All posts by David Hunter

5 Day entries for the Sky Bet Raceday on Monday 13th November

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.

Additional Raceday Confirmed – Monday 13 November

We are excited to share we have secured an additional race day on Monday 13 November.

Gates open at 10.30am with the first race at 12.25 (now 10 minutes earlier than originally planned). There are seven races through the afternoo, with the last starting at 15.40.

Mobile food venues and refreshments within the Adrian Flux Bar will be available as well as Tote betting.

All areas of the course will be open to the public and tickets are £10 cash or card on the gate, with free entry for Annual Members.

Children under 17 are free when accompanied by an adult, and well-behaved dogs on a short lead are welcomed.

 

Report from Residents Raceday, 1st November

FAKENHAM OUT OF LUCK AS HEAVY DOWNPOUR WIPES OUT RACING

Fakenham Racecourse’s belated start to the National Hunt Racing season was cut short today when racing was abandoned after the first contest on a scheduled six-race card.

Two horses slipped up going around a bend in the 1.40pm Sculthorpe National Hunt Maiden Hurdle and an inspection of the course after the race resulted in the stewards announcing an abandonment of the day’s programme.

Wise Guy, under Ciaran Gethings, and Borodale, under jump jockeys’ championship leader Sean Bowen, both came crashing down. Fortunately, both horses and jockeys escaped injury.

When the horses were in parade ring before the race there was a huge downpour of rain and that proved the key issue.

“We are really sorry to have to abandon the meeting,” said Fakenham chief executive and clerk of the course, David Hunter.

“The heavy rain came at the wrong time. The rain did not have time to soak in and with the lush grass soaked, everyone, jockeys, trainers and stewards were in agreement that it was too slippery to continue.

“The safety of the jockeys and horses is paramount so we simply could not continue. It really is a sad day. In my 26 years here at Fakenham it has never happened before,” added Hunter.

“There is no finger pointing at the ground staff who work so hard. They did nothing wrong it was just that downpour before the race. If it had arrived an hour earlier, we would have been ok and able to race on soft ground,” he added.

Fakenham’s luck must be due to change. The scheduled first meeting of the new season was abandoned a fortnight ago due to heavy rain and during 2023 meetings were lost due to frost in January and to the ground being too dry in the spring.

“We must stay positive and surely our luck will change. Hopefully we can apply for an extra fixture,” said Hunter.

In the only race, 4/5 favourite Roger Pol, under Gavin Sheehan for trainer Jamie Snowden, made every yard to win from the Nicky Henderson trained Call the Dance, the winner going one better than on his hurdling debut at Newton Abbot a month ago.

The next scheduled meeting at the course is on Tuesday, November 21.

 

NEW ADRIAN FLUX BAR OFFICIALLY OPEN

Despite the abandonment of racing after one contest, Fakenham’s new Adrian Flux bar was officially opened.

There is always a warm welcome for racegoers at Fakenham and for those visiting today they would have noticed the new facilities completed over the summer.

The new bar building in the grandstand and paddock enclosure was officially named by Lisa and Laura Flux as The Adrian Flux Bar.

“We are very grateful for the generosity of Adrian Flux Insurance and the Flux family for the sponsorship of this building,” said chief executive David Hunter.

The course has also seen plenty of landscaping and refurbished toilet facilities and some trees have been cleared to enable a large, ground mounted solar panel array to be installed later.

Runners for Residents Raceday, Wednesday 1st November

TITLE-CHASING BOWEN LOOKING GOOD FOR MORE FAKENHAM WINNERS

Sean Bowen, well clear in the race for the jump jockey championship, has three top chances of adding to his tally at Fakenham’s Resident Raceday tomorrow (Wednesday, November 1).

The 26-year-old Welshman is fast approaching 100 winners for the campaign (92 by the weekend), more than 30 ahead of reigning champ Brian Hughes.

Supporters of Bowen may have to wait until late in the day though, as his best chances are in the final two contests on the six-race card, eagerly awaited after the course’s scheduled 2023/24 seasonal opener a fortnight ago fell victim to heavy rain.

Five go in the day’s feature, the 3.45pm Great Ryburgh Novice Chase with Bowen on trainer Olly Murphy’s En Avant. The seven-year-old gelding was eighth of 16 at Worcester last time in a class two hurdles race but had previously won at Fontwell and Worcester.

