13:20 Fakenham

Saturday 1 January 2022

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Happy New Year Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 4m 16.0s

Heron Creek²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland

11/1

Leading Light gelding. Half-brother to smart hurdler Caracci Apache. Third only start in Irish points but only modest form at best in a couple of bumpers this winter. Hurdles debut.

Form: 356

Hidor De Bersy²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: T Symonds| OR: 120| BF| D

4/7

Huntingdon bumper winner who produced a promising effort when runner-up on hurdles bow at Carlisle (17f) in November. Shade disappointing at Uttoxeter since but bounce back anticipated.

Form: 1-23

Maykir²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: J R Jenkins

80/1

Half-brother to fair hurdler The Ice Factor (2m winner, by Iceman), stayed 2½m, and bumper winner Dome Run (by Domedriver). Modest on Flat, best form at 1m, below form last 3 starts.

Form:

Menin Gate²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Benjamin Poste| T: A Watson

7/2

Three-time winner on the Flat at up to 1½m. Showed promise when third in a Uttoxeter maiden hurdle (15.7f) last month, headed 2 out and fading. Entitled to do better and this sharper test a plus.

Form: 3

Stinggrey¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Chris Ward⁽⁵⁾| T: M Young

200/1

Failed to complete on 2 of his 3 starts between the flags and well beaten both starts over hurdles to date.

Form: UF7/40

Courtly Love^t³¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁵⁾| T: O Signy

28/1

Well beaten only start in bumpers back in 2019. Little short-term encouragement to glean from pair of hurdle outings early last year and passed over on return to action.

Form: 228B/P6-

Getbazoutofhere^h²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Lee Edwards| T: T R Gretton

25/1

Has shown a bit in a bumper/pair of novice hurdles but rates a likely type for low-grade handicaps in this sphere.

Form: 459

River Tyne²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Gifford

5/1

Irish point winner. Limited impact in bumper/sole hurdle start for Dan Skelton during 2020 but some promise to glean from her effort in a mares' novice on belated return last month. May build on that.

Form: 160/5

Scattercash¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Lewis Dobb⁽¹⁰⁾| T: L Morgan

40/1

Mahler mare. Won sole start in points (Mar 2020) but easy to back and offered little on belated return/hurdling debut at Uttoxeter (22f) last month.

Form: 1/9

Forecasts

Hidor De Bersy (4/7), Menin Gate (7/2), River Tyne (5/1), Heron Creek (11/1), Getbazoutofhere (25/1), Courtly Love (28/1), Scattercash (40/1), Maykir (80/1), Stinggrey (200/1)

A winner of his sole start in bumpers, HIDOR DE BERSY failed to build on his hurdles debut promise when third in a Uttoxeter maiden last month. However, he's worth another chance to get back on track and earns the vote. Menin Gate can pose the chief threat, ahead of Heron Creek and River Tyne.