Fakenham
3.45 3m5f Class 3 Norfolk National Chase – Fifty Shades 3/1
A lot in favour for the Christian Williams gelding who not only loves it himself around the sharp Fakenham course with a perfect 2 from 2, but trainer also thrives at the course with his most success around here with a great 35% strike rate and positive £3.19 LSP. Fifty Shades enjoyed a fantastic last season with 5 wins from 14 runs with another 4 places to boot. Last month he smashed a career best on his first try over this marathon distance at Warwick, he’s still only 6 and so looks to have plenty more to offer, he does go up 9lbs for that win and steps into a much deeper 0-125 race from a 0-105 previously which will certainly test his ability and may even find him out, but still looks the one they all have to beat IMO. James Bowen back in the saddle is a huge positive, he’s record on his back reads 21141 and clearly brings the best out of the gelding and also loves Fakenham with a 35% strike rate and shares an overall 29% strike rate with the trainer with a whopping £42.1 LSP when teaming up.
Wetherby
3.55 1m Class 5 Handicap – Shawaamekh 3/1
Has a good pedigree for the grade, didn’t start his career until last season as a 4yo and won on his 5th start over the Catterick 7 furlongs smashing the field by 6 lengths staying on strongly looking like a mile would see more, that was a good form race to add a more spice. He returned this season after a long absence in a good race at Wetherby, he impressed with a keeping on 2nd screaming out for further, the form was strong with the winner winning previously in another strong form race and the 3rd Kupa River also winning NTO, both with race fitness on their side too. Shawaamekh is due to go up 3lb for that but goes unpenalised in this and will of come on for the run, he gets the extra distance which is a huge plus and drops into an easier race.
Wolverhampton
7.30 1m1f Class 4 Handicap – Badenscoth 5/2
Was rated 81 just over a year ago and quickly fell down the handicap to 67 after 5 races and a long break in between, a huge 14lb drop, he soon took advantage of the the drop in weight and returned to form for the extra trip on his first try on the Wolverhampton tapeta dominating a decent field, he went up 7lbs for the victory and ran again on the tapeta, the early pace was lacklustre but that didn’t stop another dominant performance coming from off the pace leaving him looking very well in still, he goes up another 6lb for that and runs a slightly stronger race, but evidence of last run he looks very well in off 80 still and has a big chance to claim the hat trick. Franny Norton is back in the saddle whose 2 from 3 on his back and was on his last 2 wins, he’s having a good season and has a good record when teaming up with Dean Ivory with a 20% strike rate and +£6.11 LSP which also is slightly better the last 5 seasons.
Russell Blair
