16:35 Fakenham

Friday 13 March 2020

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

Country Food Trust Fakenham Silver Cup Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 3m 52.64s

Ashutor^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 127| D

4/1

Narrowly touched off at Taunton before going one better at Catterick where he won in little more than a canter; more to do here but manner of that victory suggest he could still be on a fair mark.

Form: F3-2821

Eskendash²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 125| D

10/1

Had been close to winning over fences in January and February; not seen over hurdles since last March when putting in some useful performances; chance if enjoying this return to the smaller obstacles.

Form: 5-85F23

Movie Legend^p⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 123| CD

8/1

Another who reverts back to hurdling; was generally a consistent chaser who won twice around this trip; won his last hurdles race here over 2m4f but that was over 500 days ago; enjoys it around here and may go well.

Form: 110-434

Barman⁸⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 120| D

50/1

Registered his fifth hurdles success when winning a four runner contest at Taunton (good-to-firm) in November 2017; has plenty of talent but this is a big ask after monster absence from track.

Form: 572315/

Roseriver Has²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Christian Williams| OR: 120

50/1

Winner of a good ground maiden hurdle at Downpatrick (2m3f) in September but struggled in two subsequent starts including on the Flat at Leopardstown in October; tailed off on British debut at Kempton last month; difficult to assess at present.

Form: 360-190

Escapability^p⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: A King| OR: 119| BF

16/1

Failed to score on the Flat in 13 starts; is still looking for his opening success after three runs over hurdles; latest two starts showed a good deal of promise and if able to build on them then he has a fair chance here.

Form: 634

Seaborough²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Henry Brooke| T: D Thompson| OR: 118

25/1

Always handy when springing a minor surprise in a maiden hurdle at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) in December; switched back into a bumper last time at Musselburgh finishing a close up fourth.

Form: 331294

All My Love⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 118| D

9/1

Very consistent over a variety of trips and surfaces; now close to last winning mark and looks one of the leading candidates with trainer having good record at this track.

Form: 138-825

Nebuchadnezzar⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: A King| OR: 117

10/1

Long standing maiden but has a fair chance on the best of his form; needs to bounce back from a very disappointing effort last time but if he can then he is capable of finally winning a race.

Form: 44-2277

Homer^p³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 122| D

9/4

Despite making plenty of mistakes, the gelding won well on his handicap debut at Kempton last month on soft ground over this trip; more on his plate now but if his hurdling can improve then he rates a danger to all.

Form: 341

Imperil⁷²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 121| CD

11/2

Easily won a maiden hurdle over course and distance in early January following some promising efforts in France; does not look particularly thrown in at the weights and may have to wait for some relief before getting competitive again.

Form: 8282F1

Black Abbey⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: H Whittington| OR: 119| BF

16/1

Had showed promise on all his hurdles starts to date and would have finished closer last time had he not burst a blood vessel; interesting contender and may be on a lenient mark.

Form: 227

Non-Runners

Waterproof²⁰

Weight: 11-6| Age: 4

T: S L Keightley J: Brendan Powell

Forecasts

Homer (9/4), Ashutor (4/1), Imperil (11/2), Movie Legend (8/1), All My Love (9/1), Nebuchadnezzar (10/1), Eskendash (10/1), Waterproof (12/1), Escapability (16/1), Black Abbey (16/1), Seaborough (25/1), Roseriver Has (50/1), Barman (50/1)

ASHUTOR showed bags of promise when scooting up at Catterick and the gelding has not been punished by the handicapper for that success. Hardly out of a canter in that contest, things will be tougher here obviously but he still may have too much for his rivals. Homer will be a popular selection given the form of the stable and the manner of his win at Kempton last month. He still looks to be on the upgrade and is one to note. Place backers may want to consider the always reliable All My Love. The mare is close to her last winning mark and should give a good account of herself.