Fakenham Skips Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 5m 16.15s

Mermaids Cave^v1³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Rian Corcoran⁽⁷⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 121| CD

14/1

Prolific since joining James Owen, bagging a seventh win in a 2m claiming hurdle at Huntingdon in November. Well below par at Ascot and Cheltenham since but took this prize 12 months ago so could bounce back fitted with new headgear.

Form: 123109

Pretending^p³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Tom Cannon| T: L Wadham| OR: 116| D

6/1

On a losing run and refitted with cheekpieces when only seventh of 9 in handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (20.2f, good to soft) 36 days ago. Others are preferred.

Form: 54P3-57

Looking As You Are¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Hales| OR: 114

11/2

Returned with a good Market Rasen second but below par since, just fifth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Windsor (20f, good) 17 days ago. More is needed.

Form: 413-235

Miss Cynthia²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Tristan Durrell| T: D Skelton| OR: 113

13/2

Useful stayer on Flat for Sir Mark Prescott and a 2m4f hurdles scorer for Lucy Wadham last season. Had wind surgery/tongue tied before a below-par seventh of 10 for her new yard in handicap hurdle at Kempton (24.6f, good) 22 days ago. Needs to step forward.

Form: 2212P-7

Audacious Annie^p²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Isabelle Ryder⁽⁷⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 113| D

5/1

Ended last season with 2m4f wins at Wetherby/Warwick and right back on song of late, fifth of 10 in 3m handicap hurdle at Kempton 22 days ago. Ought to be thereabouts.

Form: 11-6625

Apples Moon³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 109| D

7/2

Has continued on the up this term and bids for a hat-trick following handicap wins at Exeter (18f) in November and Wincanton (19.8f) following month. Up another 5 lb but she's open to more progress so rates a big player once more.

Form: 1213-11

Princess Keri⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Ned Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 96

3/1

In fine form since reverted to hurdles, landing handicaps at Lingfield (2m) and Ludlow (21f) later in November. Not taken lightly in her hat-trick bid despite a 7 lb rise.

Form: 13-4211

Forecasts

Princess Keri (3/1), Apples Moon (7/2), Audacious Annie (5/1), Looking As You Are (11/2), Pretending (6/1), Miss Cynthia (13/2), Mermaids Cave (14/1)

Nicky Martin's APPLES MOON continues to thrive and is fancied to make light of a 5 lb rise and garner a fourth success in her last five starts. Fellow hat-trick seeker Princess Keri rates the obvious danger with the consistent Audacious Annie and last year's heroine Mermaids Cave also firmly in the picture.