1:30 – Fakenham – HUGHES ELECTRICAL FAKENHAM HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS 3) (4yo+ 0-130) Good To Soft, Good in places 2m7f110y
Wayward Glance won on his first run over today’s trip which was on his last start at Worcester 38 days ago but he needed all of his jockey’s efforts to get him back up when he looked beaten on the run in. The race was run at a muddling pace that day and Wayward Lad should be seen to much better effect in a more truly run race. There are plenty of pace angles in the race today so it will be interesting to see if the 4 year old bay gelding can follow up on his first run outside of Maiden and Novice hurdle events.
Bred by The Queen, Wayward glance won once on the flat and was sold to current connections for £40,000 at Tattersalls Horses-in-Training sales last October. He joined Jim Best’s yard at the beginning of January and has made a satisfactory start to his hurdling career. By Sadler’s Wells out of a Daylami mare, a winner herself over 1 mile 4 furlongs, he was always likely to have the stamina for longer distances. He has run 7 times to date over hurdles, winning twice and finishing 2nd and 3rd on four other occasions.
His wins have come over 2 mile 4 furlongs and as mentioned above today’s trip of 2 miles 7 furlongs on his last start at Worcester. As is his running style he was up with the leaders throughout before being ridden 3 out and driven to hold his position at the second last. He stayed on but looked held on the run in until he was driven into the lead in the last few strides to win by a head. His stamina finally came through at the very end of the race and as on all of his last six runs showed a very willing attitude.
He runs over an extra ½ furlong this afternoon which could make all of the difference. Fakenham is also a very sharp track which tends to favour front running and prominent horses and as Wayward Glance has led before it would be no surprise to see him leading today. The going conditions which were given at Good to Soft, Good in places at 6:48 this morning should also help to draw out his stamina. He will cope with the ground well enough as he has won twice and been placed three times from five runs in Good ground.
He is ridden by Tom Scudamore who rode him on his first start over hurdles. Tom is in very good form at the moment having ridden a double at Wetherby on Wednesday and riding 4 winners from 19 rides over the past 14 days. He has also ridden 2 winners from just 6 rides over hurdles at Fakenham over the past 5 seasons and has a 24% winning strike rate riding Hurdler’s for Jim Best with 8 runners from 34 rides.
Wayward Glance will need to step up on his previous form to win this race today. However, he has a good jockey in the plate and if he is ridden to lead he could have a few of these in trouble on the final circuit. He looks to be a really genuine horse with a very willing attitude and if he is still involved at the business end of the race he should give his backers a good run for their money at his current odds of 13/2.
