12:15 Fakenham

Sunday 21 December 2025

All12:1512:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:15

Sky Bet Acca Freeze Mares' Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:15 | Winning time: 4m 5.75s

Alvesta²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: M Crawley| OR: 92

14/1

Remains winless under both codes. Ran well for fourth of 9 in C&D handicap on latest hurdle start but needs to shrug off a lesser effort on the Flat since.

Form: 2-4434

Keep It Cool^b²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Alex Chadwick⁽³⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 90

11/1

A fair maiden hurdler for Shark Hanlon in Ireland. Hasn't clicked in 2 outings for the James Owen yard but this prolific stable will likely find the key to her at some point.

Form: 909376

Yanka Blue⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: R T Dunne| T: J L Flint| OR: 89

7/2

Modest maiden hurdler, running her best race when second in Sedgefield maiden last month (final start for Alison Thorpe). Respected back in a handicap on first outing for new stable.

Form: 853452

Our Nel^h⁵⁸⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁵⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 88

5/2

Modest hurdler for Harry Fry. Not seen for 19 months but has joined the excellent James Owen yard. Stable also runs Keep It Cool. Would enter the reckoning if the betting vibe are strong.

Form: 343F4/P-

Crackerjack Queen^t,p1¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: T Ellis| OR: 86

16/1

Poor form over hurdles, including remote sixth on Hereford handicap debut with a tongue-tie added 11 days ago. First-time cheekpieces are also fitted now. Still relatively early days for last year's winning yard but improvement will be needed.

Form: P2P-706

Noble Miss^h⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Jamie Gambin⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 81| D

50/1

Successful on the first of 2 outings in Huntingdon bumpers for Rae Guest last autumn but she has been comfortably held on all 4 hurdle starts for this yard, including C&D handicap debut in October.

Form: 13-540P

Hello Sweety^t²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 80

6/4

Hard puller who can make mistakes but has been placed on both completed starts this autumn and this sharp track should play to her strengths.

Form: 6P4-3F2

Casual Encounter^p⁷⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-6| J: Isabelle Ryder⁽⁷⁾| T: F Brennan| OR: 85

18/1

Poor maiden on the Flat. Similar story over hurdles, although latest Ludlow juvenile fourth in cheekpieces (retained) was a bit better and handicaps provide her with a more realistic chance.

Form: 564

Forecasts

Hello Sweety (6/4), Our Nel (5/2), Yanka Blue (7/2), Keep It Cool (11/1), Alvesta (14/1), Crackerjack Queen (16/1), Casual Encounter (18/1), Noble Miss (50/1)

YANKA BLUE is taken to build on last month's Sedgefield second and make a winning start for the Flints. The hard-pulling Hello Sweety is hardly one for maximum faith given her tendency for mistakes but she can play a prominent role if keeping the errors down. The returning Our Nel is one to monitor closely in the betting on this first outing for James Owen.