Inside Track's Fakenham tips for Wednesday 30th October 2024
Fakenham tips
Laser Focus has yet to win in his 15 attempts over hurdles, but his recent performances since joining a new stable suggest improvement. Notably, he finished a close fourth of 15 at Newton Abbot over 2m2f on good ground in August, which stands out as a commendable effort. Since then, Laser Focus has achieved a win on the Flat, indicating that he is in good form. With these factors in mind, he poses a real danger to his rivals.
Phone Home has had seven runs over hurdles, with her best performance being a runner-up finish to a promising prospect at Huntingdon (2m3f, good to soft) last November. Although she did not show significant progress afterward, her switch to chasing could bring about improvement, particularly after undergoing a wind operation over the summer. This change of discipline and recent treatment makes her an intriguing prospect in this race.
Opec appeared unlucky not to win on his hurdling debut in June, having been well clear before falling at the penultimate flight. However, he quickly made amends with a comfortable victory at Wetherby over 2m on good to soft ground this month. Carrying a penalty into this race, Opec's recent form and high Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 104 give him very obvious claims.
Instant Gambler is in formidable form, having remained undefeated in four runs over fences this season. His latest win occurred at Fontwell over 3m2f on soft ground just a week ago. Although he carries a 7lb penalty, placing him 28lb higher than for his first win, his current winning streak suggests he has a major chance of continuing his success in this race.
Jubilant was impressive on his Irish point debut, finishing runner-up in January, and continued to show potential in bumpers during the spring. His standout performance came with an easy victory by over nine lengths at Huntingdon on good ground. Now making his hurdling debut, Jubilant is anticipated to be a formidable opponent, and he is expected to be tough to beat given his promising track record.
Nevendon secured a victory in a seller over hurdles and recently claimed his first win over fences on his fourth attempt at Southwell over 2m on good ground, where the runner-up subsequently won. Following this, he also performed well on the Flat, finishing a commendable second. These recent successes indicate that Nevendon is in strong form and looks a threat in this race.
Catboy has shown significant improvement with the addition of cheekpieces. He secured his first victory in a novice handicap at Fontwell over 2m1f on good to soft ground and followed this with a second-place finish at Exeter over 2m2f on good to soft ground, where the first two were clear of the rest. While the shorter trip and sharper track might be concerns, Catboy's recent performances suggest he has a viable chance in this contest.
Best of luck. Remember to gamble responsibly.