positive for him, and he ran his best race last season first time up, so although his last two efforts saw him pull up at Fontwell and here, it’s pretty easy to ignore those runs in the middle of winter.
A winner over C&D on top of his excellent placed effort 12 months ago, he also appeals on stable form with Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole producing an impressive nine winners from 28 runners recently.
7.00 HEREFORD - LIZ AND IZZY’S HOAP PODCAST HANDICAP HURDLE 2M3F147Y
MY CHIQUITA has some impressive-looking form figures, unbeaten in two starts to date over hurdles, but the bottom line is that she was well placed to beat very little in those outings, and a mark of 115 looks plenty on what she’s achieved.
Two of her opponents make some appeal. Just Loose Change really ought to have won a race this season by now, probably the race at
Taunton in December when he was given plenty to do before coming home well for second.
Cabfuilfunhgi won a little maiden hurdle at Southwell last year but didn’t progress, and connections moved him from Gary Hanmer to
Kerry Lee.