13:40 Fakenham

Tuesday 19 December 2023

All12:1012:4013:1013:4014:1014:4015:10

Sky Bet Stayers' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 8m 53.93s

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Selected odds by:

Eceparti⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 112

4/1

Having dropped to a career-low mark, took advantage in emphatic style when making a winning return at Chepstow (26.3f) in October. Followed up under a penalty at the same course (23.6f, heavy) 8 days later and remains well treated on old form.

Form: 3449-11

Wake Up Early^b³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 112| CD

16/1

Recorded third win for this yard at Sedgefield (27f) in March and ran well on his first 2 starts this season. Well held last 2 starts, however.

Form: 18-329P

Lord Sparky^t,v⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 107| CD

16/1

Recorded sixth career win over fences when making all in C&D amateur rider's handicap on New Year's Day. Finished runner-up next 2 starts before shaping as if needing run at Ludlow on return. Better expected now.

Form: 36122-P

Kadex^p³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: L Wadham| OR: 106| BF

5/1

Won twice over hurdles in France and, though more miss than hit overall for present connections, he left his chase debut well behind when landing a 4-runner Plumpton handicap (25.7f, good to soft). Went close to following up here (3m) since (let down by jumping).

Form: 7PP-712

Gold Clermont³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: A Irvine| OR: 106

17/2

Landed back-to-back Plumpton handicaps in March and should have come on for last month's reappearance run over hurdles at Lingfield. Does look high enough in the weights, however.

Form: P1162-3

Bretney^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁵⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 105

12/1

Back to best when winning staying event at Bangor in February. Below par next 2 starts but decent return when third at Ludlow before just denied at Kelso under this rider 3 weeks ago. Respected.

Form: P18P-32

Le Tueur^p,t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: D A Jacob| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 93| CD

9/2

Opened chase account back from a break at Huntingdon (3m, good to soft) before following up under a penalty over C&D in March. Stepped up on comeback when third here (3m) 4 weeks ago and this reliable sort should be in the mix again.

Form: 1148-43

Invictus Allen^p²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 86

9/4

Comfortably held all 3 starts over hurdles and on chase bow but much improved fitted with this headgear when second to a subsequent winner in handicap chase at Ffos Las (23.8f, heavy) 27 days ago. Up in trip. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 378-8P2

Forecasts

Invictus Allen (9/4), Eceparti (4/1), Le Tueur (9/2), Kadex (5/1), Gold Clermont (17/2), Bretney (12/1), Lord Sparky (16/1), Wake Up Early (16/1)

ECEPARTI beat a subsequent winner when defying a penalty at Chepstow and can make it 3 from 3 for the season. Invictus Allen responded well to this headgear when second at Ffos Las and this unexposed sort rates the main threat ahead of the consistent Le Tueur.