Jump Racing; Monday 12th December

[Lars]

14:30 Fakenham ABNAKI was disappointing on seasonal reappearance but he probably needed that effort and it was likely that it was over too sharp a trip for him now anyway, he should strip fitter and over this longer trip, he’s unexposed and even carrying this top-weight he should run really well. Trained by Jonjo O’Neill, he won a weak point to point over 3 miles in January on heavy ground before running well in two Novice Hurdles, the second of which he won; that was over 2m6f when ideally placed off a muddling pace, but shaped in the process that he could be a decent stayer over trips around 3 miles. That race worked out well and he was sent off favourite for his handicap debut at Southwell over 3m1f. Always travelling well, he hit the front and didn’t find a great deal, but was still there with a big chance over the last when he made a mistake and lost all impetus. It was a very solid effort though, and it looked that the application of headgear would bring about some improvement too. When cheekpieces were applied on his last start before a summer break, he never travelled a yard when the pace increased and was pulled-up, an effort worth putting a line through. Although his effort was only moderate on seasonal reappearance, he’ll definitely have come on for that and it is interesting he’s upped to a trip of just less than 3 miles immediately. It looks his distance and he’s still unexposed at it, especially off this mark of 110. He could be a fair bit better than that, and this is a pretty poor race all things considered. Tribal Dance is effectively up 15lbs for his last win after they’ve decided not to use a claiming jockey, and the others don’t have that much in the way of progressive profiles. Fakenham is a very idiosyncratic circuit but I don’t think it’ll inconvenience Abnaki too much, as he isn’t a slow horse in this grade and has won at Newton Abbott, fairly sharp in itself. With AP McCoy on board, he should go really well as he looks a sure-fire improver at this trip, handles most ground and contests a weak race. He should be close to favouritism and at a price of 7/1, it’s worth getting involved. ABNAKI; 2pts @ 7/1 Boylesports (bog)

[Monterosso]

Re: Jump Racing; Monday 12th December 2:00 Fakenham - Knight Legend - 2pts @ 15/2 (Boyles) A decent field are set to line up for this 2m 5f chase and Knight Legend could make a very bold bid to land the hat-trick here if all is well on his first run after a deserved break. I wouldn't usually back a horse who has won a couple on the bounce, let alone one who's rising on 13-years-old at this stage, but Sarah Humphrey's veteran chaser showed that he still has a lot to give when performing excellently throughout the summer, despite standing a fair amount of racing. How well he'll be readied first time up is guesswork but he has went nicely when fresh in the past and his trainer says that he "has come back very well, and he should run very well fresh." Knight Legend won his last couple of races at Market Rasen over 2m 4f, defying marks of 116 (by 31-lengths, heavily eased) and 125 (by 5-lengths, despite being a bit keen and running off top-weight) in the process. They were obviously impressive wins and although he's up another 5lbs here (10lb claimer hops up now to make him look well-weighted) against better opposition, it may not be enough to stop this former 150-rated, Grade 2 winning chaser from going in again. The main worry is how he'll handle going back this way around in a race of this nature, as he can jump out to his right quite often, making him a risky proposition when going left-handed. Regardless, Knight Legend has won at this track before (albeit in a three-runner selling hurdle; was unlucky when short-headed in C&D chase off 110) and should be suited to how this race pans out, as they're likely to go a decent clip in front and he shouldn't be far from the pace, something that's ideal around here. The jockey on board, Mark Marris, takes off 10lbs and that could be very valuable. Marris looked to be good value for his claim when winning on his only ride over fences for the Humphrey yard a few weeks ago and if he can keep the horse straight at the obstacles, he shouldn't have a very difficult ride (usually a strong-traveller). The horse just mightn't be good enough to win a race like this off his current rating when going this way around but 15/2 makes it a risk worth taking. It's also a big plus that the trainer is in great form of late, with 5 winners from her last 9 runners and all certainly looks to be well within the yard. Small/medium win stakes for me and hopefully he'll run a big race.