TWO-TIMES champion jockey Sean Bowen clocked up the 1,000th winner of his career at Fakenham a year ago and recently rode a magnificent hat-trick of winners at the Norfolk course.
On Monday, he returns to a track he loves with a terrific book of ride as Fakenham stages its richest ever race day, with prizemoney totalling £150,000.
The Bank Holiday card is sponsored by the Chestnut Pub Group and as well as some competitive racing spectators can enjoy entertainment with Norfolk Young Farmers holding a tug-o-war in front of the stands at 1pm, a funfair and a tractor display.
‘Lord Nelson’ will be in attendance and before the Norfolk National, jockeys will congregate for the national anthem before being led into the parade ring by the Deputy Lord Lieutentant of Norfolk, Fakenham’s Mayor and ‘Lord Nelson’.
Feature of the afternoon is the 4.38pm Chestnut Group Norfolk National worth £25,000 and Bowen rides the David Rees trained Esperti, the gelding bidding for a hat-trick after wins at Ffos Las and Fakenham.
Another former Fakenham winner, Enjoy d’Allen, goes for Nick King with owner’s daughter Lily Jones in the saddle, while Ben Godfrey has the ride on another previous Fakenham winner, Stan’s The Man, trained by Ella Pickard.
There are 10 declared for the three miles and five furlongs trip and another hopeful is the Paul Nicholls trained Wicked Thoughts, a recent Taunton winner.
While all eyes will be on the ‘National’, most valuable race is the 5.13pm Chestnut Group Fakenham Grand Prix Hurdle, worth £50,000, including £26,000 to the winner.
A dozen line-up and Bowen will fancy his chances on the Olly Murphy trained Kentucky River, a recent Huntingdon winner. Main rivals are Lucy Wadham’s Rialannah, a winner at Fakenham’s last meeting, Dan Skelton’s Tyson, a Newcastle winner, the Tom Ellis trained Secret Vino, a Fakenham winner in March, and another former course winner, Nick Schofield’s Morning Mayhem.
Opening race is the 2.18pm Each The Nook Novice Hurdle with Risk It All, Dream Ka and Can U Feel It among the favourites while at 2.53pm recent Fakenham winner Annie Nail renews rivalry with the mare who finished behind her, Best Women, in the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Centenary Mares’ Chase.
Bowen rides Haydock runner-up Mighty Fleur in the 3.28pm Heritage House Mares’ Maiden Hurdle in which Jamie Snowden’s Kernie d’Airy looks a player while the champion has grey gelding Numitor in the 4.03pm £30,000 Norfolk Community Foundation David Keith Memorial Veterans’ Chase. A winner nine times over fences, Numitor faces six rivals.
In the closing 5.48pm Break Mares Hurdle, Bowen partners Harley’s Pride, but market leader will be former Fakenham winner Dartmouth Rose for trainer Matt Crawley.