Likely favourite is the Gary Moore trained Aviles, set for his chase debut. In four starts over hurdles, the gelding has been second every time, latterly at Plumpton in April. The JP McManus owned Gitche Gumee for Alan King is well fancied on his chasing debut with Magistrato, one with chasing experience, and top weight Llandinabo Lad, completing the line-up.

Bowen rides for James Owen in the closing 4.15pm Colkirk Hurdle, on recent Southwell third Polyphonic. Bryony Frost rides likely favourite Pretending for Lucy Wadham, the grey filly a Cheltenham runner-up in April while Jubilee Gold, State of Bliss and Sergeant Wilson are previous winners around Fakenham.

Bowen’s other ride is for Murphy in the opening 1.40pm Sculthorpe Maiden Hurdle in which he partners Borodale, fifth on hurdling debut at Uttoxeter. Favourites will be Roger Pol for Gavin Sheehan and trainer Jamie Snowden, a recent Newton Abbot second, and Call the Dance for Nicky Henderson, the mare making her hurdling debut after winning on the flat at Southwell in April.

In the 2.15pm RBL Poppy Appeal Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle, Grain of Hope will be all the rage for trainer Emma Lavelle when the filly meets up again with two fillies from Stuart Edmunds’ stable, Majestic Jameela and Limelight, both of whom finished behind her at Ludlow a fortnight ago.

Frost and Wadham look a formidable team in the 2.45pm Wells Chase, the mare a two-times previous Fakenham winner although Regarde may well go off market leader for Sheehan and Snowden following his chase debut victory at Huntingdon in October.

Biggest field of the day sees a dozen in the 3.15pm Burnham Market Mares’ Hurdle headed by Harry Fry’s recent Market Rasen third Our Nel under Ben Bromley, who claims a handy five pounds.

5 Day entries for Residents Raceday on Wednesday, 1st November

BRYONY IN THE MIX AS FAKENHAM HAS A SECOND ATTEMPT AT ITS NEW SEASON START

After heavy rain caused the loss of Fakenham Racecourse’s planned opening meeting of its 2023/24 National Hunt Racing season last week, officials are hopeful they will get the new campaign under way with its six-race Resident Raceday on Wednesday (November 1).

And crowd favourite Bryony Frost looks set to be in the mix for winners following the publication of the initial entries for the six contests.

Frost has had six winners this season from 54 rides and partners three with leading chances, two trained by one of Fakenham’s most successful handlers, Newmarket-based Lucy Wadham.

Brandisova, a seven-year-old mare has scored twice at the north Norfolk course, in February and March, and goes in the 2.45pm Wells Handicap Chase over three miles under Frost. There is plenty of good competition, with Syd Hosie’s Astroman, Tim Vaughan’s Kap Chidley, Jamie Snowden’s Regard and Emma Lavelle’s Zoran all entered along with another from Wadham’s stable, recent Plumpton winner Kadex, under Tom Cannon.

The action starts at 1.40pm with the Sculthorpe Maiden Hurdle. Nicky Henderson’s Call The Dance and Snowden’s Doc McCoy could make their hurdling debuts while those with experience include Stuart Edmunds’ Wise Guy and Snowden’s recent Newton Abbot runner-up Roger Pol.

Grain of Hope, trained by Lavelle, recently won at Ludlow, beating two Edmunds’ trained fillies Majestic Jameela and Limelight, and those three are all entered in the 2.15pm Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle.

Frost rides her father Jimmy’s Caitlin’s Court in the 3.15pm Burnham Market Mares’ Handicap Hurdle, her mount fresh from finishing second at Newton Abbot earlier this month. One main danger could be the Anthony Carson trained Courtney Silver, fourth at Fontwell a fortnight ago after an earlier success at that track.

Feature race is the 3.45pm Great Ryburgh Novice Chase worth £15,000 for which eight have been entered including Gary Moore’s chase debutant Aviles, Olly Murphy’s En Avant, Alan King’s Gitche Gumee and Deborah Cole’s Magistrato, for whom Chris Ward is booked to ride.

The closing 4.15pm Colkirk Handicap Hurdle is worth £12,500 and Frost could end the day in style on Wadham’s Pretending, the grey filly second of 11 at Cheltenham when last seen in April. Of the other 15 entrants, Jubilee Gold, for Dr Richard Newland, is a course and distance winner with Polyphonic also interesting, for trainer James Owen with Sean Bowen, currently well clear in the jump jockeys’ championship, booked to ride.

