13:10 Fakenham

Tuesday 4 December 2018

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4015:10

Injured Jockeys' Fund For Christmas Presents Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 5m 40.2s

Zen Master^h⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann| OR: 117

7/2

Respectable effort on chase debut at Fontwell (2m3½f, good to soft) in October. Acts on good ground. Same mark today, so more needed, but unexposed and can't rule him out.

Form: 529-224

The Geegeez Geegee^p,t³⁹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 117| D

14/1

2-4 over fences for this trainer; 4lb higher than his win at Stratford in October last year; off since matching that from 4lb higher than today on his latest run 13-months ago. Goes well fresh, good ground suits and he is considered.

Form: UP1314-

Balibour²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Aspell| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 115

9/2

Showed some promise on his Kempton chase debut in October (2m2f, good). Bleow that level when dropped to 2m last time. Now drops 2lb and is back up in trip, but does have a bit to prove over this far.

Form: 3320-30

Tara Mac^p⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 113| D

14/1

Has won three times over similar trips this year, but an 11lb rise for the latest of those at Worcester in September looks steep. Not fully exposed, but will need improvement to make it four wins in 2018.

Form: 1-18516

Native Robin²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 113

9/4

Has a good strike rate over fences (acts on good). Promising return to action at Wincanton last month. 2lb drop will help. Claims.

Form: 11450-4

Shady Glen^b,t³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 112| D

14/1

Well treated, given that he won from 6lb higher at Market Rasen in the spring. However, recent form well below that, so plenty to prove at present.

Form: 3P6765

Mr Raj^t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr S Roche⁽⁷⁾| T: T Gallagher| OR: 109

9/1

Dual hunter chase winner in spring 2017. Respectable return to action at Plumpton last month. 3lb drop won't harm, and he may have an each-way squeak.

Form: 1311/1-4

Wood Pigeon^p²³⁸

8/1

Scored over C&D (heavy) in January, when 4lb lower. In and out since, but best efforts give him a clear chance if able to produce his best on return from wind surgery, and also on ground this fast.

Form: 1U2P24-

Forecasts

Native Robin (9/4), Zen Master (7/2), Balibour (9/2), Wood Pigeon (8/1), Mr Raj (9/1), Tara Mac (14/1), Shady Glen (14/1), The Geegeez Geegee (14/1)

Zen Master is a good starting point. His chase debut promised future success and he can surely improve on that today. However, he may have to give best to THE GEEGEEZ GEEGEE, who is back from an absence, but goes well fresh and is on a very competitive mark. Stablemate Wood Pigeon, Tara Mac and Native Robin are others who could all go well.