Fakenham 2020 Annual Membership For Christmas Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 5m 59.35s

Speedy Cargo^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 105

7/4

Bred to make a chaser, hardly surprising connections wasting little time over hurdles with him but has hit the frame on three starts already, and clearly has ability. Should be capable of making presence felt with a clear round here.

Form: 5236-63

Zen Master¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: C J Mann| OR: 103

12/1

Not the easiest of rides and as such, tricky to win with; generally moderate efforts this calendar year but probably more realistically handicapped as a result; needs his jumping to hold up to have best chance (hasn't always in the past).

Form: F4F4-P6

Glorious Boru⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: James Best| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 94

4/1

Has a point-to-point win to his name, so should make a chaser; yet to score under Rules but has some form over hurdles and this trip/ground should be fine; clear round gives him every chance in a weak and winnable event.

Form: 073-520

Agent Westy²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 90| BF

4/1

Good-looking individual that was disappointed too many times to be a solid betting proposition, but has the ability as he showed when successful over fences at Fontwell in the autumn; capable, but very risky.

Form: 51US75

Soarlikeaneagle²²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: L P Aspell| T: R Rowe| OR: 87

13/2

Made for fences and finished an eye-catching fourth at Fontwell when last seen out in the summer (hurdles); will improve a chunk for going chasing and this mark looks very workable, so watch the market for a clue is the advice.

Form: 0P987-4

Gold Fields^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: Laura Morgan| OR: 82

11/2

Steady if unspectacular progress over hurdles in the past year, latest well beaten third here another small step in the right direction. Needs the switch to fences to have a positive effect, which is possible, but others make stronger cases.

Form: 6807-73

Forecasts

Speedy Cargo (7/4), Agent Westy (4/1), Glorious Boru (4/1), Gold Fields (11/2), Soarlikeaneagle (13/2), Zen Master (12/1)

All six have some sort of question mark against them and some caution is advised. In the hope he is fit after an absence, SOARLIKEANEAGLE gets the vote, as he comes from a family of chasers and is expected to do much better now tackling the bigger obstacles. Similar comments apply to Speedy Cargo and he looks a possible pace angle here too. Gold Appeal may be best of the rest.