There are only 32 runners on the six-race card at Fakenham this afternoon and seven of those are in the selling hurdle that opens proceedings, so Southwell is probably the meeting to concentrate on for a bet over the jumps and Jaunty Thor (3.15) should prove a worthy favourite for a competitive handicap hurdle.
It is only three days since Oliver Greenall’s runner showed distinct improvement to win for the first time in 11 career starts, readily drawing away from his field at Uttoxeter to finish nine lengths clear. That was just his second start for the yard and his victory was not unexpected, with Jaunty Thor starting at 4-1 having generally set off at double-figure odds for most of his previous outings.
Jaunty Thor raced off 97 at Uttoxeter and carries a 7lb penalty today and, while he has 15 opponents lined up against him, anything close to his latest form should be good enough to get him home in front again at a price of around 5-2.
Ballymalin (2.15), trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, also faces a double-figure field but is an even shorter price for the novice hurdle, a race that he should win from the front without too much fuss.
Definitly Grey (1.45) is another to consider closely as he attempts to go one better having finished a close second at Fakenham last time out when sent off favourite, while Alkhor (1.55) makes plenty of appeal on the all-weather card at Lingfield. Richard Hannon’s gelding has had a very light campaign, finishing last of eight at Wetherby in May and then seventh of 12 off a mark of 80 at Chelmsford City late last month, but the bare form does not tell the full story.
Alkhor certainly ran well behind Silvanus last time, when he stayed on well to be nearest at the finish, and should improve for the step up to six furlongs today, while he has also dropped a pound in the ratings despite making only his fifth start in two years today.
Beardwood (2.55) was disappointing on his only previous all-weather start but appeared to have found some more improvement when successful at Redcar earlier this month and is worth a small interest at around 5-1 to confirm that impression today.
