Fakenham and Folkestone

The N.H. racing today at Fakenham and Folkestone is on the whole very poor, and there are also small fields in many events, so the racing will not be very competitive. In addition the ground at Folkestone, especially on the hurdles course, is reportedly in very bad condition. Spachil Hill (Jim Best/ Tom Scudamore) could however complete a hat-trick there, as the opposition in the handicap chase at 15.00 CET looks weak. The best race at Folkestone is the class 4 handicap hurdle over 2 3/4 miles at 15.30; Mikado Melody (Johnny Portman/ Sam Jones) has not won for 32 years , but goes best on this ground and could have a chance, as could the two very lightly-raced runners Midnight Chase (Neil Mulholland/ Robert Thornton) and Ballyveeney (Venetia Williams/ Sam Thomas), while Geography (Patrick Butler/ Robert Lucey-Butler) is another who will like the going.

Betting forecast:
1.Race: Spider Boy - Doctored - Drizzi
2.Race: Don`T Be Bleu - Portrait Royale - Just Poppytee
3.Race: Awesome George - The Old Pretender - Martys Mission
4.Race: Spanchil Hill - Elliott - Enroblim Trop
5.Race: Ballyveeney - Geography - Mikado Melody
6.Race: Zacharova - Waltham Abbey - Thedreamstillalive
7.Race: Itsallaracket - Valleyofthedolls - Moyas Charm



At Fakenham, Little Shilling (Tim Vaughan/ Robbie Killoran), who has already won three times in the past fortnight, can complete a quick four-timer in the 3 miles handicap hurdle at 14.50 as he still appears to be ahead of the handicapper. Martin´s Friend (Lucy Wadham/ Dominic Elsworth), who won at Frankfurt and Baden-Baden this year, makes his British debut in the 3yo maiden hurdle at 13.50 and the same team can score with The Dark Lord in the class 3 handicap chase over 3 miles at 15.20. He has a good record here, but not as good as Cool Roxy (Tony Blackmore/ Chris Honour) who has won 10 times here, almost always over this trip, but he now has a lot of weight. German-bred Leopold (Derek Thompson/ Ryan Mania) is out of the weights here and is only an outsider, but two other German-breds have better chances - Freeze the Flame (Charlie Egerton/ Paddy Brennan) in the beginners chase at 15.50 and Nordwind (Evan Williams/ Donal Fahy) in the maiden hurdle half an hour later - alth ough this son of Acatenango would not like the ground to get too soft.

Betting forecast:
1.Race: Sydney Sling - Martin`S Friend - Gross Prophet
2.Race: Afsoun - Kings Quay - Silvo
3.Race: Little Shilling - Orchard House - Blueland
4.Race: Cool Roxy - Aleron - Leopold
5.Race: Freeze The Flame - Spare Me - Iron Hague
6.Race: Nordwind - Friendly King - Lord Brunello