15:45 Fakenham

Friday 17 March 2023

All13:0013:4014:2015:0015:4516:2017:00

Country Food Trust Fakenham Silver Cup Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 4m 4.11s

Takeit Easy³²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: Bradley Harris⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 126| D

13/2

Enjoyed a decent campaign across 3 runs last year, winning at Wetherby on his return. Possibly still needed run when fourth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Catterick (15.7f, good to firm) 32 days ago. Sharp track here sure to suit.

Form: 2124-04

Parramount^t⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 124| D

3/1

Landed short odds in novices at Hereford and Doncaster either side of finishing second on handicap debut at Taunton. 9 lb higher in the weights but remains with potential to progress further in this sort of company.

Form: 18/3121

Haafapiece⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 123| BF| C| D

12/1

Arrives here on the back of 2 good efforts, latterly when fourth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Wetherby (19.7f, good to soft, 16/5) 41 days ago. Step down in trip not certain to suit.

Form: 8-58724

Swaffham Bulbeck⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 122| CD

7/1

Placed 3 times over hurdles this season and ran well when runner-up on all-weather at Kempton 48 days ago. Capable of giving another good account.

Form: 1-35325

No No Tonic^b,t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 121

14/1

Likeable mare who enhanced an excellent record at Wincanton when scoring easily over 2m there on Boxing Day. Fine runner-up efforts at Chepstow both outings since and she's capable of getting in the mix despite further 3 lb rise.

Form: 419122

Big Boy Bobby⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 120| D

13/2

Got off the mark in good style at Huntingdon in December and was just denied in a stronger race at Kempton on Boxing Day. Likely to give another good account.

Form: 26F-412

Chasamax^p1¹⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: James Best| T: S-J Davies| OR: 117| D

125/1

Awarded the race (bumped late on) at Ffos Las in May but temperament remains a concern for him and he showed no benefit for wind-op won his most recent outing at Warwick in October. Since left Nicky Henderson and is tough to fancy.

Form: 4-71369

Rare Middleton²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 119| D

7/4

Showed fairly useful form in a pair of Flat starts in the autumn before making an impressive hurdles debut at Taunton in January. Good third in the Adonis last time and enters handicaps from a very workable mark.

Form: 13

Non-Runners

Glimpse Of Gold²²

Weight: 10-13| Age: 12

T: Mrs S J Humphrey J: Jay Tidball

Forecasts

Rare Middleton (7/4), Parramount (3/1), Takeit Easy (13/2), Big Boy Bobby (13/2), Swaffham Bulbeck (7/1), Haafapiece (12/1), No No Tonic (14/1), Glimpse Of Gold (20/1), Chasamax (125/1)

A competitive heat, but Paul Nicholls' juvenile RARE MIDDLETON has created a very good impression in 2 starts over hurdles so far and an opening mark of 119 shouldn't prove beyond him, so he's fancied to get the better of Takeit Easy, who has slipped in the weights and should be suited by the track. Parramount and Big Boy Bobby also appeal as leading players.