Declared Runners for Friday 20th October Sky Bet Raceday

ON THE MOVE EDMUNDS EYES UP MORE SUCCESS AT HIS HAPPY HUNTING GROUND

Racehorse trainer Stuart Edmunds has a superb success rate at Fakenham and looks to add to his winners’ list at the north Norfolk venue’s opening meeting of its 2023/24 National Hunt season on Friday.

Edmunds has had 17 winners from 57 runners at Fakenham and runs last time out winner Arizona Cardinal in the Sky Bet Raceday’s feature contest at 4.53pm.

The Sky Bet Handicap Chase over three miles and worth £30,000 has attracted seven runners and Edmunds’ seven-year-old, with regular jockey Ciaran Gethings booked to ride, is certain to be among the favourites.

Edmunds recently completed a move to a new training set-up, Croft Farm at Stewkley, near Leighton Buzzard, a purpose-built facility for up to 45 horses. Having already sent out one winner from his new yard, the trainer will be hoping Arizona Cardinal, who took a similar race at Uttoxeter in May, can score again.

Among the rivals are last time out winner, Yccs Portocervo, representing Dr Richard Newland who won the race last year with Shetland Bus and in 2021 with Minella Encore. Yccs Portocervo scored at Uttoxeter in June and was third at Fakenham, albeit on the hurdles course, a year ago.

Swapped goes for Charlie and Adam Pogson, the gelding a Southwell runner-up earlier this month after a previous win at the same course while Brief Times has the services of Harry Cobden for trainer Neil Mulholland, the seven-year-old third at Warwick after scoring at Bangor and Southwell.

The Edmunds and Gethings combination have a good chance earlier at 3.08pm in the Opening of Adrian Flux Bar Today Novice Hurdle with Wise Guy. Only five go and Wise Guy, third at Bangor, has a chance along with main rival Western Soldier. The Milton Harris trained rival was third earlier on hurdling debut at Sedgefield nine days ago.

Gavin Sheehan has been in top form earlier this week and he has a great chance of getting the day off to a flyer on Jamie Snowden’s Doc McCoy in the opening 2.33pm Sky Bet Maiden Hurdle. The gelding was second at Wetherby on hurdling debut and faces three rivals, headed by Olly Murphy’s Kilbarry Hill.

Champion jockey Brian Hughes is on Heros De Moutiers in the 3.43pm novice chase but the contest looks to be between Alan King’s Theonlywayiswessex and Gone In Sixty for Alex Hales.

Biggest field sees 11 go in the 4.18pm novice hurdle with Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Awesome Foursome the likely favourite while the 5.25pm finale sees two last time winners in Bashers Reflection, a course and distance scorer and James Owen’s Enthused.

5 Day Entries for Friday 20 October Sky Bet Raceday – posted

£30,000 CHASE THE HIGHLIGHT AS FAKENHAM OPENS ITS 2023/24 JUMPS SEASON

And they’re off … or at least they will be on Friday (October 20) as Fakenham Racecourse welcomes all to the first National Hunt fixture of its 2023/24 season.

The Sky Bet Raceday meeting consists of six races with the feature contest, the 4.53pm Sky Bet Handicap Chase over three miles, worth £30,000, including £15,800 to the winner.

Thirteen initial entries have been made for the contest on predicted good to soft ground certain to be in perfect condition after the summer break at the north Norfolk venue.

Even at five-day entry stage there are plenty of possibilities for the feature headed by trainer Stuart Edmunds’ seven-year-old gelding Arizona Cardinal, last seen winning at Uttoxeter in May.

Neil Mulholland has Brief Times, a Bangor and Southwell winner, Charlie Pogson has likely favourite Swapped, a Southwell winner and Dr Richard Newland has Yccs Portocervo, twice a Uttoxeter winner after previously finishing third at Fakenham a year ago over hurdles.

And a meeting at Fakenham would be missing a trick without its 2022 Norfolk National winner Tommie Beau from Seamus Mullins’ stable. The eight-year-old has won three times at Fakenham and was fourth last time out at Newton Abbot earlier this month.

The final race of the opening meeting is also very valuable with 15 entries for the 5.25pm handicap hurdle worth £12,500.

Ben Case has previous course and distance winner Bashers Reflection among the possibles while Ludlow winner Enthused is entered by James Owen and may feature towards the top of the betting market along with Alex Hales’ Hiconic and Alex Dunn’s Idilico.

