Racecards
14:15 Fakenham
Ll Firth-patrick Firth Memorial Handicap Chase (Class D)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Soft
- Form 2-64121
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey B J Crowley
cl up, rdn and e.c 3 out, wknd appr lst
- Form 25-21FP
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
hld up, rdn 7th, bh wh p.u bf nxt
- Form 223613
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
hld up, rdn and hdw 8th, led appr 2 out, rdn out
- Form 3F9-330
- Age 10
- Weight 11-0
al bh, nv tbld ldrs
- Form 4714P-4
- Age 9
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey J M Maguire
led to 4th, rdn and wknd 3 out, p.u bf nxt
- Form 4F31/63
- Age 10
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
cl up, led 5th, hdd 8th, wknd nxt, p.u bf 2 out
- Form 63P-301
- Age 10
- Weight 10-9
hld up, hdw 8th, rdn and e.c 2 out, hit lst, wknd flat
- Form 3589-51
- Age 10
- Weight 10-4
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey D N Russell
in tch, bh fr 4th, p.u bf 8th
- Form 14P421
- Age 12
- Weight 10-4
- Trainer Mrs J Buckley
- Jockey O McPhail
cl up, led 4th, hdd nxt, led again 8th, rdn, hdd and btn wh fell 2 out
- Form 3/PU5-P7
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer P Winkworth
- Jockey L P Aspell
al bh, t.o fr 8th, p.u bf 2 out
In depth
Verdict
An interesting handicap chase, where Needwood Lion is the likely favourite to give weight away all around and may well be good enough to do so. The ten-year-old has been in fine form just lately and has shown plenty of enthusiasm in winning at both Hereford and Kempton, with a second sandwiched in between. However, he has now gone up 22lbs for those last three runs, and though he will go on the ground, the weight is likely to find him out. Instead we will take a chance with Joyeux Royale. Ironically, the selection was pulled up in the race won by Needwood Lion at Kempton on Boxing Day. However, significantly, he wears a tongue strap for the first time today, he will relish the testing ground, and he comes from a yard bang in form. He should also be happier reverting to this trip and despite an F in his form column he normally jumps well and represents a value alternative to the jolly. There are others with chances though, not least Marigliano, who won a hurdle here (good to soft) last month. The gelding is also a course and distance winner in a chase two years ago off a mark of 100 and a reproduction of that sort of form would give him every chance of his current lower mark. Passereau won an ordinary handicap at Bangor in October, but looks to be exposed judging by his only since, when well held in third on soft ground at Chepstow. He is overlooked here. The likely pace setter will be Amarettoforanna, who made all to win an amateur's handicap here in December. A 5lb rise for that narrow margin win will probably be enough to stop him going in again, though he does jump well and will certainly give them plenty to do if they are to pass him. Of the remainder, El Cordobes has an obvious chance. The veteran has been in great heart recently, with a narrow defeat at Huntingdon followed by a win at Market Rasen in soft ground. The gelding also has winning form over course and distance and has to be greatly respected, though at 12 he is trying to win from his highest ever mark, which is enough to oppose him here. One other to note is Jolly Side, who has been dropped a little in the weights after two runs over here. The ground is likely to be a bit too testing for him, but note any market moves for Charlie Mann's runner.