WINNERS LINING UP FOR FAKENHAM’S BIG MONEY NORFOLK NATIONAL
There are six last time out winners among the 21 entries for the Snellings Norfolk National Chase at Fakenham’s penultimate meeting of the 20/21 season on Tuesday (May 4).
The three mile five furlong marathon is one of the highlights of the year with the contest worth more than £21,000 with almost £11,000 to the winner.
It will be interesting to see how many stand their ground for the race, at 4.25pm on expected good ground.
Among the entries are the Martin Smith trained Friends Don’t Ask. A winner last time at Fontwell, the six-year-old won over course and distance when landing the Testerton Chase in November with Jack Quinlan, who is booked again, in the saddle.
Peter Bowen’s Game Line was a Newton Abbott winner a month ago while High Counsel, a 12-year-old, sees Alexander Thorne booked to ride for trainer Gary Hanmer, the gelding a recent Warwick winner.
Magic River, trained by Milton Harris, won at Wincanton in April while the David Rees trained Robin of Sherwood, another Warwick winner, and Matt Sheppard’s Schnabel, a Fontwell scorer in April, are also entered.
Norfolk-based Snellings are also sponsoring two other contests on the six-race card, the 3.55pm Novice Hurdle and the 3.20pm Maiden Hurdle.
There are 17 maidens entered including Neil King’s six-year-old mare Dancing Doris, runner-up at Fakenham over a shorter trip, in March. Neil Mulholland has Plumpton second No Fixed Charge while Nicky Henderson’s Diva’s Mix is another interesting entry, the mare a recent Market Rasen third.
The novice hurdle has attracted 20 entries including Donald McCain’s Armattieken, a runner-up at Bangor over fences and now reverting to hurdles.
Also entered are the David Rees trained Kiera Royale, third at Stratford and the Max Young trained Top Beak, fourth at Wetherby after a Catterick success.
The opener is the 2.10pm Fakenham Racecourse Caravan Camping Site is Open Selling Hurdle and entries include Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Ballyellis, a Fakenham winner in March.
There are 16 entries for the 2.45pm Stay at Fakenham Racecourse Caravan Camping Site Chase including Christian Williams’ Barden Bella, recently a Hereford runner-up and returning to Fakenham where she fell in January, when running well.
The finale is the 4.55pm Turner Trophy Hunter Chase in which Tom Ellis looks set to run General Arrow and Alan Hill has entered Captiva Island, both recent winners.