The day, and season, gets under way at 2.33pm with a maiden hurdle in which in-form trainer Olly Murphy has three of the 13 entries. His main chance, however, would appear to be Perth runner-up Iddergem. Doc McCoy and Parade Away are interesting hurdle debutants for Jamie Snowden and Milton Harris if taking their chances.

Murphy has Act of Authority, a Bangor winner earlier this month, and En Avant, a Fontwell and Worcester scorer, among the 13 entered for the 3.08pm Opening of Adrian Flux Bar Today Novice Hurdle while another in-form trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies, has entered Norman Fletcher for his hurdling debut after a National Hunt Flat Race victory at Ludlow in April.

Gone In Sixty for Hales and Alan King’s Theonlywayiswessex catch the eye in the entries for the 3.43pm novice chase while there are 22 entered for the 4.18pm novice hurdle with Twiston-Davies’s Awesome Foursome looking to follow up a Perth success.

Report from Jarrold Ladies Day, Sunday 4th June

ISABEL IS ONE HAPPY LADY AS THE CURTAIN FALLS ON FAKENHAM’S SEASON

Quoi De Neuf landed the feature Jarrold Chase at Fakenham’s final meeting of the season to leave trainer’s daughter Isabel Williams smiling on a sunny Ladies Day.

Williams was representing dad Evan and was delighted after the nine-year-old scooped the £25,000 contest and made the 450-mile round trip from South Wales worthwhile.

Ridden by Harry Cobden, Quoi De Neuf looked in trouble at the last but a blunder by rival Hatcher paved the way for Cobden to drive the 11/8 favourite home by a neck.

“He’s run here before which helps. And the prize money here is great so we had to come again. He’s a bonny horse and deserves this prize,” said Williams.

Jack Quinlan recorded his sixth win at the course in the calendar year when getting Go Fox home in the Jarrold Norwich, Cromer and Wymondham Chase.

Go Fox, for trainer Neil King, was under pressure on the final circuit but held on to win by seven lengths at 7/1.

Thirty minutes later King and Quinlan completed a double to collect a bonus £1,000 for the trainer and his winning owners under the Fakenham Prize Money Double Up Scheme when State of Bliss was an impressive winner of the Sworders Property Maiden Hurdle.

Runner-up at Fakenham last time, the well-backed State of Bliss won by three lengths, returned at 4/7.

While the day proved great fun for so many ladies present, another sporting a big smile was Fern O’Brien, who rode Semando for trainer Alex Dunn to land the British Racing School 40th Anniversary Female Jockeys’ Hurdle.

The 15/2 chance had left Jonjo O’Neill’s stable and provided O’Brien with her first career success over hurdles, although she had won over the larger obstacles.

“He’s a very cool horse. The trainer said stay on the inside and I did. He did it so well,” said O’Brien.

Alex Chadwick produced a stunning front-running ride to steer home Too Friendly to take the Racing TV Hurdle by six lengths. Trained by James Owen, Too Friendly ran his four rivals ragged with an impressive performance, returned at 2/1.

Mystic Man made it two wins from two chase starts when landing the opening Queen’s Dragoon Guards Prince of Wales Cup under Ben Bromley.

The positions never altered during the three-runner contest, with the Oliver Sherwood trained 10/11 favourite cruising home by 11 lengths.

After landing the honours in the feature race, Cobden completed a double when getting If Karl’s Berg Did home in the closing novice hurdle for trainer Milton Harris. The gelding, fifth on a previous Fakenham appearance, won at 9/4.

Preview for the Jarrold Ladies Day Sunday 4th June

SAM’S THE MAN AS THE LADIES BRING DOWN THE CURTAIN ON FAKENHAM’S SEASON

Sam Twiston-Davies, one of the senior jockeys on the National Hunt circuit, will be looking for a 16th success in 92 career starts at Fakenham on Sunday when trying to close the north Norfolk course’s 2022/23 season with victory in the £25,000 Jarrold Handicap Chase.

Jarrold Ladies Day brings down the curtain on a successful racing season at Fakenham and Twiston-Davies, with more than 1,300 career winners, is on the favourite Pawpaw in the feature, off at 4.30pm.

Pawpaw, a six-year-old gelding trained by David Bridgwater, won last time out at Fontwell on May 10 and had previously tasted success at Hereford.

