Coastguard Station, under a terrific ride by David Noonan, landed the feature race when Fakenham staged its ‘Aintree/Fakenham Special’ additional meeting on Friday.

The Henry Oliver trained eight-year-old gelding was runner-up at Ascot three weeks earlier and after tracking the leaders in the Special Racing TV Offer Chase, took it up after the final fence to win at 7/2.

“He benefited from a truly run race and enjoyed having horses in front to aim at,” said Noonan who restrained the winner while El Muchacho and Aviles battled up front.

“He’s a good horse and it was a deserved success after his effort at Ascot,” added Noonan.

The Wise Traveller, off the course since winning at Huntingdon in November, took the honours in the Horsepwr.co.uk For Welfare Facts and Information Hurdle under conditional jockey Jamie Gambin for trainer Sarah Humphrey.

Game Socks led the field of six for most of the three-mile contest but The Wise Traveller took it up and held off the challenge of favourite Chatty Chich to win at 11/1.

There were no bids to buy Ingennio when the gelding won at Fakenham on Easter Monday. Some may regret not bidding as the six-year-old, trained by Richard Hobson and ridden by Gavin Sheehan, won the Huge Savings At Racing TV Chase.

Sheehan held Ingennio off the pace and delivered him to jump the last with leader Jacks Touch before going on to score by two lengths, returned at 5/2.

Favourite backers had a great start when 8/11 chance Yalla Hababi landed the Racing TV Just £12 Per Month Maiden Hurdle by eight lengths.

Having a first run for trainer Harriet Dickin, the gelding, unlucky not to win last time at Hereford, made amends with a comfortable success under conditional jockey Bradley Harris, beating market rival Diamond Koda. It was Dickin’s first winner at Fakenham.

Dr Richard Newland, now training with Jamie Insole, has a sound record at Fakenham and his Tip Top Tonto, under Charlie Hammond, was the 7/1 winner of the Racing TV Novice Handicap Hurdle by seven lengths.

The lead changed hands several times, but it was left to the eight-year-old gelding to hold off a late challenge from Clararose to win for the first time in his 16^th attempt.

The closing bumper (National Hunt flat race) was easily won by Bond Broker under Angus Cheleda for champion trainer Paul Nicholls, the winner returned the 5/6 favourite.

Terry Redhead.

MONDAY WINNER CLOUDY WEDNESDAY RETURNS FOR A FRIDAY ‘EXTRA’

Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer received the applause at Fakenham’s Easter Monday race meeting when her eight-year-old gelding Cloudy Wednesday won the three-mile chase.

At Fakenham’s additional meeting, its ‘Aintree/Fakenham Special’ on Friday, Fryer returns to that scene of success to run her horse in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle.

Fakenham confirmed the extra meeting on Tuesday and hopes spectators will attend the course where they can also watch live action from Aintree on big screens.

Cloudy Wednesday, with Lewis Stones again booked to ride the gelding running off the same winning mark, is favourite for the 3.10pm Racing TV Novice Limited Handicap Hurdle in which he faces six rivals.

Among them are Saint Jaguen under Connor Brace for Fergal O’Brien, the gelding fifth last time at Hereford, and Clararose, Dan Skelton’s mare third on hurdles debut at Warwick but since disappointing in three contests.

The six-race card opens at 2pm with the Racing TV Just £12 Per Month Maiden Hurdle in which Diamond Koda is market leader. The Nick Kent trained gelding was second four times before unseating his rider at the first flight at Market Rasen. Main rivals are Dr Richard Newland’s Get A Superstar and Gavin Sheehan’s mount Big Cheese. Trained by Jamie Snowden, Big Cheese won on the flat for trainer Ed Bethell and makes a hurdling debut.

A field of five contest the 2.35pm Huge Savings At Racing TV Chase with Sheehan on board the Richard Hobson trained Ingennio, another winner at the north Norfolk venue on Easter Monday. Only four rivals go but all have chances, including Lucy Wadham’s Scene One, a course winner in November, Jack’s Touch, Sara Humphrey’s course winner in December 2019, Jigginstown King, Oliver Signy’s course winner in May, and Do No Wrong, bidding for a hat-trick after a seven-month break following two last summer successes at Uttoxeter.

Humphrey has a major chance in the 3.45pm Horsepwr.co.uk For Welfare Facts and Information Hurdle with The Wise Traveller, absent since a Huntingdon win in November. Shengai Enki for Newland and Neil Mulholland’s The Bold Thady, runner-up at Plumpton 12 days ago, are the threats.

