THEY’RE OFF ON MONDAY AS FAKENHAM CONFIRMS EXTRA RACE DAY
Fakenham racecourse has confirmed it will stage an additional National Hunt race meeting at the track on Monday, November 13.
The North Norfolk venue suffered terrible bad luck for the start of the 2023/24 season, the first scheduled meeting being abandoned due to heavy rain and the second fixture seeing just one race before racing had to be abandoned due to the conditions.
“We are excited to share that we have secured an additional race day on Monday. Gates open at 10.30am with the first race at 12.35pm. There are seven races with the last starting at 3.50pm,” said Fakenham chief executive and clerk of the course, David Hunter.
The extra day of action will delight local supporters of the venue and its many members.
The two chases have both attracted sizeable initial entries with 17 runners pencilled in for the 1.40pm Sky Bet Build a Bet Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs.
Among the entries is hat-trick seeking Ben Buie trained by Martin Keighley. The nine-year-old gelding has already won twice this season, at Warwick in September and at Hereford in October and so arrives in top form.
Among his possible rivals are three from Lucy Wadham’s stable, chasing debutant Scene One, Plumpton winner Kadex and Brandisova, for whom Bryony Frost has been booked to ride, having won on that mare at Fakenham in both February and March.
All eyes will be on the Stuart Edmunds trained Allo Allo in the 3.20pm Sky Bet Handicap Chase. Owned by the Fakenham Racing Club, Allo Allo won over the bigger obstacles at Bangor in April having previously twice won over hurdles at Fakenham. The seven-year-old returned to action this season after a 170-day break but was pulled up at Stratford last month. After that contest it was reported that the horse was showing signs of post-race heat stress.
The 12.35pm Fillies Juvenile Hurdle sees Grain of Hope, Majestic Jameela, Limelight and Royal Athena, first, third, fourth and fifth in a Ludlow contest in October, meet again, although Royal Athena ran on November 5, finishing second in a Lingfield flat race.
At 1.05pm the Sculthorpe Handicap Hurdle has attracted another list of 17 entries while the 2.15pm Gatsby’s Fakenham Winner @ England Business Award Maiden Hurdle includes two entries for trainer Olly Murphy in Colonel Whizz and Dr Seb, last seen in March 2022 at Huntingdon.
There are 16 entries for the 2.50pm Win £50K with ITV For Free Mares’ Hurdle including former Fakenham winner, grey mare Luna Dora.
The finale at 3.50pm is The Sky Bet Request a Bet NH Flat Race over two miles for which Neil King has entered Linda Moon, a winner in April when beating Atickatickatiming, a subsequent Plumpton winner this week.
