Fakenham Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 6m 7.7s

Little Windmill^p,t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-4| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁵⁾| T: N B King| OR: 102

8/1

Stays 3m1½f as shown when winning at Plumpton in April from 1lb higher than today. Held by the handicapper since, though best effort in that time was here over C&D in November. Claims on that basis, though heavy ground very much a concern.

Form: 43723P

Oakidoaki^p,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr James King| T: B G Powell| OR: 96

7/4

Maiden after nine starts, though encouraging that his best two efforts have been on soft ground. The latest of those was over C&D last time out when he finished an 11L runner-up. From the same mark he could again be in the money.

Form: 36-5562

Triptico^p³⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr J Smith-Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 95

16/1

It's a long time since he was good enough to win a heavy ground Chepstow handicap chase from a mark of 118. Sole win since was at Uttoxeter (2m6½f) in May from 4lb lower than today. Pulled up both starts this autumn, so has questions to answer.

Form: 53-31PP

Money For Nothing^b,t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 93

7/1

Yet to win from 28 attempts and although he has run some good races in defeat, his form has steadily tailed off in recent years. Stays 2m4½f and handles soft ground. Was beaten around 5L from 1lb higher at Southwell in October. Claims on that basis.

Form: 0843F3

Touch Screen³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 88

5/1

Very moderate performer, though unlike some of these he does at least have a win to his name, scoring at Lingfield (2m4f, soft) in November. Well held back there from this 6lb higher mark last time but couldn't rule out picking up some prize money.

Form: P33614

Wish In A Well^b⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁵⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 68| CD

11/4

Badly in need of a fillip after some poor recent form. Sole win came in this race last year (soft) from 1lb higher (first-time blinkers) after pulled up on previous run. Blinkers on again and pulled up last twice, but can't rule out revival.

Form: 3-764PP

Forecasts

Oakidoaki (7/4), Wish In A Well (11/4), Touch Screen (5/1), Money For Nothing (7/1), Little Windmill (8/1), Triptico (16/1)

This could be pretty desperate stuff in heavy ground and with doubts about the ability of Little Windmill to act in such testing conditions, the very tentative vote goes to MONEY FOR NOTHING. Clearly, confidence is very much tempered by the fact that he is still a maiden, but he sees out the trip, handles plenty of cut and has run well from a similar mark relatively recently. Last year's winner Wish In A Well did so after a poor run on his previous start. This time, he has several poor runs to overcome as well as being 2lb 'wrong' at the weights, so he is taken on. Touch Screen has the most recent winning form and is not ruled out, while success for either Oakidoki or Triptico would not be a huge surprise in a race where caution is advised.