COBDEN LOOKING FOR FAKENHAM WINNERS IN HIS PUSH TO BE THE CHAMPION

Harry Cobden, neck and neck in the race for the 2023/24 jump jockeys’ championship with Sean Bowen, has five fancied rides when Fakenham stages its Payne Crop Nutrition Race Day on Friday.

Cobden, stable jockey to champion trainer Paul Nicholls, like Bowen, has never been crowned champion and the two are more than 30 winners clear of current champion Brian Hughes in the current standings.

In the day’s feature, the 3.10pm Tim Barclay Memorial Chase, Cobden rides Tupelo Mississippi for Brian Ellison and the nine-year-old, a winner last time out at Kelso, could see off his five rivals. They include Fakenham Racing Club’s Ben Case trained Conceroe, off the course since scoring in north Norfolk in November 2022.

Tom Cannon partners Lucy Wadham’s Pearly Island, recently third at Warwick, while Chris Ward rides Imac Wood, a winner of five of his nine chases, including at Hereford last month.

Cobden rides for Ellison in the 2.10pm Payne Crop Nutrition novice chase, partnering Dream Jet. Two making their chasing debuts are James Owen’s Ferrybridge, a Newcastle hurdles winner in December and Tom Gretton’s One Last Chance. Previous Fakenham winner Go Fox goes for Neil King having also finished runner-up at the course in December.

The opening Payne Crop Nutrition Selling Hurdle at 1.40pm sees Cobden on Triple Nickel although favourite is Good Times Ahead for Suzi and Jim Best.

Four run in the 2.40pm novice hurdle with Cobden on Anthony Charlton’s Westerninthepark, a recent Plumpton winner. West Warhorse, a Fakenham winner in December, returns for trainer Ben Brookhouse while Isabel Williams rides Patriotik for her father Evan, the horse making his rules debut. The quartet is completed by Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer’s Most Agreeable.

Cobden’s best ride of the day could come in the 4.50pm finale, the bumper, riding Nicholls’ Farland, runner-up on debut at Aintree. Gary Moore’s Lumi Plugin was fifth on debut at Fontwell with other threats coming from four debutants, including the filly Kissogram for Rae Guest.

Biggest field of the day sees eight in the 4.15pm William Bulwer Long Memorial Hunters’ Chase in which all eyes will be on Tigerbythetail ridden by Gina Andrews. The gelding has won seven out of eight point-to-point contests.

Earlier, at 3.40pm., seven contest the Payne Crop Nutrition novice hurdle including previous course winners Crem Fresh and For Gina. Recent Huntingdon winner Hermes Le Gris takes his chance as does Little Talks, 40/1 when third at Doncaster in January having been 80/1 when third at Fakenham in December.

RACING CLUB DUO BID FOR TOP HONOURS IN FAKENHAM FEATURE

Fakenham Racing Club’s Allo Allo and Conceroe hold entries in the feature steeplechase on Payne Crop Nutrition Raceday on Friday (February 16).

The 3.10pm Tim Barclay Memorial Chase has eight entries, including Allo Allo, trained by Stuart Edmunds, and Conceroe, trained by Ben Case.

Despite being a past winner at Fakenham, Allo Allo has been disappointing recently, having been pulled up on his last three outings. Conceroe, having won at Fakenham in November 2022, has been off the course since, but both will spark joyous scenes in the winners’ enclosure at the north Norfolk racecourse should either land the £10,000 contest.

Among rivals could be Imac Wood under Chris Ward for trainer Deborah Cole. A winner of five of his nine chase starts, Imac Wood was last seen winning at Hereford last month while another last time out winner in the line-up may be Tupelo Mississippi, who scored at Kelso for trainer Brian Ellison.

The seven-race card starts at 1.40pm when Good Times Ahead, a course and distance winner in November, has been entered in the Payne Crop Nutrition Selling Hurdle by trainers Jim and Suzi Best.

The same sponsors are responsible for the 2.10pm novice chase for which there are nine entries including Go Fox, a Fakenham winner last summer and second in December for Neil King. Last time winners Ferrybridge, making a possible chasing debut for James Owen, and Donald McCain’s Guillaume, a Catterick winner in December also hold entries.

