Racing tips: Flat handicapper Haliphon can open his account over the jumps

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Geromino tried his best to win the match race vs Tommy's Oscar but couldn't hold on in the final 100 yards. It was a good effort from both horses and Tommy's Oscar will go on to run in some smart novice races this year.

Wye Aye had no chance after the first 10 yards or so. He was keen like a 2yo debutante on the flat, swinging his head everywhere and refusing to settle. He ran in snatches and ran a weird race, constantly coming on and off the bridle before finishing tailed off in last place, probably due to wasting a lot of energy at the start of the race from over racing. I think they have to run him from the front so he can settle, but I won't be placing my money on him until he learns to settle.

Fakenham 3:50

Unfortunately, I am doing this write up quite early on the Thursday so the odds haven't come out yet, so fingers crossed the odds available on HALIPHON is decent and above EVS.

Ian Williams is up there with the best dual purpose trainer alongside Alan King, so no experience over hurdles isn't a concern to me for Haliphon as Ian has done this with plenty of his runners over the years, and many have transitioned their smart form from the flat to the jumps and visa versa.

Haliphon is a good handicapper on the flat and has competed in some good handicap this year, running well in a lot of them, including grabbing a couple of wins. He is currently rated 93 on the flat, which gives him a good chance in this if jumping soundly. This race doesn't look great so it does seem a good opportunity for Haliphon to get a win in the jumps world. The trip of 2m 4f isn't as much of a concern as it might be for some as he stays well on the flat and the slower pace over hurdles should allow him to stretch his stamina out a bit further.

Being a flat bred horse he should have more speed than most if not all of these in this race, especially on a tight track like Fakenham which suits the quicker, more nimble types.

Uttoxeter 1:49

KINODO KWETU is a horse who is rapidly progressing for the Sam England team and I think his progression hasn't stopped yet even off a 7lb higher mark than his most recent win at Southwell.

Since moving to fences he has won 3/3, so clearly the larger obstacles suit him better than hurdles. He is currently priced up at around 7/4 at the time of writing, and I'd have to say that's fair as based on his recent wins, he is the most likely winner and the one they all have to beat.

The drop in trip of a couple of furlong doesn't concern me in the slightest as he travelled very strongly last time out and that race wasn't run at a particularly strong gallop, so he clearly has the speed to cope over shorter. His winning distance doesn't quite show how easily he won. He's been kept busy recently, but hasn't really been asked for maximum efforts so he should still be 100% fit and ready and not fatigued.

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