January 18 / 14.05 Fakenham

14.05

Good To Soft

Fakenham Skips Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Mares’ Hurdle Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £13202.5
  • 2m 4f 1y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
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Fakenham Skips Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Mares’ Hurdle Series Qualifier)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 212P-7 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Very useful on the Flat in 2024 and made winning handicap hurdle debut for Lucy Wadham at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft) last February before finishing second in a Listed race; safely held on seasonal/stable debut at Kempton just after Christmas but will probably come good for Dan Skelton soon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

27th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 56y

Class 4

15:20 Wetherby

Miss Cynthia

11st 8lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

May still have more to offer for Dan Skelton but is by no means certain to follow up a fortuitous win at Fakenham (2m4f) where she was gifted the race when the clear leader exited; now 1lb higher in a stronger event.

13/2

1st

4

18th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 1y

Class 3

14:05 Fakenham

Miss Cynthia

11st 6lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Very useful on the Flat in 2024 and made winning handicap hurdle debut for Lucy Wadham at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft) last February before finishing second in a Listed race; safely held on seasonal/stable debut at Kempton just after Christmas but will probably come good for Dan Skelton soon.

7/2

7

17th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 56y

Class 1

15:55 Cheltenham

Miss Cynthia

11st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

midfield, mistake 4th

22/1

OUR TIP

12/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: 13-235 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Three-time hurdle winner, most recently off 2lb lower at Ludlow (2m5f, good to soft) last February; slightly disappointing when fifth at Windsor this month but began this season with two good efforts and has a fighting chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:35 Uttoxeter

Looking As You Are

11st 8lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Alex Hales

Triple hurdle winner who scored off 3lb higher at Ludlow (2m5f, good to soft) last February; some creditable efforts since but she didn't fire in a mares' handicap at Market Rasen (tenth of 12) last month; needs to step up again after that and others are more persuasive.

12/1

10th

7

17th Feb 2026

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

15:02 Market Rasen

Looking As You Are

11st 7lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Alex Hales

Won a similar event off this mark at Ludlow last season (2m5f, good to soft); fair form this term, last time finishing a creditable 7l second at Fakenham (2m4f, good to soft; Mermaids Cave behind when falling at the last).

14/1

2nd

3

18th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 1y

Class 3

14:05 Fakenham

Looking As You Are

11st 7lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Alex Hales

Three-time hurdle winner, most recently off 2lb lower at Ludlow (2m5f, good to soft) last February; slightly disappointing when fifth at Windsor this month but began this season with two good efforts and has a fighting chance.

12/1

Form: 213-11 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Progressive 7yo who held on well to score at Wincanton (2m4f, soft) last month and is now 4-6 in handicaps; latest 5lb rise does not look excessive and it's hard to tell when her improvement will level off; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

18th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 1y

Class 3

14:05 Fakenham

Apples Moon

11st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Nicky Martin

Progressive 7yo who held on well to score at Wincanton (2m4f, soft) last month and is now 4-6 in handicaps; latest 5lb rise does not look excessive and it's hard to tell when her improvement will level off; respected.

11/4

3rd

2

17th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 5

14:30 Catterick

Apples Moon

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Martin

prominent, not fluent 7th, challenging last, no extra towards finish

9/4

3rd

2

17th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 5

14:30 Catterick

Apples Moon

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Martin

prominent, not fluent 7th, challenging last, no extra towards finish

9/4

Form: 1-6625 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Seemingly aided by first-time cheekpieces when clear second at Warwick (2m5f, good to soft) in November and ran well for a long way before fading into fifth at Kempton (3m, good) just after Christmas; this drop back in trip looks the right move; probably won't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

23rd Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 2

15:30 Warwick

Audacious Annie

10st 12lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

First and second in her two previous visits here, latterly over this far in first-time cheekpieces in November; below best in her last two races (3m/2m4f) and appears to have little margin for error off this mark; absent since January.