Nicky Henderson has entered Lady D’Arbanville with Nico de Boinville booked to ride for the 2.40pm novice hurdle, the mare second at Exeter on hurdling debut following a bumper victory at Plumpton in December.

Previous winners West Warhorse, for Ben Brookhouse, Westerninthepark for Anthony Charlton, and Panhandle Slim for McCain may also take their chance.

The 3.40pm Payne Crop Nutrition novice hurdle over three miles has attracted 10 entries including former Fakenham winners For Gina for Lucy Wadham, and Crem Fresh for Barry Brennan. Recent Huntingdon scorer, grey gelding Hermes Le Gris may go for trainer Robbie Llewelyn while King has entered Little Talks, 40/1 when third at Doncaster in January, having previously been third at Fakenham in December at 80/1.

Dan Skelton has two entries in the 4.15pm William Bulwer Long Memorial Hunters’ Chase while Paul Nicholls has Natalie Parker in the saddle on Secret Investor, a winner of eight of his 17 chase starts.

The 4.50pm finale, the Racing TV Open Maiden Flat Race could give Nicholls a great chance should Farland honour his entry, the five-year-old a runner-up on Boxing Day at Aintree.

Horses with good records at Fakenham are looking for big prizemoney again when many return for Sunday’s Sky Bet Race Day at the north Norfolk course.

It’s a big day for Fakenham with two feature races, worth £30,000 and £25,000 respectively, both being screened live on terrestrial television’s ITV3.

The 2.40pm Sky Bet Mares’ Handicap Hurdle features two former course winners amongst the initial 15 entries.

They are Crem Fresh, Barry Brennan’s 10-year-old successful at the track in November and Ip Up, with Craig Nichol booked to ride for Jedd O’Keefe on a mare also a November winner in north Norfolk.

Pretending, a grey mare, trained by Lucy Wadham, won at Sandown last time while another to watch is the Nicky Henderson trained Spring Note, successful at Newbury on December 30.

There are eight entries for the £30,000 Sky Bet Veterans Chase for the David Keith Memorial Cup at 3.15pm including Francky Du Berlais from Peter Bowen’s yard. The 11-year-old has recently been targeting cross-country events, finishing second and fourth at Cheltenham in November and December.

Chambord, representing Venetia Williams, pulled up in the Welsh Grand National after winning at Aintree while Celebre D’Allen and Jamie Snowden’s Goose Man are others of interest.

The seven-race card opens at 12.20pm with the Mares’ Maiden Hurdle in which Olly Murphy  has Roccos Inspiration, bought from Michael Kennedy’s yard in Ireland for whom she was runner-up at Clonmel in October.

Previous Fakenham winners My Gift To You and Lincoln Lyn are amongst 14 entries for the 12.55pm Sky Bet Handicap Chase, the former, trained by James Owen, a course winner in November. Tom Gretton’s Lincoln Lyn won at Fakenham a year ago and returned to finish second at the pre-Christmas meeting.

Lady Berlais and Sawpit Sienna are two more former Fakenham winners entered for the 1.30pm Sky Bet Mares’ Handicap Hurdle over two miles. Dan Skelton’s Lady Berlais won at the pre-Christmas meeting while Sam Drinkwater’s Sawpit Sienna won at the course in October 2022 and also scored at Taunton a fortnight ago.

For Gina stormed home at Fakenham for Lucy Wadham in November and is among the entries for the 2pm Sky Bet Handicap Hurdle although The Wise Traveller and Steven Seagull, last time out winners, are also entered.

The closing 3.45pm Revel Festival NH Flat contest features 16 entries, eight of whom would be making their debuts. Of those with experience, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Habibi was third on debut at Newbury while Mick Appleby’s Midnight Sting was third at Fakenham in November.

Terry Redhead – 16 Jan

We were disappointed we were unable to race today, 2 January, but due to the continuous rain there was an increasing risk our safety vehicles would not be able to respond to any incidents on the track within the minute time frame, as is required.

David Hunter, our Clerk of the Course, explained the situation in an interview which is available to view on our Facebook page.

We apologise for this situation. The weather this Autumn has been shockingly wet, more so than we have ever experienced before, and understand with climate change this could be a reoccurring situation.  We therefore will be working with our medical team and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to look at improvements we can make to ensure we can continue to race despite these challenges.

