December 22 / 14.13 Fakenham

14.13

Good To Soft

Sky Bet Club Stayers’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 3m 5f 24y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Sky Bet Club Stayers’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 146-64 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Won this race by 14l a year ago and was also successful at Fontwell (3m3f, soft) last January; has not fired on either appearance this season (3m1f) and would appeal more on soft/heavy ground but this move back up in trip is in her favour and she can't be ignored.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 4

16:30 Hexham

Gold Clermont

11st 12lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Andy Irvine

Ex-Olly Murphy; off the mark for present yard when winning five-runner handicap chase by a short head at Fontwell last time (3m2f, good); up 3lb; interesting.

9/2

1st

2

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

17:45 Fontwell

Gold Clermont

11st 12lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Andy Irvine

All four wins have came over fences Andy Irvine; her last success was in January 2024 but that was at this track (3m3f) and she returned to form with a creditable third over hurdles here (3m2f, soft) last month; that was only her second start since rejoining her former stable and she's in the mix back over fences.

7/1

3rd

4

14th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 1f 166y

Class 5

15:45 Fontwell

Gold Clermont

11st 10lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Andy Irvine

All four wins have came over fences for Andy Irvine; had no joy in three starts for Olly Murphy and rejoined former stable before pulling up at Exeter (3m6f, heavy) last month; bids to exploit 10lb lower mark over hurdles; needs to show more.

5/1

Form: P67-55

Last run: 30 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Dropped a long way down the weights during largely disappointing campaign last season and was just a respectable fifth when back in action at Chepstow (2m7f, good to soft) last month; worth another crack at a marathon trip but needs that recent run to have brought him on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:30 Southwell

Fern Hill

12st 0lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Two small-field wins around 3m on good in the autumn; went off the boil subsequently but very much back on his game when second of 11 at Chepstow 17 days ago; raised 5lb for pulling clear of the rest but it looks justified given the third was successful back at Chepstow last week.

6/4

2nd

3

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:20 Chepstow

Fern Hill

11st 11lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Two small-field wins in the autumn but his form has dipped and he was last to complete at Huntingdon most recently (2m7f, heavy).

16/1

Form: 61-P43

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Regressive 8yo who won a three-runner race in the spring but has developed a tendency to race lazily; soundly beaten on all three appearances this season and it's hard to predict the extent to which he'll warm to the task on this first venture beyond 3m2f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

22nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 5f 24y

Class 4

14:13 Fakenham

Sublime Heights

11st 12lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

Regressive 8yo who won a three-runner race in the spring but has developed a tendency to race lazily; soundly beaten on all three appearances this season and it's hard to predict the extent to which he'll warm to the task on this first venture beyond 3m2f.

12/1

3

22nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 5f 24y

Class 4

14:13 Fakenham

Sublime Heights

11st 12lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

Regressive 8yo who won a three-runner race in the spring but has developed a tendency to race lazily; soundly beaten on all three appearances this season and it's hard to predict the extent to which he'll warm to the task on this first venture beyond 3m2f.

12/1

3rd

5

2nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

14:20 Plumpton

Sublime Heights

11st 10lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

Three of his four chase wins have been on this track, two over C&D; scored off a 2lb higher mark at Chepstow (2m7f, soft) in April in a three-runner contest but two poor efforts this term and looks risky.

8/1

Form: 443P-3

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Stout stayer; ran quite well when third of six on recent seasonal/stable debut at Huntingdon (2m7f, soft) and remains very well handicapped on older form but this quirky 7yo was inconsistent for Charlie Longsdon and can't be relied upon heavily.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

21st Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

16:19 Plumpton

Lyrical Genius

11st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Sarah Humphrey

led, not fluent 7th, cajoled along from 11th, increased tempo before 14th, faced challenge when hit 4 out, headed approaching last, weakened gradually run-in

9/2

2nd

4

21st Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

16:19 Plumpton

Lyrical Genius

11st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Sarah Humphrey

led, not fluent 7th, cajoled along from 11th, increased tempo before 14th, faced challenge when hit 4 out, headed approaching last, weakened gradually run-in

9/2

Form: 872123 C

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Close second in C&D (good) Norfolk National in early part of last season and was a 3m course winner (good to soft) last November; needed considerable help from the handicapper before last month's Warwick success (3m1f, good) but has been placed twice since and the return to this track is an obvious plus; cheekpieces removed after one use; big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

17:00 Stratford

Jony Max

11st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

On the downgrade now and returned from a break with 37l defeat behind My Girl Katie at Newton Abbot last month; might well have needed that outing and has conditions to suit here but others appeal more all the same; wears blinkers and cheekpieces simultaneously for the first time.

