3.15pm Fakenham Tips & Betting Preview 20/10/2017

3.15pm Fakenham tips for Friday’s Class 3 race. Although only four runners go to post for this Novices’ Chase, this still promises to be an intriguing contest with some top yards represented. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis.

IN SUMMARY: A fascinating contest can go the way of THUMB STONE BLUES, who ran well on seasonal/chasing debut last month behind some useful horses. He can only improve for the experience and he stays this trip very well, so he should be able to dominate these from the front under David Bass. The obvious danger is Bagad Bihoue who shouldn’t be fazed by this step up in trip and is a prolific winner, so he’ll be going close.

1 BAGAD BIHOUE – Prolific winner for Paul Nicholls, completing a four-timer over fences earlier this year. He was beaten by a smart sort at Newton Abbot on his latest start and five pound claimer Bryony Frost now takes over to offset his penalty. Obvious contender if staying this new distance.

2 SAM RED – Only three runs over fences for Dan Skelton, winning at Stratford earlier this month in comfortable fashion. He’s unexposed in this sphere and this extra distance will only help improve him further. WIll be going very close here under Harry Skelton.

3 THE SOCIETY MAN – Completely out of his depth here, last seen finishing a well beaten fourth in a much weaker race than this in October. More is clearly needed here and he should be tailed off from a very early stage.

4 THUMB STONE BLUES – Ultra consistent for Kim Bailey, not finishing outside the top three on any of his runs for this yard. He ran well when fourth on his chasing/seasonal debut behind some useful horses and he’s entitled to come on for that, so he looks tough to beat from the front.