Refunds

In line with our Terms and Conditions a full refund on tickets is available as no racing sadly took place.

We have automatically refunded everyone who purchased tickets online.  The refunds should be made to your cards within a week.

For those who purchased badges on the gate you can either:

• Send in your badges by post along with your name, bank account number, sort code and a contact email / phone number and a refund will be made to your account.  The address to send to is: Fakenham Racecourse, Fakenham, NR21 7NY.
• Tear you badges and send in a photo of both sides along with your name, bank account number, sort code to info@fakenhamracecourse.co.uk and a refund will be actioned.
• Or, use your badge to enter the course on Sunday 21 January.

For those who had a table within the Firth Restaurant or Lancaster Room, Trudi will be in touch to discuss ticket refunds.

If you have a query please email: info@fakenhamracecourse.co.uk.

Thank you for your understanding.

LENGTHY TRIP IN PROSPECT AS SCOTTISH WINNER SEEKS TOP PRIZE AT FAKENHAM

El Jefe, a seven-year-old gelding, will make the 680-mile round trip from Carluke in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in a bid to land the £30,000 feature at Fakenham Racecourse’s New Year meeting on Tuesday.

Trained by Andrew Hamilton, El Jefe, with Conor Rabbitt booked to ride, will be hoping to make it four wins in succession in the 3pm Gamble Plant Norfolk Grand Prix Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles.

El Jefe won at Haydock on December 23 to complete a hat-trick of victories after scoring at Sedgefield twice in November.

The horse has won four of 30 starts with Rabbitt on 15 winners for the season and Hamilton with three wins this campaign from 24 runners, all courtesy of El Jefe.

He faces five rivals in the feature on the seven-race card, including Out Of Focus and Haafapiece. The former, with Adam Wedge riding for Evan Williams, is a grey gelding recently third at Wincanton. Haafapiece, trained by Pam Sly with Paul O’Brien in the saddle, is having his sixth Fakenham test, having won in north Norfolk back on New Year’s Day in 2020.

The action begins at 12.30pm with the Happy New Year from Gamble Plant Amateur Jockeys’ Chase over three miles and five furlongs with Williams having the favourite in Jessie Lightfoot, a mare ridden by Imogen Mathias. Doyens De Ante and Fakenham regular Le Tuer look the main rivals.

The usual combination of trainer Stuart Edmunds and jockey Ciaran Gethings have the market leader in the 1pm Book Your Skip Online @Fakenhamskips.co.uk maiden hurdle with Wise Guy, unfortunate to slip up at the track in November and since undergoing wind surgery.

Trainer David Pipe is no stranger to success at Fakenham and his Ya Know Yaseff under Jack Tudor could take the 1.30pm Fakenham Double Up Bonus Is Back Mares’ Chase although Olly Murphy’s Auditoria and Ben Case’s My Girl Lollipop look top rivals.

Six go in the 2pm Fakenham Racecourse Mares’ Novice Hurdle with Dave Roberts’ Stamina Chope and Neil King’s Little Talks, an 80/1 third at Fakenham’s pre-Christmas meeting, the key threats to market leader Lady Salvador, a recent Fontwell second for Jim and Suzi Best.

Lilly Pinchin will be hoping her successful run at the course continues in the 2.30pm Cool Roxy – The Fakenham Favourite Novice Chase when she partners November course and distance winner My Gift To You for James Owen while the closing 3.30pm Racing Again on January 21 Hurdle looks good for Bryony Frost and trainer Lucy Wadham with For Gina, the mare looking to follow up her November course and distance success.

TAKE A GAMBLE ON SOME TOP ACTION TO WELCOME IN 2024 AT FAKENHAM

A large crowd is expected when Fakenham Racecourse bursts into 2024 action with its seven-race Gamble Plant New Year’s Raceday on Tuesday (January 2).

Fourteen entries have been received for the £30,000 feature, the 3pm Gamble Plant Norfolk Ltd Grand Prix Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles, including three last time out winners.

El Jefe, trained by Andrew Hamilton and with Conor Rabbitt booked to ride, has won his last three contests, at Haydock just before Christmas and twice at Sedgefield in November.

