14:55 Fakenham

Sunday 1 January 2023

All12:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Gamble Plant Norfolk Ltd Grand Prix Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 5m 19.47s

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Selected odds by:

Kihavah^t⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁵⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 123WS

14/1

In winning form on the Flat last year and he resumed over timber with a good second of 12 in a competitive 2m handicap at Market Rasen in September. Closing into fourth when departing there a month later and returns after 11 weeks off with a tongue tie back on (also had a wind op).

Form: 7105-2F

Johnson's Blue³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 123| D

6/1

Rapid improver in handicaps, completing a 4-timer with plenty to spare at Cartmel in July. Winning run ended when fading into fourth at Aintree (3m) in November but quickly regained the winning thread at Catterick (25.3f, good to soft) 34 days ago. Respected up another 4 lb.

Form: 111141

Haafapiece²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 122| CD

16/1

Won twice at Wetherby last season but evidently slower to come to hand this season than last. Now operating from 10 lb below his last successful mark but this previous C&D winner needs to show more.

Form: 798-587

Made For You^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Daire Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 122| D

22/1

Positive start to this season when runner-up at Warwick (19f, soft) in November and made the most of a good opportunity to notch a fifth win over timber at Musselburgh (19.8f, soft) last month. Up another 3 lb and he could be vulnerable in this.

Form: 252-921

Irish Hill³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 122

5/2

Fairly useful on the Flat in Germany and did well in this sphere last season, winning juvenile and a Chepstow handicap. Very well backed and went one better than on his first 2 starts this season at Taunton (19f, good to soft) in November and there could be even more to come.

Form: 231-221

Stimulating Song²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 122

28/1

Winner over hurdles at Cheltenham in November 2020 but not seen again until 3 disappointing runs this season, including back over timber last time. Best watched.

Form: 341/7P5

The Big Lense^p¹⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 120| D

80/1

Out of sorts when last seen on the track for Gordon Elliott in the summer. Yard switch needs to spark a big resurgence.

Form: 6FPP-P0

Thirtyfourstitches¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 119| CD

17/2

Likeable front-runner who was prolific last season, notching his seventh victory with a career-best effort at Market Rasen in April. Pulled up on first 2 starts this time round but back on song reverted to forcing tactics when causing a surprise at Plumpton (20.5f, soft) 12 days ago.

Form: F11-PP1

Carrigdoun Boy⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 117

7/2

Point winner at second attempt who looked potentially useful when making perfect start in bumpers at Southwell. Left his hurdling debut form behind when pulling clear with an odds-on favourite at Kempton (16f, soft) 6 weeks ago so he's fancied to be in the mix on handicap debut.

Form: 112-342

Glimpse Of Gold^t⁵⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 117| C

50/1

Completed the hat-trick at Stratford in June. Something of a mixed bag since, though, and while he's capable of a prominent showing if on-song, the percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 52247F

Mayhem Mya⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Bryan Carver| T: C Honour| OR: 117

11/2

Dual-bumper winner who confirmed hurdling debut promise when wide-margin winner at Chepstow (2m) in January. Failed to complete making her handicap debut/return at Bangor (19.6f, heavy) in November so she's worth another chance.

Form: 44130-U

Krypton Gold⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: S Edmunds| OR: 116

22/1

Ended last season with ready win at Ascot in March and has been holding his form well during the current campaign, finishing placed for the fourth start in a row at Uttoxeter in November. Handicapper has him about right.

Form: 1-32223

Nextdoortoalice⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Quinlan| T: A M Hales| OR: 115

25/1

Winning start for this yard in 19.5f Doncaster novice last November. Bagged an uncontested lead and returned to form down in grade after 7 months off when third at Wincanton (21.4f, good) 8 weeks ago but others make more appeal in this.

Form: 12240-3

Small Bad Bob²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: J R Wildman⁽⁷⁾| T: P Henderson| OR: 111

25/1

Three-time winner last season who is operating below best at present. Mark on the slide as a result but tough to support.

Form: 493-4P5

Baddesley^p1,t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁷⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 109

33/1

Off the mark over hurdles at the seventh attempt when making virtually all the running at Plumpton (20.5f, soft) in November but put in a lacklustre effort in his follow up bid there 12 days ago. Headgear applied today as well as the usual tongue tie.

Form: 36-4315

Non-Runners

Plenty Of Time²⁹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: Miss Gay Kelleway J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Irish Hill (5/2), Carrigdoun Boy (7/2), Mayhem Mya (11/2), Johnson's Blue (6/1), Thirtyfourstitches (17/2), Kihavah (14/1), Haafapiece (16/1), Krypton Gold (22/1), Made For You (22/1), Small Bad Bob (25/1), Plenty Of Time (25/1), Nextdoortoalice (25/1), Stimulating Song (28/1), Baddesley (33/1), Glimpse Of Gold (50/1), The Big Lense (80/1)

Plenty with a squeak but preference is for CARRIGDOUN BOY, who left his hurdling debut form behind when pulling clear with an odds-on favourite at Kempton just under 6 weeks ago and there could be even more to come now moving into handicaps. Irish Hill took his form up a notch when scoring at Taunton recently so he's put forward as the main threat, with Mayhem Mya and Kihavah another couple fancied to go well.