December 22 / 15.13 Fakenham

15.13

Good To Soft

Sky Bet Request A Bet Female Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (For Female Professional Jockeys And Amateurs)

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 2m 5f 44y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
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Sky Bet Request A Bet Female Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (For Female Professional Jockeys And Amateurs)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 883257

Last run: 29 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Never really got involved in valuable Ascot handicap last month and remains without a win since November 2022 but his clear second off this mark at Kempton (2m2f, good) in October was a good effort and he has possibilities if his stamina holds out; cheekpieces refitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

26th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 4

18:39 Plumpton

Frere DArmes

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Has been well out of form since returning in September from a break and has offered little switched to hunter chases this year; now back in handicap company for his leading stable and down to a potentially workable mark, but recent efforts temper enthusiasm.

2/1

4th

1

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:50 Ludlow

Frere DArmes

12st 6lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Odds-on third in this race last year before comfortably making all in Stratford hunter chase (2m1f, good) in May; hasn't got near the latter form in eight starts since September however and latest pulled up, despite attracting some support, was a third non completion in a row; others look safer.

7/2

1

13th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

15:25 Fakenham

Frere DArmes

12st 6lb

J: Mr Dominic Lewis

T: Dan Skelton

He was in better form when runner-up in this last year having won his previous race; very disappointing when pulled up back here just before Christmas and then unseated at Ludlow when 33-1; hard to trust right now.

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: 289-63 C

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Four hurdle wins; didn't jump well enough on seasonal/chase debut in October but last month's Chepstow third (2m3f, good to soft) was much better and he has a fighting chance if he again finds some fluency here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

14:18 Perth

Bashers Reflection

10st 13lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Respectable strike-rate over hurdles; record of 0-6 since switched to fences but has place possibilities on most of that form.

11/2

6

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

14:18 Perth

Bashers Reflection

10st 13lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Respectable strike-rate over hurdles; record of 0-6 since switched to fences but has place possibilities on most of that form.

11/2

3rd

10

15th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:20 Kempton

Bashers Reflection

10st 2lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Record of 0-5 since switched to fences but turn looks near, having finished second at Wetherby and Newbury the last twice; however, needs some improvement to go one better in this stronger grade.

8/1

Form: /4115/

Last run: 727 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Dual 2m4f chase winner at Wincanton (good to firm/good) in November 2022; absent since disappointing run the following month but given a chance by the handicapper in the meantime and can't be ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

16:00 Wincanton

Don Alvaro

11st 11lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Dual 2m4f course winner in November 2022; back on a good mark now but looked out of sorts when returning from long absence at Fakenham in December and his current ability is tricky to gauge; sports first-time cheekpieces.

14/1

Form: 51P-20 CD

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Seven chase wins, including one over C&D in 2020 and four during Nick Littmoden's spell in France; behind Planned Paradise and well beaten on last month's British return at Cheltenham but that run came after a layoff and the return to this track will suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

22nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 44y

Class 3

15:13 Fakenham

Captain Speaking

11st 6lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Nick Littmoden

Seven chase wins, including one over C&D in 2020 and four during Nick Littmoden's spell in France; behind Planned Paradise and well beaten on last month's British return at Cheltenham but that run came after a layoff and the return to this track will suit.

10/1

4

22nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 44y

Class 3

15:13 Fakenham

Captain Speaking

11st 6lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Nick Littmoden

Seven chase wins, including one over C&D in 2020 and four during Nick Littmoden's spell in France; behind Planned Paradise and well beaten on last month's British return at Cheltenham but that run came after a layoff and the return to this track will suit.

10/1

10th

8

16th Nov 2024

Good

3m 1f 0y

Class 3

13:10 Cheltenham

Captain Speaking

10st 12lb

J: Mr James King

T: Nick Littmoden

Trained in France by Nick Littmoden; untested at the trip but he has an impressive 7-21 strike-rate over fences and was runner-up at Auteuil (2m6f) in May when last seen; doesn't look to be overburdened in terms of his mark now back in Britain and James King is a good booking; interesting.