Alastair Ralph is another northern raider and he seems likely to send grey mare Magical Maggie, a recent Ludlow winner, to take her chance. Neil Mulholland’s Mothill won at Sedgefield on Boxing Day and is among the entries as is Jedd O’Keeffe’s Ip Up. The six-year-old was third last time at Musselburgh but won at Fakenham in November.

The closing 3.30pm Racing Again on January 21 Hurdle also sees recent winners among the 13 entries, including For Gina, representing Lucy Wadham whose six-year-old mare won at the track in November, while likely rivals will be Mulholland’s Hobb’s Delight, a Fontwell winner on Boxing Day and the Sarah Humphrey trained The Wise Traveller, a Huntingdon scorer in November for whom Bradley Roberts is booked to ride.

Action gets under way at 12.30pm when Humphrey’s Fakenham regular Le Tuer is among 10 entered for the Happy New Year from Gamble Plant Amateur Jockeys’ Chase. It will be Le Tuer’s fourth race at the course this season.

Wadham’s Éclair De Guye and Nick King’s Go Fox will need a market check if taking their chances in the three miles and five furlongs stamina test.

Biggest entry sees 18 for the 1pm Book Your Skip Online @Fakenhamskips.co.uk maiden hurdle and it includes the Donald McCain trained Just Gino, the gelding recently sent off favourite at Bangor on hurdling debut, where he finished fifth in a field of 10.

David Pipe’s Ya Know Yaseff with Jack Tudor booked is an interesting entry for the 1.30pm Fakenham Double Up Bonus is Back Mares’ Chase over three miles, the mare a recent Wincanton runner-up and second on her last visit to Fakenham in February.

There are 17 entries for the 2pm Fakenham Racecourse Mares’ Novice Hurdle at 2pm with the 2.30pm Cool Roxy The Fakenham Favourite Novice Chase having nine entries including course and distance winner My Gift To You, a November winner at the course with Lilly Pinchin again booked to ride for James Owen.

BOWEN BAGS DOUBLE FAKENHAM CHRISTMAS GOLD IN HIS BID TO BE TOP JOCKEY

Sean Bowen bagged his 118 and 119th winners of the season at the top of the jump jockeys’ championship when Gold Clermont won the marathon Sky Bet Handicap Chase.

Bowen steered the Andy Irvine trained mare wide, seeking better ground, and produced the 17/2 chance to win comfortably from Eceparti.

“Sean gave her a superb ride. We are aiming for the Sussex National but she definitely wants soft ground. Sean was free to ride and I’m delighted to help him have another winner in his quest for the title,” said Irvine.

It was Bowen’s was first winner at the course for five years and 30 minutes later he had an easier victory on For Pleasure for trainer Olly Murphy in the Sky Bet Handicap Hurdle, scoring by 15 lengths.

The result was never in doubt with Bowen dominating to win on For Pleasure’s debut run for Murphy after leaving Alex Hales’ stable, returned at 3/1.

Lucy Turner had a great ride on the Venetia Williams trained grey gelding Georges Saint who landed the feature Sky Bet Female Jockeys’ Chase at 5/2.

“He jumped superbly throughout and travelled really well,” said Turner, who continued Williams’ fabulous current hot streak in beating William Cody to land the £20,000 contest.

Jacks Touch won the Mares’ Handicap Chase for Sarah Humphrey and Daryl Jacob. The eight-year-old was third at Fakenham in November having won at Leicester the previous day.

“I ran her then because it was a four-runner race and I felt sorry for Fakenham who put on excellent prize money, so I ran her to support the course,” said Humphrey. Formidable

“She’s tough and lightly raced for her age so I wasn’t surprised she delivered today,” she added. Jacks Touch held off fast-finishing Lincoln Lyn to score at 7/2 by half a length.

Dan Skelton’s Lady Berlais didn’t see a rival in the two-mile Mares’ Novices Handicap Hurdle, winning under Charlie Todd, returned at 9/2. Third last time out, the five-year-old showed improvement to beat six rivals.

There was an impressive winner of the opening Nar Valley Bloodhounds Maiden Hurdle with Alice Stevens on the Ben Brookhouse trained West Warhorse to an easy 16-length success. The 5/1 chance stormed home in the second hurdles run of his career.

