16:15 Fakenham

Tuesday 3 May 2022

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1516:45

Snellings Norfolk National Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 7m 57.78s

Red Happy^b,t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Philip Armson⁽⁵⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 125| BF

13/2

Completed a chase hat-trick this spring and another creditable effort when second at Ludlow latest. Thriving but those runs were all at up to 2½m. and he failed to stay the sole previous occasion he tackled a marathon trip.

Form: PP1112-

Potters Legend^p¹⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-13| J: Corey McGivern⁽¹⁰⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 124| C

13/2

Course winner who has been runner-up over 3m here on his last 2 starts. Should be fine over this longer trip. In the mix.

Form: 5P5422-

Havana Hermano^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 123| C

7/1

Largely consistent type who ran creditably over hurdles last month. Successful at a similar time last year and his yard won this race in 2019. Needs considering.

Form: 227443-

Supreme Escape^v²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 121

11/1

All stamina and back to his best in first-time visor when winning North Yorkshire National at Catterick in January. Not in the same form twice since but he is back to just 1 lb higher than Catterick.

Form: P/091P4-

Tommie Beau³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 120| C

9/2

Course scorer who relised the return to less testing conditions when back to winning ways at Plumpton last month. Respected up 3 lb.

Form: 1223P1-

Debden Bank^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: M Keighley| OR: 115

8/1

Firmly back on track after a short break when seeing off 6 rivals over 3m at Southwell (unbeaten in 3 chase starts there) 4 weeks ago. 5 lb rise looks manageable.

Form: 110PP1-

Chic Name^t,v¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: R Hobson| OR: 115

16/1

Best run since returning from a long absence when third over 3m at Perth 12 weeks ago but he was beaten 14½ lengths so he will need to step up again if he's to go close here. Cheekpieces off, visor back on.

Form: 42P/493-

Abaya Du Mathan^b,t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 112| BF

12/1

Didn't need to improve to get off mark for this yard at Ffos Las(19f) last month. Did a bit too much out in front when third at Chepstow 11 days ago. Unproven over this sort of trip.

Form: 4P8213-

Game Line^b⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: J E Moore| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 110| CD

7/2

Hard to enthuse over recent efforts but he's down to the same mark as when winning this last year so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him stage a revival after a short break, particularly if the betting vibes are strong.

Form: 283PP4-

Goodnight Charlie^b²³

Age: 12| Weight: 10-2| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: C Fryer| OR: 97| CD

12/1

Usually all or nothing with this veteran mare, very much on a going day when making all over C&D on New Year's Day. Also second over C&D in March prior to a poor run at Stratford last month. Blinkers back on.

Form: P1PP26-

Forecasts

Game Line (7/2), Tommie Beau (9/2), Red Happy (13/2), Potters Legend (13/2), Havana Hermano (7/1), Debden Bank (8/1), Supreme Escape (11/1), Goodnight Charlie (12/1), Abaya Du Mathan (12/1), Chic Name (16/1)

DEBDEN BANK can string wins together and a 5 lb rise for last month's Southwell success doesn't look too severe so he's the suggestion. David Pipe's 2 runners arrive in good form but are far from certain to stay the trip so it could be that the chief threat comes from Havana Hermano, whose yard has tasted success in this before, and recent Plumpton scorer Tommie Beau.