Racecards
14:55 Fakenham
Hunting Is Thriving Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
McEldowney
13- Form 849
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer M C Chapman
- Jockey L Vickers
tracked leader, lost place 3rd, soon ridden, behind from 6th, soon tailed off
- Form 2-89211
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
patiently ridden in rear, smooth headway to track leaders after 7th, went 2nd after 3 out, led on bit approaching last, soon heavily eased flat
- Form 2-55PP
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer M F Harris
- Jockey Dave Crosse
led, ridden and headed before 8th, pulled up next
Magic Amigo
18- Form 724/40-9
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer J R Jenkins
- Jockey W T Kennedy
in touch, ridden 7th, hung badly right after next, soon weakened
Rockjumper
32- Form 729
- Age 4
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Mrs L Hill
- Jockey D A Jacob
held up, ridden and weakened after 7th
- Form 85626
- Age 4
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer N B King
- Jockey Alex Merriam
tracked leaders, jumped left and led 3 out, soon ridden, headed approaching last, kept on, no chance with easy winner
- Form 262006
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey Stephen Craine
tracked leaders, went 2nd at 3rd, led approaching 4 out, headed and not much room next, soon weakened
Verdict
He won't be much of a price but it will be a big surprise if anything is good enough to beat FORTY FIVE, who gets the vote ahead of Gunnadoit. Jonjo O'Neill looks to have found a nice opportunity for his seven-year-old gelding to complete a hat-trick. He was an easy winner at Warwick last time, gets the soft conditions he thrives on again today, and has to cope with just a 7lb penalty against a bunch of opponents who wouldn't be in the best of form. He is obvious, but nonetheless a confident choice. Gunnadoit represents a yard whose runners are performing well enough. Cut suits the juvenile, who went well over the course in December and now back here he can show a bit more than of late and make the frame. McEldowney probably wants further than this, Magic Amigo really needs better ground, while on this surface Rockjumper perhaps has some form of frame claim based on his running at Towcester before Christmas. Prince Louis looks out of sorts at present, while Diktatorship will be at home over the trip and could make his presence felt if handling the going. Not a race to dwell on for long and Forty Five can take it.
Formwatch
McEldowney 15-2 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden and struggling after 5th, tailed off, 9th of 18, well behind Moonlight Music (10-3) at Uttoxeter 2m nov sll hdl (5) hvy.
Forty Five (IRE) 4-6fav (11-7) Keen early, held up in rear, headway 5th, led on bit 2 out easily, won at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft beating Solitary Palm (11-5) by 4l, 11 ran.
Prince Louis (FR) 100-1 (10-0) Led after 1st to approaching 2nd, ridden and weakened approaching 4th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Suntini (10-1) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Magic Amigo 28-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, weakened before 3 out, 9th of 12, 41l behind Star Tenor (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Rockjumper 66-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, 9th of 16, 35l behind Riverside Theatre (11-4) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Gunnadoit (USA) 2-1 (9-9) Always behind, 6th of 7, well behind Snake Charmer (11-6) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jan.
Diktatorship (IRE) 22-1 (9-12) Mid-division, tracked leaders 4 out, soon ridden and weakened from 2 out, 6th of 14, 14l behind Longdale (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.