The second chase, at 4.20pm sees Harriet Dickin run favourite El Muchacho, a winner of his first race for Dickin at Plumpton on Easter Monday. Key rivals will be Henry Oliver’s Coastguard Station, dropping down in grade, and Humphrey’s veteran, Templier, a Fakenham winner in November 2021.

The closing bumper (National Hunt flat race) at 4.55pm sees Paul Nicholls’ Bond Broker, seventh on debut at Fontwell in January, the favourite with Mick Appleby’s Midnight Sting also a major player.

THEY’RE OFF WITH AN EXTRA RACE MEETING AT FAKENHAM ON FRIDAY

Fakenham Racecourse is staging an additional ‘Fakenham/Aintree special’ fixture on Friday with spectators able to enjoy the action from the three-day Grand National meeting on screens at the north Norfolk venue while also tasting live action at their local track.

The additional meeting was only confirmed on Tuesday and initial entries look promising with 80 horses booked for the six races.

Most interesting race on the card looks like the 2.35pm Huge Savings at Racing TV.com Handicap Chase in which no fewer than five previous course and distance winners could take their chance.

Scene One, for Lucy Wadham, was fourth last time at Newbury, having scored at Fakenham in November while Sarah Humphrey’s Jack’s Touch won at Fakenham in December and looks set to return.

Add Jigginstown King for Oliver Signy, a Fakenham winner in May, Michael Hawker’s veteran Morton’s Leam, a Fakenham winner in 2017 and Ingennio, and a fascinating race looks in prospect. Ingennio, with Gavin Sheehan booked to ride for Richard Hobson, won at Fakenham’s Easter Monday meeting.

The other chase on the card is the 4.20pm Special Racing TV Offer Chase in which El Muchacho and Toothless look set to battle it out once again. At Plumpton on Easter Monday, grey gelding El Muchacho, having his first run for trainer Harriet Dickin, got the better of the Paul Nicholls trained Toothless, but now the six-year-old has a six-pound swing in the weights in his favour.

Coastguard Station is another of interest. Henry Oliver’s gelding was a runner-up in a higher class race at Ascot at the end of March while former Fakenham winner Templier always gives his best at the course.

Racing starts with the 2pm Racing TV Just £12 Per Month Maiden Hurdle in which Dr Richard Newland has two entries in Get A Superstar and Give Me A Boom. Diamond Koda may represent Nick Kent, the gelding runner-up four times before unseating his jockey at the first flight last time at Market Rasen.

There are 14 entries for the 3.10pm Racing TV Novice Hurdle including Evan Williams’ Everyonesacritic, fourth at Sedgefield after a victory at Musselburgh while Colonel Whizz looks interesting for Olly Murphy in the 3.45pm Horsepwr.co.uk For Welfare Facts and Information Hurdle, the gelding third at Huntingdon having finished runner-up at Fakenham in November.

The closing 4.55pm bumper (National Hunt flat race) sees two entries from Nicholls’ Somerset base including Jackpot Des Bordes, a winner on debut at Hereford in November and Bond Broker, down the field at Fontwell in January.

EASTER MONDAY DELIGHT FOR CAROLINE WHILE CHAMP LANDS A TREBLE

Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer was full of praise for her eight-year-old gelding Cloudy Wednesday who put in a superb round of jumping to ensure local success at Fakenham’s Easter Monday Aldiss Raceday.

Just a week earlier Cloudy Wednesday was beaten by a neck at Huntingdon but under Lewis Stones he made sure of victory in the Bruce Towers and Sons Mechanical Engineers Chase over three miles.

“He was fantastic. Isn’t he great! He’s so versatile. He can do it over two miles and now over three. He’s a great horse to own and train,” said Caroline, who has been based on the outskirts of Wymondham, at Browick Hall Stables, since 2011.

Returned at 5/2, Cloudy Wednesday was never seriously threatened and won by 11 lengths from the David Pipe trained Via Dante.

While Caroline scored for the locals, the hero of the day was champion jockey Brian Hughes who bagged a treble. He completed his threesome by winning the closing bumper on newcomer Star Walking for trainer Harry Fry, returned the 10/11 favourite.

Hughes kicked off proceedings by winning on 11/10 favourite Camarrate for trainer Donald McCain. The jockey had Camarrate in the front two throughout the Fisher Electrical Contractors Juvenile Maiden Hurdle and the gelding duly went one better than when finishing runner-up at Kelso a month ago, to score well despite a poor jump at the final flight.