11/2

2

4th Jul 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

16:53 Newton Abbot

Jony Max

11st 13lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Christian Williams

Five-time chase winner (once over C&D); returned to form with a string of good efforts in the autumn but absent since pulled up in Fakenham marathon just before Christmas and entitled to benefit from this outing.

7/1

5

22nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 5f 24y

Class 4

14:13 Fakenham

Jony Max

11st 0lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Christian Williams

Close second in C&D (good) Norfolk National in early part of last season and was a 3m course winner (good to soft) last November; needed considerable help from the handicapper before last month's Warwick success (3m1f, good) but has been placed twice since and the return to this track is an obvious plus; cheekpieces removed after one use; big player.

5/2

Form: 1PP-32

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Placed on both starts this season, more recently when second (no match for winner) behind bang-in-form rival here (3m, good to soft) last month; stays at least 3m2f and could have a say if this new trip suits.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

13th Apr 2025

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

14:18 Stratford

Samourai One

11st 12lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

in touch with leaders, not fluent and pushed along briefly 10th

6/1

2

13th Apr 2025

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

14:18 Stratford

Samourai One

11st 12lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

in touch with leaders, not fluent and pushed along briefly 10th

6/1

Form: 2-4P84

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Returned from long absence with fairly encouraging run at Fontwell (3m2f, good to soft) in October but has looked out of sorts since and has a lot more to prove than some of these.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 57y

Class 5

15:27 Taunton

Marettimo

11st 7lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Bill Turner

held up in rear, slow jump 2nd, headway 13th, weakened before 3 out

20/1

7th

5

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 57y

Class 5

15:27 Taunton

Marettimo

11st 7lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Bill Turner

held up in rear, slow jump 2nd, headway 13th, weakened before 3 out

20/1

7

22nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 5f 24y

Class 4

14:13 Fakenham

Marettimo

10st 8lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Bill Turner

Returned from long absence with fairly encouraging run at Fontwell (3m2f, good to soft) in October but has looked out of sorts since and has a lot more to prove than some of these.

33/1

Form: 2-5613 CD

Last run: 62 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Made all over C&D (good) in March and doubled his chasing tally with hard-fought success at Uttoxeter (3m, good) two months ago; should also be suited by today's slower ground and helps to give Christian Williams a good hand in this race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

22nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 5f 24y

Class 4

14:13 Fakenham

Ballyrashane

10st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Made all over C&D (good) in March and doubled his chasing tally with hard-fought success at Uttoxeter (3m, good) two months ago; should also be suited by today's slower ground and helps to give Christian Williams a good hand in this race.

4/1

8

22nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 5f 24y

Class 4

14:13 Fakenham

Ballyrashane

10st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Made all over C&D (good) in March and doubled his chasing tally with hard-fought success at Uttoxeter (3m, good) two months ago; should also be suited by today's slower ground and helps to give Christian Williams a good hand in this race.

4/1

3rd

4

21st Oct 2024

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 5

16:55 Plumpton

Ballyrashane

10st 12lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Christian Williams

disputed lead, led clearly just after 1st, headed 2 out (usual 3 out), soon rallied, lost second last (usual 2 out), no extra final 110yds

5/2

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jony Max

D Express:

Ballyrashane

Telegraph:

Samourai One

RP RATINGS:

Gold Clermont

The Sun:

Ballyrashane

The Star:

Ballyrashane

Daily Record:

Samourai One

TOPSPEED:

Jony Max

POSTDATA:

Jony Max

The Times:

Jony Max

Daily Mirror:

Jony Max