The closing Each Business Circle Norfolk Handicap Hurdle went to Lilly Pinchin on board the James Owen trained top weight Edison Kent who stormed clear to win from 7/2 favourite Copshill Lad by 23 lengths, returned at 8/1.

TOP-FORM WILLIAMS HEADS EAST IN SEARCH OF DOUBLE CHRISTMAS CHEER

In-form trainer Venetia Williams, with six winners from 13 runners up to the weekend, has two leading chances of grabbing some pre-Christmas cheer at Fakenham’s Christmas Raceday meeting on Tuesday.

Williams, from her Herefordshire base, runs Eceparti and Georges Saint, in two of the three chases on the seven-race card.

Feature is the 2.40pm Sky Bet Female Jockeys’ Chase worth £20,000 and Williams has Lucy Turner booked for Georges Saint, a grey gelding recently third at Ffos Las.

The seven-runner contest looks competitive and Georges Saint has a host of rivals including Scene One, Yccs Portocervo and Jony Max. For good measure, Fakenham Racing Club’s own hero, Allo Allo, also goes under Charlotte Jones for Stuart Edmunds.

Bryony Frost rides the Lucy Wadham trained Scene One, who scored on chasing debut at Fakenham in November while Lilly Pinchin partners the Dr Richard Newland trained Yccs Portocervo, third at the course before going on to score twice at Uttoxeter.

Alice Stevens, fresh from an impressive weekend winner, rides the Christian Williams’ trained Jony Max, last seen winning at Fakenham last month.

The earlier 1.40pm Sky Bet Stayers’ Chase over almost four miles sees Eceparti likely favourite under Charlie Deutsch, the gelding having won five of 22 chases, including two at Chepstow in October and November.

Main rivals among the eight runners include Kadex, for Wadham and Frost, the gelding runner-up at Fakenham behind Jony Max, and Le Tuer, a Fakenham winner in March for trainer Sarah Humphrey.

The other chase is the 12.40pm Mares’ Chase in which Wadham and Frost have Brandisova, whose only chase win was at Fakenham in March. Likely market leaders are Our Nel for Harry Fry and Fine By Her, Harry Bannister on Julian Smith’s mare who makes a chasing debut.

The action begins at 12.10pm with Michael Wigham having the favourite for the Nar Valley Bloodhounds Maiden Hurdle in September Power. The six-year-old has won six times on the flat and was runner-up in a class two event at Kempton earlier this month.

Crem Fresh won at Fakenham in November and returns for the 1.10pm Mares’ Novice Hurdle under Bannister for Barry Brennan although Lady Gwen, with Kai Leniham taking off seven pounds for trainer Kim Bailey the threat.

Nigel Twiston-Davies likes a Fakenham winner and he runs Sergeant Wilson in the 2.10pm Sky Bet Hurdle where main opposition is Anthony Charlton’s Western Soldier while the 3.10pm finale, the Each Business Circle Norfolk Handicap Hurdle, sees grey gelding Copshill Lad, runner-up at Plumpton, hoping to go one better.

ALLO ALLO … IT LOOKS LIKE A PRE-CHRISTMAS TREAT FOR FAKENHAM RACING FANS

It’s beginning to look a lot like a highly competitive day of action on Tuesday when Fakenham Racecourse stages its pre-Christmas seven-race fixture.

Feature race is the 2.40pm Sky Bet Female Jockeys’ Chase worth £20,000 which local supporters will be hoping can go the way of Allo Allo.

The seven-year-old gelding is owned by the Fakenham Racing Club and has already won twice over hurdles at the north Norfolk track as well as scoring over the bigger obstacles at Bangor.

Last time Allo Allo, trained by Stuart Edmunds, was pulled up at Fakenham but this time it is hoped he can recapture earlier good form, on Tuesday under seven-pound conditional rider Elizabeth Gale.

There could be plenty of quality opposition with Venetia Williams having entered grey gelding Georges Saint, recently third at Ffos Las while Christian Williams has entered Jony Max, a four-time chase winner including a success at Fakenham in November.