Hughes then scored again when Ingennio took the Aldiss Selling Chase for trainer Richard Hobson. Shortcross Storm went off like a steam train early on but when he inevitably faded it was left for Ingennio to stroll to an easy 39-length success, returned at 5/2.

West Wratting trainer Sara Humphrey has a fine Fakenham record and her gelding Éclair De Beaufeu, well ridden by James Best, scored a surprise 10/1 victory in the Aldiss Seniors Handicap Hurdle, just holding off favourite Up For Parol.

Six-year-old mare Glance At Me was runner-up in last year’s Cecil and Sheila Buttifant Memorial Mares’ Hurdle and a year later went one better to score at 7/2 for Chipping Norton trainer Andrew Martin.

Ridden by James Martin, Glance At Me travelled well throughout and a good leap at the final flight sealed a comfortable victory for the small Oxfordshire stable.

One sad event was the death of the John Cornwall trained veteran Torrent Des Mottes. The grey 13-year-old was pulled up in the home straight and collapsed and died in the parade ring after the conclusion of the Aldiss Selling Chase.

TOP JOCKEYS GO HEAD-TO-HEAD AT FAKENHAM’S TRADITIONAL EASTER MEETING

Reigning champion jump jockey Brian Hughes and rival Gavin Sheehan both have full books of six rides on the Fakenham Easter Monday Aldiss Raceday card.

Hughes, third in this season’s championship race with 109 winners before the weekend, looks set to lose his crown to current leader Harry Cobden, on 152, or second-placed Sean Bowen, on 137. Sheehan is seeking to clock up 100 winners before the season ends on April 27, currently having recorded 86 victories.

The rivalry between Hughes and Sheehan looks set to dominate the Fakenham card which opens at 1.27pm and features three hurdle races, two chases and a closing ‘bumper’ a National Hunt flat race, at 4.16pm.

While Hughes has the more fancied rides, it could be Sheehan who gets the noisiest welcome home should he win on the Fakenham Racing Club owned Conceroe in the 3.42pm Bruce Towers and Sons Mechanical Engineers Chase over three miles.

Trained by Ben Case, Conceroe, having scored at Fakenham earlier in his career, has been fourth and runner-up in north Norfolk this season. Hughes rides 12-year-old veteran Vetoncall for Alan Jones, the gelding fourth at Chepstow a fortnight ago while Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer has Cloudy Wednesday under Lewis Stones, the gelding second at Huntingdon last week.

The earlier 2.32pm Aldiss Selling Chase has five runners but includes Sheehan on Gary Moore’s Jerrash, third at Plumpton last time, while Hughes partners the Richard Hobson trained gelding Ingennio, fifth at Huntingdon and now having a second run after a wind operation.

A field of nine starts the day at 1.27pm in the Fisher Electrical Contractors Juvenile Maiden Hurdle. While Sheehan has only an outside chance on Moore’s Alain, Hughes partners Donald McCain’s Camarrate, a recent Kelso runner-up, although Newmarket trainer Michael Wigham runs Three Yorkshiremen, a Musselburgh second in November who has since run three times on the all-weather.

Former Fakenham winner Sawpit Sienna is Hughes’ mount in the 1.57 Cecil and Sheila Buttifant Memorial Mares’ Hurdle for trainer Sam Drinkwater while Sheehan rides Hobson’s Bleu Verte. Both may have to miss out though with James Martin riding Glance At Me, looking to go one better than her second at Plumpton in January.

Martin rides Charlie’s Glance in the 3.07pm Aldiss Seniors Hurdle but Hughes and Sheehan could dominate again, the former on Oliver Signy’s Plumpton runner-up Sambezi and Sheehan on Jamie Snowden’s Up for Parol, third at Chepstow in February.

Both could add to the day’s winning tallies in the 4.16pm finale, the Racing TV Mares’ bumper, with Hughes on Harry Fry’s debutant Star Walking and Sheehan on Noel Williams’ newcomer Briery Bee. Dan Skelton also has an interesting debutant in Jazzmina Queen.

BIRDHOUSE AIMS TO MAKE IT AN EASTER DOUBLE AT FAKENHAM’S ALDISS RACEDAY

Five-year-old mare Birdhouse, so impressive when winning at the last Fakenham raceday, returns to the north Norfolk course for its Aldiss Easter Monday meeting aiming for a quick double for trainer Stuart Edmunds.

