2.30pm Fakenham Tips & Betting Preview 01/01/2017

A small field of five go to post for this 0-110 handicap in the fourth race at Fakenham today worth £5,198 to the winner. Read on for our expert’s thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: Abbeygrey won well last time out and is entitled to go well again today but has been hit with a sizeable penalty and may prove vulnerable to stablemate SUTTER’S MILL on this occasion. He has improved since switching into handicap company and can put a couple of narrow defeats behind him to finally get off the mark today. Global Dream looks best of the rest.

1 Shinooki – Fair hurdles/chase winner and benefited for the switch back to the smaller obstacles earlier this year when landing back to back wins at Southwell (Good/Soft) and then Catterick (Heavy) up to 3m1f. Clearly likes it at this track, having run well on his last five starts including when ten lengths in second over this C&D after returning from a break of eight months. Should come on for that run but worrying the cheek pieces he has carried to victory on four occasions remain off again today and best watched for now.

2 Sutter’s Hill – Has fared well since switching to handicaps with two placed efforts on his last two starts including when runner up at Bangor on his last start achieving a mark of 105 in the process. Made a mistake two out that day and probably unlucky not to win considering he was 5lb well-in at the weights but clearly has plenty of ability and can atone for that mistake by landing this today. Yard also run Abbeygrey

3 Abbeygrey – Landed back to back chases up to 3m2f two years ago and returned back from almost two years off to run well against two next-time winners before unfortunately unseating in a chase at Ludlow (Good/Firm) two months ago. Took advantage of a lower hurdles mark at Exeter (Soft) on his last start to win with a bit in hand by 2¼ lengths. Still lightly raced in this sphere but has gone up 10lb for that win and may prove vulnerable to his stablemate today.

4 Global Dream – Third in this race a year ago and three time winner over fences last term. Ran his best race for a while when runner up on his second start after returning from a 218 day break, only just losing out by a neck. 10lb higher than for this good effort in this race last year but entitled to go well again and no forlorn hope with the longer trip likely to suit.

5 Normandy King – Won at Bangor (Heavy) in good style in April, powering clear to win by sixteen lengths. Put up 14lb for that win and returned from a seven month lay-off to only finish a well beaten eighth of 11 at Catterick last month. Off since and same mark today. Best watched unless the money comes for him.