20/1

Form: 632833

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Gave very good account when coming from off the pace for third of 11 at Cheltenham (3m1f, good) last month and was probably not ideally suited by the soft ground when slightly below that form next time; conditions are a slight concern again here but he still enters calculations; cheekpieces refitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

Planned Paradise

11st 6lb

J: Mr J J Murphy-Knight

T: Christian Williams

Bounced back to form and won soft-ground marathons at Banger (3m5f) and Hexham (4m) in February/March; pulled up (lame) in early stages at Plumpton last time but has made the frame in the last two editions of this race (both on good ground) and can make his presence felt again.

7/1

8

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 104y

Class 2

16:25 Plumpton

Planned Paradise

10st 8lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Exploited a reduced mark to win at Bangor (3m5f, soft) in February and again had plenty in hand at Hexham (4m, soft) 12 days ago; this is a hotter race than last time and this 10yo is up 10lb, but he's clearly in rude health and could be bang there once more; handles any ground.

7/1

1st

6

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 7f 199y

Class 4

15:41 Hexham

Planned Paradise

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Christian Williams

Exploited a reduced mark to win readily at Bangor (extended 3m5f, soft) four weeks ago; on last season's evidence a 9lb rise is unlikely to stop him if he can back up that latest performance; high on the list.

3/1

Form: 644-P2 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Dual chase winner last season (once over C&D); pulled up on last month's reappearance outing but fared much better when second to a progressive subsequent winner at Leicester (2m4f, soft) three weeks ago and returns here on a good mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

13th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:00 Worcester

Scene One

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Well handicapped on form as recent as the winter but needs to better his recent efforts and does not always look wildly enthusiastic; raced mainly on good to soft/soft ground but has won on good; refitted blinkers the headgear of choice today.

14/1

4th

9

13th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:00 Worcester

Scene One

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Well handicapped on form as recent as the winter but needs to better his recent efforts and does not always look wildly enthusiastic; raced mainly on good to soft/soft ground but has won on good; refitted blinkers the headgear of choice today.

14/1

7th

8

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

16:40 Plumpton

Scene One

11st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

raced wide, in touch with leaders

14/1

Form: -64111 C

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
In-form front-runner who won two 3m chases here this autumn (good/good to soft) before completing hat-trick with 3m hurdle success at Southwell (good); upped markedly in grade today but still respected in current mood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:00 Hexham

Lunar Contact

11st 12lb

J: Miss Rebekah Duffy

T: Susan Corbett

Two-time chase winner who was a 9l second in this race 12 months ago (good); gets a pull in the weights with the winner Brandy McQueen from their clash at Catterick (3m1f, good) last month but he was soundly beaten in second and has work to do today.

10/1

2nd

5

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 5

16:10 Catterick

Lunar Contact

12st 2lb

J: Miss Rebekah Duffy

T: Susan Corbett

Won over hurdles and twice over fences for Tom Ellis in 2024 (3m, good/good to soft); won a four-runner point for this yard in January but well beaten last time; has no easy task

16/1

2nd

2

14th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

16:48 Hexham

Lunar Contact

12st 2lb

J: Miss Rebekah Duffy

T: Susan Corbett

Twice a 3m chase winner at Fakenham before bagging the hat-trick in 3m Southwell handicap hurdle in November; pulled up on final two handicap chase runs for Tom Ellis but still considered for in-form new yard here.

3/1

Selections

D Express:

Bashers Reflection

Telegraph:

Lunar Contact

TOPSPEED:

Frere d'Armes

RP RATINGS:

Planned Paradise

SPOTLIGHT:

Scene One

The Times:

Don Alvaro

Daily Mirror:

Captain Speaking

The Sun:

Lunar Contact

The Star:

Bashers Reflection

Daily Record:

Bashers Reflection

Daily Mail:

Frere d'Armes

POSTDATA:

Planned Paradise