Edmunds has a great strike rate at Fakenham and at that last meeting on March 15, had two winners, including Birdhouse, who now aims for the 1.57pm Cecil and Sheila Buttifant Memorial Mares’ Hurdle.

There are 13 entries for the contest and rivals could include La Breille, Richard Bandey’s five-year-old a winner at Fakenham a year ago and runner-up at Plumpton in January and Glance at Me, James Martin booked to ride for trainer Andrew Martin, the mare also a Plumpton runner-up.

Two races represent the day’s main sponsors Aldiss. The 2.32pm Aldiss Selling Chase has eight entries including Gary Moore’s Jerrash, third at Plumpton over a longer trip in March. James Bowen rides his father Peter’s Easy Bucks while Ingennio sees Richard Hobson having booked Lee Edwards to ride the six-year-old recently fifth at Huntingdon.

The Aldiss Seniors Handicap Hurdle at 3.07pm has eight initial entries with Knowwhentoholdem of great interest. Having a first run for Neil Mulholland since leaving Anthony Charlton’s stable, the nine-year-old was a Newbury winner last month.

David Pipe’s Paricolor returns to Fakenham where he scored in November 2019, while also entered are Oliver Signy’s Sambezi, a Plumpton runner-up in February, and Jamie Snowden’s Up for Parol, third at Chepstow in February, with Gavin Sheehan booked to ride.

The Fisher Electrical Contractors Juvenile Maiden Hurdle opens racing at 1.27pm and possible favourite amongst the 13 entries would be Donald McCain’s four-year-old gelding Camarrate, a Kelso second after finishing fourth at Warwick on hurdling debut. Also entered is Michael Wigham’s Three Yorkshiremen, a November runner-up at Musselburgh and in action three times since on all-weather courses on the flat.

The second chase is the 3.42 Bruce Towers and Sons Mechanical Engineers Chase over three miles featuring two horses of interest. The Fakenham Racing Club supporters will be cheering on Conceroe, trained by Ben Case, second at the last Fakenham meeting, while Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer has entered Cloudy Wednesday, runner-up at Huntingdon earlier this week.

Rivals could include last time winners Goguenard, Pilgrim King and The Scorpion King, the latter with Sheeham booked to ride for trainer Signy.

The closing 4.16pm Racing TV Mares’ National Hunt Bumper has 14 entries including Harry Fry’s Star Walking, making her rules debut after winning a Turtulla point-to-point and Nicky Henderson’s Huntingdon third Crazierthandaisy and John Quinn’s Sedgefield runner-up Positivia.

GALE FORCE SUCCESS AS ‘SILVER BULLET’ LANDS FAKENHAM SILVER CUP
Elizabeth Gale claimed the eighth success of her career when landing the Fakenham Silver Cup at the north Norfolk course’s Woodfordes Raceday.
She scored on a real ‘silver bullet’ in the shape of grey gelding Tapley, trained by Suzi Best and returned at 7/2.
Gale took it up before the last flight and the seven-year-old held on to win from Ip Up.
“I hit the front too soon but thankfully he held on. I’m so delighted for the horse and the owners. I love the horse and feel I’m getting to know him now,” said Gale.
Fakenham’s ‘Double up’ bonus scheme was won when trainer Stuart Edmunds completed a short-priced double.
Favourite backers got off to a flying start when Bluegrass won the opening Robert Case Memorial Maiden Hurdle under Charlie Hammond for the Leighton Buzzard-based trainer.
The 5/6 chance had to be shaken up on the penultimate circuit but cruised home by seven lengths from Rumoursareflying.
Then it was the turn of Birdhouse, also under Hammond, to complete Edmunds’ double by taking the Try Woodfordes New Volt IPA Mares’ Hurdle at 15/8.
Birdhouse sped away from his rivals to win by nine lengths to complete the double which meant both winning owners, as well as Edmunds, collected an extra £1,000 bonus.
Brendan Powell executed a last-to-first success in the Racing TV Hurdle for the Walter Wales Cup on 5/1 chance Double Powerful.
Dropped out early on, Double Powerful began to move through his rivals on the final circuit. By the last flight, the Neil Mulholland trained gelding was level with odds-on favourite Fever Dream and stretched ahead to prevail in a tight finish.
It must have been lonely for Jack Tudor and Ballyrashane when they led from start to finish in the three miles and five furlongs Revel Music Festival Chase.
The 4/6 favourite set the pace and once two of the quartet had pulled up, he was left to collect a first chase success by holding off Fakenham Race Club gelding Conceroe. Trainer Christian Williams’ eight-year-old was never troubled, having been backed from 10/1 the previous evening.
Ballylinch won his first chase in October and under a driving ride by champion jockey Brian Hughes, doubled that tally by landing the Woodfordes Wherry Novice Chase.
Returned at 10/3, Ballylinch, trained by Micky Hammond, was in the driving seat throughout and held on to win decisively.
The closing Queens Cup Open Hunters’ Chase was a thriller with 3/1 chance Rebel Dawn Rising, pulled up in the race last year, beating Knight in Dubai and Firak to earn a fine victory for Dale Peters and Thetford-based trainer David Kemp.