Scene One, with Bryony Frost booked to ride for Lucy Wadham, made it a winning chase debut at Fakenham in November while Lily Pinchin, who has tasted so much recent success at the course, returns to ride Dr Richard Newland’s Yccs Portocervo, the grey third at Fakenham in October before winning twice at Uttoxeter.

If ground conditions remain soft, the 1.40pm Sky Bet Stayers’ Chase over three miles and five furlongs could be a real test. Venetia Williams has entered Eceparti, twice a Chepstow winner recently while Wadham has Kadex, second behind Jony Max at Fakenham in November and Dr Newland has Rostello, a recent Hexham scorer.

The other chase on the card is the 12.40pm Mares’ Chase in which Wadham has entered Brandisova, whose only previous chase success was at the course in March. A rival could be from Nick Gifford’s stable. He has booked James Davies to ride River Tyne, second each time in her last five starts.

Davies and Gifford team up with Eliza Dolittle in the 1.10pm Mares’ Novice Hurdle. The mare was third behind Crem Fresh at Fakenham in November and that mare, trained by Barry Brennan, has also been entered for the two-mile contest.

Action starts with the 12.10pm Nar Valley Bloodhounds Maiden Hurdle in which Olly Murphy has entered Kilbarry Hill, twice a recent runner-up while there are 16 initial entries for the 2.10pm hurdle in which Nigel Twiston-Davies returns with Sergeant Wilson, a February winner at Fakenham and a recent Newbury runner-up.

The finale at 3.10pm has Murphy’s Exeter winner Wolfspear among the entries for the three-mile handicap hurdle contest in which David Pipe has entered an interesting possible rival in Ben Lily.

JOCKEY LILLY’S DREAM COMES TRUE AS SHE REALISES HER RIDING AMBITION

Lilly Pinchin, who managed a double at Fakenham’s previous meeting, rode arguably the most important winner of her career on Tuesday.

Riding the James Owen trained 7/4 favourite My Gift To You, Pinchin won the Weatherbys Hamilton Novice Chase to register her 75^th career winner, meaning she is now a full-fledged professional who can no longer claim a weight allowance.

“I’ve been waiting so long for this moment; dreaming about it. I’ve been so lucky and had so much support from trainers, friends and family. After not winning on two earlier fancied rides I wondered if it was going to be my day,” said an emotional 24-year-old Pinchin, who began her career at Fergal O’Brien’s stable.

The Gloucestershire-based rider, who has a pet turkey called Trev, had her first winner under rules in May 2017. Tuesday’s victory was her 14^th this season.

Northern-based jockey Craig Nicol had his first Fakenham winner when the Jedd O’Keefe trained Ip Up won the Greene King Flint Eye Mares’ Hurdle. Always up with the leaders, Ip Up, third at Ayr a fortnight ago, went ahead before the final flight and galloped clear to score at 8/1.

Bryony Frost was all smiles after taking the Greene King Level Head Hurdle on the consistent mare For Gina, trained by Lucy Wadham.

The 6/4 favourite tracked leader Redbridge Rosie and when Boleyn Boy fell it was left for For Gina to take it up before the final flight to surge clear for a second victory in three runs.

“She is very tough and game,” said a delighted Frost, as she acknowledged the cheers around the winners’ enclosure.

After his first success for a year at Fakenham’s previous meeting, Ellis Collier followed up with a fine victory in the Save Our Sport Conditional Jockeys’ Chase on Call of the Loon. The 12-year-old veteran, trained in Wales by Christian Williams, rolled back the years to get home at 5/2.

“I rode him the way Christian told me to. If you listen to Christian you don’t go far wrong,” said Collier, who travelled down with the horse the previous day.

Sarah Humphrey trained 10-year-old Templier to take the Weatherbys Handicap Chase under James Best at 17/2. The heavy-ground loving winner took it up before the final fence to notch up a seventh victory in 58 career starts.

Despite showing little on debut at Ludlow, Virginia Lodge improved to land the Greene King Ice Breaker Fillies’ Hurdle under Fergus Gillard. Trained by Dan Skelton, the three-year-old filly won at 9/1.

Three contested the closing newcomers’ ‘bumper’ which went to Tramuntana, a first bumper winner of the season for trainer Olly Murphy, ridden by Fergus Gregory and returned the 5/6 favourite.