15:55 Fakenham

Friday 13 March 2020

All13:5514:3515:1515:5516:3517:10

Walter Wales Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:58 | Winning time: 4m 52.95s

Starsky^t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 110

7/2

Not one of stable's stars, but improved on handicap debut when third of 16 to Lightly Squeeze in a conditionals event at Taunton in December; improved on that last time at Market Rasen; should go well.

Form: 3-63733

Corri Lindo²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Nathan Brennan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 108

8/1

17-race maiden under rules; looked as though he coming into some form when second at Warwick in January but below his best last time at Sedgefield; definite place chance but hard to see him winning.

Form: 4PF443

Imperial Acolyte⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 105

6/1

Not kicked on as one would have hoped since making a winning hurdles debut in November 2018; showed a little bit more when not beaten too far at Warwick latest and has extra help from handicapper here.

Form: 500-487

Josie Abbing⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Christian Williams| OR: 104

7/2

Winner on good ground at Newton Abbot (for another yard) last summer but not really gone on from that; her last two runs have been moderate but if she can kick on again then she has chances stepping up in trip.

Form: 433773

Easter Eric^p1⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 103WS

16/1

Raced in much better company when with David Pipe but showed precious little on return for new connections at Doncaster in January; too soon to write off but needs to show more on the track.

Form: 35408-0

Broom Tip^p1⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: C Fryer| OR: 102

80/1

Never been placed in any of his 10 races under rules and yet to win in point-to-point contests in which he has been competing recently; unlikely winner.

Form: PP3-5PP

Present Chief⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 101WS

7/2

Has a win to his name, that coming in a Worcester bumper in early September, but it wasn't much of a contest and he's not gone on from that in three hurdles starts; tailed off when last seen at Leicester in December; handicap debut.

Form: 5-21667

Arcadian Sea^t⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 93

25/1

Was rated 100 last summer but has been downhill ever since including failing to finish last time out at Plumpton; hard to recommend on most recent form but fair chance on his best form.

Form: 24558P

Captain Speaking^b¹³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: James Bowen| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 92

8/1

Generally consistent when finishing his races; has run well at this track in the past but yet to truly prove he stays this trip; solid place chance if he does.

Form: 776P3-5

Nothing Man²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Lee Edwards| T: David Dennis| OR: 88

16/1

Seven race maiden finished a well beaten eighth in a 2m3f novices' handicpa hurdle at Warwick (soft) in December before stumbling and unseating rider on the flat last time at Huntingdon in February; difficult to make a case for.

Form: 08778U

Forecasts

Present Chief (7/2), Starsky (7/2), Josie Abbing (7/2), Imperial Acolyte (6/1), Corri Lindo (8/1), Captain Speaking (8/1), Nothing Man (16/1), Easter Eric (16/1), Arcadian Sea (25/1), Broom Tip (80/1)

STARSKY had been running some fair races in defeat and has been quietly improving in all his last three starts. If making similar progress then he could prove too strong for his rivals in a race that may not take too much winning with question marks about plenty of his rivals. Captain Speaking is a fairly consistent sort and may give the selection most to do if running his usual reliable race. Corri Lindo is another who has a fair level of consistency, suggesting place backers may want to get involved.