14:40 Fakenham

Wednesday 1 November 2017

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:10

Greene King IPA Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 4m 12.00s

Un Prophete²¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 125| D

12/1

Form tailed off a bit towards end of year, but did go well fresh and won first time of asking over fences, so today may be the time to catch him. Has won on a tight track, trip fine and not discounted here.

Form: 4112PF-

McCabe Creek^p,h²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr T A McClorey⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 125| D

6/1

Looked a weak finisher but has turned a bit of a corner on last two starts, battling on well to win at Huntingdon last time and return to a left-handed track no bad thing here. Cheekpieces retained today and could defy the 8lb rise for that win.

Form: 224421

Deauville Dancer^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: David Dennis| OR: 125| D

10/1

Back to form when a winner at Huntingdon latest start, doing enough to hold on (despite idling) by ¾l. 3lb rise for that win fine, clearly has some quirks but of more concern is the drop back to 2m. On that, others preferred.

Form: 144241

Altiepix^t⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R Patrick⁽⁷⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 125| D

12/1

Looked a useful tool over fences when a ready winner at Stratford in May, but last couple of efforts rather suggest he's lost the thread somewhat. Nicely handicapped if he can bounce back, but questions to answer now.

Form: P2-13P7

Artifice Sivola^h¹⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: L P Aspell| T: L Wadham| OR: 124| CD

7/2

Good course record (three wins and a short head second from five starts here) not seen out since April but a good record fresh and effective at this trip. Horses from the yard are running to form and he has to be taken seriously here.

Form: 1124-22

Ashoka^p,t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 122| D

6/1

Game winner at Sedgefield in August and did little wrong when third to the improving Oliver's Hill at Fontwell last time. Handicapper probably has him where he wants him though, so needs a bit more, but trip and ground fine and should run his race.

Form: 1-36913

Baby Jake²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Rachael Blackmore⁽³⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 121| D

8/1

Only fifth chase start here, so room to improve, just behind Ashoka in the aforementioned Fontwell contest but this track may suit better (has won on tight left-handed tracks) and on fair mark compared to hurdles form. Looks one for the shortlist.

Form: 41-3534

Mercian King²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 120| CD

5/1

Tale of steady improvement since joining this yard, and threw in a career best when taking a Worcester handicap last time. Handicapper hits hard with a 9lb rise, and goes up in grade, so needs to do better again here.

Form: 23-2171

Red Riverman^p¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 120| D

7/1

Seems happiest in small fields these days, no win machine but pops up under the right conditions and trip and ground here both look fine. Ran right to form when second at Ffos Las last time and with yard in form, can't be easily discounted.

Form: 2/21132

Forecasts

Artifice Sivola (7/2), Mercian King (5/1), Ashoka (6/1), McCabe Creek (6/1), Red Riverman (7/1), Baby Jake (8/1), Deauville Dancer (10/1), Un Prophete (12/1), Altiepix (12/1)

ARTIFICE SIVOLA has such a good record here that he's hard to ignore, and catching him fresh might be key today. He's taken to win again at his favourite venue, with McCabe Creek , for whom the cheekpieces seemed to do the trick at Huntingdon last time, taken to follow him home. Baby Jake has some improvement over fences in him and he can challenge for minor honours with Red Riverman.