12/1

4th

5

18th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 1y

Class 3

14:05 Fakenham

Audacious Annie

11st 6lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jamie Snowden

Seemingly aided by first-time cheekpieces when clear second at Warwick (2m5f, good to soft) in November and ran well for a long way before fading into fifth at Kempton (3m, good) just after Christmas; this drop back in trip looks the right move; probably won't be far away.

9/2

Form: 123109 CD

Last run: 36 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Comfortably won Huntingdon claimer (2m, good) in November, after a break, but well beaten in two subsequent handicaps (albeit better ones than this); still 13lb higher than when winning this race a year ago; needs change of headgear to perk her up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Aintree

Mermaids Cave

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Won by 10l last week at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) in a race she also won the previous season, when beating Masked Dance on similar terms to today's; clear claims.

9/4

1st

3

7th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

14:45 Huntingdon

Mermaids Cave

11st 4lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

7-27 over hurdles, including a good-ground C&D win; not firing on all cylinders since last autumn but wasn't beaten far when fifth of seven in refitted cheekpieces at Fakenham (2m4f, good) last month and continues to slip down the weights.

4/1

5th

2

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 4

14:15 Fakenham

Mermaids Cave

12st 1lb

J: Mr Cian Murphy

T: James Owen

7-23 over hurdles, including a good-ground C&D win; beaten favourite in plating company two starts and pulled up in a subsequent handicap, but has slipped to a very good mark and can't be ruled out.

11/2

Form: 4P3-57 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Won valuable final of this series at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) in spring 2024 and was third in last year's edition but has not really fired on either start this season; eased in grade today but needs to up her game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

23rd Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 2

15:30 Warwick

Pretending

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Third to Greyval 12 months ago off the same mark; hadn't been at her best this season but came good at Market Rasen (2m4f, soft) and clearly capable of having some say in the outcome.

6/1

1st

6

17th Feb 2026

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

15:02 Market Rasen

Pretending

11st 8lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Exposed mare who hasn't been quite at her best this season, but is on a good mark (3lb lower than for last win); has an each-way chance.

14/1

4th

5

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

14:50 Plumpton

Pretending

11st 3lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Rather hit and miss since her last win (2m4f, good to soft) in October 2024 and she was pulled up at Fakenham eight days ago; back on her last winning mark but has a bit to prove at present.

12/1

Form: 3-4211 D

Last run: 55 days

W: 10st 3lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Displayed rapid improvement in the autumn, winning in good style at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) and Ludlow (2m5f, good); moves up in grade here but Ned Fox claims a useful 5lb and she may still have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 2

14:55 Ayr

Princess Keri

10st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Mrs C Williams

6yo who has been a major improver back over hurdles this season, winning three times (2m-2m5f, good-soft); having shot up the weights she again ran well when second of four at Chepstow (2m7f, soft) in February, but she needs to prove her current mark isn't beyond her; 1lb wrong today.

16/1

2nd

4

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 3

15:10 Chepstow

Princess Keri

11st 1lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Evan Williams

Would surely have completed a hat-trick had she not unseated at Fakenham last month and strolled home by a wide margin at Hereford (2m3f, soft) next time; however, she went up 14lb for winning that uncompetitive race and her improvement has come at shorter distances (unproven beyond 2m5f).

7/2

1st

2

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

16:30 Hereford

Princess Keri

11st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Evan Williams

Improved form back over hurdles in the autumn, winning in good style at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) and Ludlow (2m5f, good); looked set to complete the hat-trick at Fakenham (2m4f, good to soft) last Sunday but rider got unbalanced after the final flight and was unseated; turns out off same mark here and has leading claims if she can avoid any mishaps.

2/5

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £36.20
Straight Forecast £40.62
Trifecta £187.20

Selections

Telegraph:

Apples Moon

TOPSPEED:

Audacious Annie

RP RATINGS:

Princess Keri

SPOTLIGHT:

Miss Cynthia

The Times:

Mermaids Cave

The Star:

Princess Keri

POSTDATA:

Audacious Annie

LAMBOURN:

Audacious Annie

D Express:

Apples Moon

Daily Mirror:

Apples Moon

Daily Record:

Apples Moon

The Sun:

Miss Cynthia