Of his four rivals, Quoi De Neuf is interesting for trainer Evan Williams who has booked Harry Cobden to ride the previous Uttoxter fourth. Name in Lights has hopes for Joe Tizzard and jockey Brendan Powell. The gelding was third at Kempton last month while the field is completed by Hatcher, a previous Warwick third, and Soprano Thor.

A three-runner chase gets the day started at 2.30pm with Kim Eyre favourite to take The Queen’s Dragoon Guards Prince of Wales Cup Chase under Isabel Williams for her father Evan. Kim Eyre scored at Stratford in April and faces Southwell winner Mystic Man for Oliver Sherwood and outsider of the trio, Rebel Leader for trainer Dr Richard Newland.

The 3pm Female Jockeys Hurdle has seven runners with Gina Andrews on favourite Enthused for trainer James Owen, the gelding a Huntingdon winner after earlier finishing fourth at Fakenham. Main rival looks to be Abbie McCain on her dad Donald’s Never No Trouble, previously a Ludlow third.

The Jarrold Norwich, Cromer and Wymondham Chase features the biggest field of the day with eight going at 3.30pm headed by Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer’s previous course scorer, Cloudy Wednesday. The gelding also won at Huntingdon less than a fortnight ago.

Pittsburg, sixth on the flat at Wolverhampton for trainer Ryan Potter last week, and Arbenning, for Jamie Snowden, third at Ludlow when returning after wind surgery, look key rivals.

Five go in the 4pm Sworders Property Maiden Hurdle headed by the Neil King trained State of Bliss, the gelding a Fakenham runner-up on May 9.

Last year’s winner Glimpse of Gold, a five-time Fakenham winner, goes again in the 5pm Racing TV Hurdle for trainer Sarah Humphrey although favourite will be Lipa K, trying to follow up a recent Ludlow win.

Final race of season is at 5.30pm with five in the Novice Hurdle, headed by Ben Case’s Boleyn Boy under Harry Bannister, the gelding a runner-up at Chepstow in April.

Ladies Day Preview

JARROLD LADIES DAY TO BRING CURTAIN DOWN ON FAKENHAM’S SUPER SEASON

Fakenham Racecourse’s 2022/23 season ends on Sunday with the annual Jarrold Ladies Day meeting featuring the £25,000 Jarrold Handicap Chase at 4pm.

Three last time out winners are in the list of 13 entries for the competitive race over two miles and five furlongs.

Dr Richard Newland’s Yccs Portocervo won last time at Uttoxeter having previously been third at Fakenham while Brendan Powell is booked to ride David Bridgwater’s Pawpaw, the six-year-old a Fontwell winner on May 10. La Domaniale, for Jonjo O’Neill, won last time at Aintree on May 19 and all three will be looking for further success in a race for which old favourite Tommie Beau, the 2022 Snellings Norfolk National winner, is also entered.

The supporting card is also competitive, no race more so that the 4.30pm Racing TV Handicap Hurdle over two miles for which Fakenham regular Glimpse of Gold goes for trainer Sarah Humphreys, the 12-year-old gelding having won at the north Norfolk track five times.

Four other entries won last time out. They are Lipa K for Evan Williams, Neverdon for Alex Dunn, Pak Army for Brian Barr and the Milton Harris trained Sisterandbrother for whom Harry Cobden is booked to ride, the gelding a Huntingdon winner a fortnight ago.

Welsh trainer Christian Williams has two entries among the 11 for the three-mile Queen’s Dragoon Guards for the Prince of Wales Cup Chase at 5pm. He has both Call of the Loon and Joey Steel while Oliver Sherwood has entered Southwell winner Mystic Man.

The 3pm Jarrold Norwich, Cromer and Wymondham Chase sees Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer’s Cloudy Wednesday among the entries, the gelding a winner at Huntingdon last time and a former Fakenham scorer.

The British Racing School 40th Anniversary Female Jockeys’ Hurdle opens the day at 2.30pm with Gina Andrews booked to ride recent Huntingdon winner Enthused for James Owen. Enthused was fourth at recently, behind two other rivals in the contest, Baby Sham and Scudamore.

Book of Secrets is interesting in the 3.30pm Sworders Property Maiden Hurdle. Runner-up at Stratford last time for Dan Skelton, Book of Secrets has his first run for Charles and Adam Pogson while Skelton himself, has entered Thorpeness.

Action closes for the season at 5.30pm with the Fakenham Races on Friday October 20 Novice Hurdle in which If Karl’s Berg Did, a runner at the previous Fakenham meeting, is interesting for Milton Harris.