2.40pm Fakenham Tips & Betting Preview 01/10/2017

A competitive looking handicap chase over the minimum distance for a prize of £7,798. Read on for expert analysis and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: RED RIVERMAN represents the in-form Nigel Twiston-Davies and can make amends for his last outing when he was an unlucky loser. Deauville Dancer may follow him home in second having won nicely last time out.

1 UN PROPHETE – Bolted up twice last year in a couple handicaps off an initial mark of 108 and was only beaten a head in heavy ground of a revised mark of 127, struggled in a couple of runs after that patch of good form and has also been a non-runner on good ground so that is a question mark.

2 MCCABE CREEK – Took advantage of a tumbling mark on his last start at  the beginning of October when hacking around and winning easily by six lengths despite a mistake at the second last, could defy a mark of 125 if turning up in the same mood.

3 DEAUVILLE DANCER – Travelled smoothly when winning over two and a half miles last time out on good ground, was given three pounds for that but won more cosily than the winning margin suggests and in conditions he will like he should go well.

4 ALTIEPIX – Won very readily back in May by eleven lengths off a mark just six pounds higher than he runs off today, hasn’t quite managed to back up that performance but isn’t unfairly treated and probably remains a decent each-way proposition in a tight race.

5 ARTIFICE SIVOLA – Finished a modest second last time and was quite comfortably beaten the time before but has the profile of a consistent and steadily progressive performer so can’t be entirely ruled out, won off a six pound lower mark in January.

6 ASHOKA – Won a couple of races in quick succession in April before being well beaten a few times in a row, bounced back two starts ago with a short-head victory and races off just two pounds higher today than for that success so must be considered.

7 BABY JAKE – One that is most likely a better hurdler than chaser which is reflected in his nine pound lower mark in this sphere, he is yet to win over fences in four attempts and probably rates as the least likely contender on paper, but this is a very tight race and he can’t be entirely counted out.

8 MERCIAN KING – Has won two of his last three and if able to forgive the poor run in between those two efforts he has an appealing profile, has been raised nine pounds for his last success but he did that nicely and further progress isn’t ruled out; considered.

9 RED RIVERMAN – Won two in a row in July and hasn’t been out of the frame in six of his last seven starts, was possibly an unlucky loser last time having been hampered towards the business end and deserves a second look in this company.