Sunday racing tips
FAKENHAM: 12.13 Porridge, 12.43 Brave Jen, 1.13 Micronormous, 1.43 Go West, 2.13 Jony Max, 2.43 Zhang Fei, 3.13 Lunar Contact.
LINGFIELD: 11.30 Bearaway, 12.00 ZIP IT UP (NAP), 12.30 Sovereign Knight, 1.00 Daaris, 1.30 Nordic Glory, 2.00 Ravensbourne, 2.30 Mc Loven, 3.00 Ziggy’s Condor, 3.30 Book Of Life.
DOUBLE: Zip It Up and Brave Jen.
Richard Hannon’s Zip It Up created such a big impression on her debut that it will be something of a disappointment if she fails to follow up in the £30 In Free Bets With BetUK Novice Stakes at Lingfield.
The filly by Lope De Vega is out of an American Grade Three winner, but she was not sold when she went through the Tattersalls ring in October 2022.
Unraced at two, she has clearly had her issues, but she could hardly have been more impressive when she did finally make it to the track at Kempton in September.
Sent off at 13-2, no one could have expected the performance she put up, beating an odds-on shot from the William Haggas yard by seven and a half lengths.
The runner-up is no mug with a rating of 79 and it will be fascinating to see how far Zip It Up can go.
Mc Loven must have every chance in the Weekly £5 Free Bet With BetUK Handicap.
Simon Dow’s sprinter has won on the all-weather and the turf at Lingfield and has also run well in defeat on a few occasions, so the track clearly plays to his strengths.
He was beaten half a length into third place on his most recent visit in mid-September, showing good gate speed to grab the lead from a wide draw before being mowed down late.
With Tommie Jakes taking 5lb off his back, he will take some pegging back if fit enough to do himself justice after a three-month break.
Brave Jen is backed to defy top-weight in the Sky Bet Build A Bet Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Fakenham.
Tom Ellis has really found the key to the former Nicky Henderson inmate this autumn and in four outings she has yet to finish out of the first three.
That consistency, when up against some limited rivals, should stand her in good stead.
It could be a good day for Ellis, with his Lunar Contact bidding to extend his winning sequence to four in the Sky Bet Request A Bet Female Jockeys’ Handicap Chase.
The six-year-old won successive races over fences at this track before successfully reverting to hurdles to complete his hat-trick at Southwell last time.
With the trainer’s wife Gina Andrews in the saddle, Lunar Contact is difficult to oppose.
Micronormous can make it back-to-back course and distance wins in the £50,000 Queen Boudicca Series Qualifier Mares’ Handicap Chase.
David Pipe’s runner was no great shakes over hurdles, but already looks like making up into a better mare over fences judged on her initial effort here a month ago.
Micronormous jumped and galloped her rivals silly that day and a 6lb rise could prove lenient.
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