January 02 / 12.30 Fakenham

12.30

Soft

Happy New Year From Gamble Plant Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4470.3
  • 3m 5f 24y
  • Class 5
  • 4 runners
RTV
View Course
Happy New Year From Gamble Plant Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: 526-33

Last run: 40 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Nothing like the force of old and was remote when making the frame on first two starts this season (visored both times) but he's sure to appreciate today's ease in grade and is a thorough stayer; cheekpieces refitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

24th Apr 2024

Heavy

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:00 Uttoxeter

Eclair De Guye

11st 8lb

J: Dylan Whelan

T: Lucy Wadham

prominent

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: 064P5P

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in all five chases, most recently when pulled up in first-time blinkers at Thurles (3m1f, yielding) last month; goes in first-time cheekpieces for this first run beyond 3m2f; well worth keeping an eye on in the betting but clearly needs to up his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

9

27th Jan 2024

Soft

3m 2f 0y

13:40 Fairyhouse

Finding Freedom

10st 2lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Point winner; poor maiden over hurdles; no encouragement from his form in beginners' chases; tailed off at this venue in his first handicap; pulled up at Thurles in first-time blinkers which are now replaced with cheekpieces.

33/1

Form: 5-5424

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Close second at Lingfield (2m7f, good to soft) in November and last month's fourth over that C&D was also a good effort; evidently in good heart but was well beaten in this race 12 months ago and still needs to prove he can cope with this type of stamina test.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

15:43 Stratford

Felton Bellevue

11st 5lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Ben Case

None too consistent but he has won five times over fences, latest at Plumpton (3m1f, soft) in February off 3lb lower; beaten a neck back there off this mark last month and his best chance of further success is perhaps back at that venue.

9/2

5th

7

31st Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

16:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Felton Bellevue

11st 6lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Ben Case

None too consistent but he has won five times over fences and nearly made that six last time at Plumpton (3m1f, good to soft); he's handicapped about right but needs considering.

9/2

2nd

3

9th Mar 2026

Good

3m 1f 157y

Class 5

16:00 Plumpton

Felton Bellevue

11st 8lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Ben Case

Five-time chase winner, most recently over C&D (soft) last month; remote when third at Huntingdon eight days ago and not one to rely upon nowadays but he's still on a good mark if in the right mood.

7/2

Form: 21-14U BF

Last run: 219 days

W: 10st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Struck form in refitted cheekpieces last spring, winning at Chepstow (3m2f, good to soft) and Huntingdon (2m7f, good), but looked held when unseating rider at Fontwell in May and has not raced again since; untested behind 3m2f and would appeal more on better ground; not the percentage call.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

19th Oct 2024

Soft

2m 6f 125y

Class 5

17:20 Stratford

Doyens De Ante

10st 2lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: Max Young

Cheekpieces worked initially when winning two chases in early 2023 but he's suffered a major slump in form; others preferred.

50/1

6

8th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

15:05 Fontwell

Doyens De Ante

10st 11lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Max Young

midfield, raced wide and lost position 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out

20/1

5th

9

27th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

18:55 Stratford

Doyens De Ante

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Max Young

Won two chases (3m2f/2m7f) when cheekpieces were refitted last spring but has been pulled up on all four outings this year; tried blinkers last time; usual tongue-tie his only headgear here; 2lb out of the weights.

25/1

Non-runners

Jessie Lightfoot, Le Tueur

Verdict

Regressive 10yo ECLAIR DE GUYE has not won since 2020 but he ought to be very well suited by today’s thorough stamina test, and this is the weakest race he has ever contested. He gets the vote ahead of Jessie Lightfoot, who ran pretty well in a higher-grade hurdle race on his recent seasonal/stable debut.[Chris Wilson]

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Felton Bellevue

SPOTLIGHT:

Eclair De Guye

The Times:

Doyens De Ante

Telegraph:

Jessie Lightfoot

Daily Mail:

Finding Freedom

POSTDATA:

Le Tueur

The Guardian:

Doyens De Ante

D Express:

Felton Bellevue

Daily Mirror:

Felton Bellevue

The Sun:

Felton Bellevue

The Star:

Felton Bellevue

Daily Record:

Jessie Lightfoot

RP RATINGS:

Eclair De Guye

NEWMARKET:

Eclair De Guye