TOUGH CALL AS TO WHO CAN MAKE FAKENHAM’S SILVER CUP A GOLDEN MOMENT

A hugely competitive Fakenham Silver Cup is the highlight of Woodfordes Race Day at the north Norfolk course on Friday, nine horses going to post less than an hour after the finish of National Hunt racing’s blue riband contest, The Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The £20,000 Silver Cup Handicap Hurdle is a tough race to call with all nine runners having some sort of chance.

Champion jockey Brian Hughes partners Micky Hammond’s Coup De Couer, Alex Edwards rides Pam Sly’s Fransham and Craig Nichol partners Jedd O’Keefe’s Ip Up, three of the leading players.

Coup De Couer won at Sedgefield last month, Fransham was a Kempton runner-up in January and Ip Up has already scored at Fakenham, in November, as well as tasting success at Newcastle.

At the bottom of the weights both Tapley and Whispering Royal hold chances, Elizabeth Gale claims seven pounds off Suzi Best’s Tapley, a Kempton runner-up, while Tom Cannon rides Alan King’s Whispering Royal, a Doncaster scorer in December.

Giant TV screens make sure spectators miss none of the Cheltenham action and swiftly following the 3.30pm Gold Cup, eight go for the 3.45pm Try Woodfordes New Volt IPA Mares’ Hurdle, including Hughes on Donald McCain’s Weigh Anchor. After finishing second at Wetherby in the autumn, the filly underwent a wind operation and she could figure.

Charlie Hammond rides the Stuart Edmunds trained Birdhouse, a winner of a Fakenham bumper last April while former Fakenham winner Crem Fresh goes for trainer Barry Brennan.

Most popular winner would by the Fakenham Racing Club owned Conceroe in the 2.25pm Revel Music at Fakenham Chase. The Ben Case trained gelding won at Fakenham in November 2022 and had a long layoff before returning to finish fourth at the last meeting at the course.

Rostello also takes his chance in the marathon three and a half mile plus contest as does Lucy Wadham’s Éclair De Guye, third in three of his last four races.

Edmunds has the favourite for the 1.10pm opener, the Robert Case Maiden Hurdle with Bluegrass, a recent Huntingdon runner-up although hurdling debutant Juan Bermudez needs noting in the market for Dan Skelton. The horse twice won on the flat when trained by Andrew Balding.

Five contest the 1.45pm Woodfordes Wherry Novice Chase with Hughes on Hammond’s Ballylinch and Brendan Powell riding Neil Mulholland’s Hamartia.

Awesome Foursome for Nigel Twiston-Davies and Sangiovese for Gary Moore look the leading contenders in the 3.05pm Racing TV Hurdle while the 5.05pm finale sees six compete in the Queens Cup Hunters Chase including Skelton’s Firak, a Leicester runner-up last week.

SILVER TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT FAKENHAM ON GOLD CUP DAY

Fakenham focusses on silver on Cheltenham Gold Cup day at Friday’s Woodfordes race meeting at the Norfolk course.

Spectators will be able to watch the Cheltenham action on big screens at Fakenham’s fixture where the highlight, less than an hour after the Gold Cup, the blue riband of the National Hunt season, is the racecourse’s Silver Cup Handicap Hurdle over two miles, worth more than £10,000 to the winner.

There are 18 entries for the 4.25pm feature event including two from champion trainer Paul Nicholls’ stable, even though he will surely have bigger fish to fry at the Cheltenham showpiece.

Six-year-old grey gelding Inca De Lafayette was runner-up at Taunton last month after a previous success at the Somerset track while Nicholls’ Rare Middleton is another entry, the five-year-old a Doncaster winner in December.

