15:20 Fakenham

Sunday 20 December 2020

All12:4513:1513:4514:2014:5015:20

Christmas Holidays Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:22 | Winning time: 5m 12.49s

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Selected odds by:

Dapa Lad^t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: S Curran| OR: 79

150/1

Poor maiden hurdler for Jennie Candlish who has fared no better for new yard this season.

Form: 0P9P-90

Diocletian^h²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Page Fuller| T: A M Balding

10/3

Useful Flat-winning stayer who (hooded) shaped encouragingly on hurdling bow when fourth in 2m novice at Taunton having been very keen. Failed to build on that at Newbury since but still early days.

Form: 45

Elyaqim³¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: J McGrath| T: R Bandey| D

66/1

€12,000 3-y-o, Spider Flight gelding. Won sole start in points (May 2018). 3/1, fifth of 7 in bumper at Kempton (16f, good to soft) on NH debut. Off 10 months. Makes hurdles debut. Up in trip.

Form: 1/5-

First Soldier²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁷⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 114

7/1

Fair form in hurdles/chase in France. Ran to a similar level when 5 lengths fourth of 13 in 2m Southwell maiden hurdle on British debut 26 days ago. Respected up in trip.

Form: 8-07744

Gatillo^h1¹¹¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| BF

125/1

Modest maiden on Flat, stays 8.5f, not seen since well held on final (2017) start and has left Julia Feilden.

Form:

Grandee¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: J & S Best

33/1

Fairly useful stayer on the Flat. Sold from Roger Fell for 16,000 gns in August. Showed aptitude for hurdling at Uttoxeter but is probably set to be brought along with handicaps in mind.

Form: 7

Macfin²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| BF

11/1

Dylan Thomas gelding. 2/1, Close third of 7 in bumper at Bangor (16.7f, heavy) on NH debut 22 days ago, closing all way to line. Makes hurdles debut. Up in trip.

Form: 3

No Anxiety³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: Jamie Snowden

8/1

Presenting gelding out of a classy bumper/2m-19f hurdle winner for yard. Promise all 3 runs but looks one for the longer term.

Form: 5-73

One Handsome Dude³⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

3/1

Canford Cliffs gelding who didn't kick on from his bumper debut 24 months ago in 3 subsequent outings but has since joined a top yard. Market check advised on hurdles debut.

Form: 340/0-

Getaway Suzy¹⁰⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: M G Nolan| T: Miss S Smith

125/1

€5,500 3-y-o, Getaway mare. Half-sister to 3 winners, including useful hurdler/chaser False Economy. Unplaced completed start in maiden Irish points (Feb 2018).

Form: F4/

Sopat⁶⁰⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: P W Middleton| C

9/4

Easy winner of an Irish point and left bumper debut behind when winning here in April 2019. Not seen since, however. Makes hurdles debut.

Form: 2161/

Non-Runners

Master Templar⁴²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: O Murphy J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Sopat (9/4), One Handsome Dude (3/1), Diocletian (10/3), Master Templar (4/1), First Soldier (7/1), No Anxiety (8/1), Macfin (11/1), Grandee (33/1), Elyaqim (66/1), Getaway Suzy (125/1), Gatillo (125/1), Dapa Lad (150/1)

MASTER TEMPLAR sets a clear standard and should be suited by this slightly stiffer test, so looks the most solid option. Macfin went close in a bumper at Bangor on debut 3 weeks ago and could emerge as the biggest threat now hurdling, while One Handsome Dude is worth a market check on his first start for Nicky Henderson.