Peterborough-based trainer Pam Sly is always worth following at Fakenham and her Fransham, a 10-year-old gelding, is a likely contender having been runner-up at Kempton in January. A Fakenham November winner, Ip Up, is also set to take her chance after a Newcastle success and Kelso fourth.

Last time out winners Steel Ally for Sam Thomas and the Micky Hammond trained Coup De Couer, a Sedgefield winner in February, are also among the initial entries.

Friday’s seven-race card opens with the 1.10pm Robert Case Memorial Maiden Hurdle in which Anthony Charlton has two entries in Secret Sauce and Nachtgeist while Stuart Edmunds has entered recent Huntingdon second, Bluegrass.

The 1.45pm Woodfordes Wherry Novice Chase has nine entries with former chase winner Ballylinch, representing Hammond, a likely player along with Evan Williams’ Puddlesinthepark.

Stamina will be key in the 2.25pm Revel Music at Fakenham Racecourse Chase over more than three and a half miles which has garnered nine entries including Fakenham Racing Club’s Conceroe, trained by Ben Case.

The eight-year-old gelding won at Fakenham in November 2022 and returned after a lengthy absence at the course’s most recent meeting, finishing fourth of six.

Case has also entered the consistent Felton Bellevue while former Fakenham winner Rostello could be in the mix for Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole.

The 3.05pm Racing TV Hurdle sees Borodale and Awesome Foursome, separated by just a nose at Chepstow in January, both entered while in the 3.45pm Try Woodfordes New Volt IPA Mares’ Hurdle, Edmunds has entered Birdhouse, recently third at Market Rasen and a former Fakenham winner.

Following the 4.25pm feature, racing concludes with the 5.05pm Queens Cup Grassroots Open Hunter Chase in which Dan Skelton has entered last week’s Leicester runner-up Firak.

Harry Cobden took over top spot in the race for the 2023/4 jump jockeys’ championship with a double at Fakenham on Friday.

Cobden drew level with Sean Bowen on 123 winners in the race for this season’s championship with victory on 8/13 favourite Westerninthepark in the EBF Novice Hurdle.

Previous course and distance winner West Warhorse led the quartet over the first two miles but as soon as Cobden asked the question, the Anthony Charlton trained market leader responded to score by four lengths.

“He was very relaxed and raced behind the bridle all the way. But he jumped well and quickened up nicely,” said Cobden. His arch-rival Bowen was not in action on the day and Cobden joked he hoped Sean was: “Enjoying a spa day somewhere!”

Cobden then had to wait until the last of the seven races on the card to get Farland home in the bumper to take over top spot in the rankings.

Cobden seemed squeezed for room on Farland but as soon as he asked the Paul Nicholls trained gelding to produce, he did just that and won at 4/9.

Caoilin Quinn completed a double when the Gary Moore trained grey, Invincible Nao took the feature, the Tim Barclay Memorial Chase.

The 7/5 favourite was always in front and never looked like being beaten. “He got into a lovely rhythm. I didn’t want him to over-race. I was confident he would stay. We have always thought he was decent and hopefully he will progress from this,” said Quinn.

Mi Sueno never saw another rival when taking the opening Payne Crop Nutrition Selling Hurdle under Quinn’s positive ride for trainer Paddy Butler.

The 4/1 chance jumped well and finished clear by 13 lengths from Triple Nickle to give Butler his first success since November 2022.

Newmarket trainer Lucy Wadham is always worth following at Fakenham and her mare For Gina repeated her November course and distance success by taking the Payne Crop Nutrition Handicap Hurdle at 4/1 under Alex Chadwick, finishing clear of favourite Hermes Le Gris.

There was a dramatic opening to the Payne Crop Nutrition Novice Chase when favourite One Last Glance went left when landing after the first fence and was unable to get back on course, crashing into the plastic railings.

When Dream Jet was then pulled up, it left three contenders with Go Fox well clear. However, the 17/2 outsider of the field, Elpologreg, tracked the leader and jumped ahead at the final fence to win by six lengths under Micheal (CORRECT) Nolan for trainer Seamus Mullins.

The William Bulwer Long Memorial Hunters’ Chase went to Secret Investor who was handed the race when Gina Andrews took a crashing final fence fall from Tigerbythetail. Trained by Nicholls and ridden by Natalie Parker, who survived a first fence blunder, the winner was returned at 5/6.

By Terry Redhead.