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.

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 40^th 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.

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 16^th 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.

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 40^th 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.

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 40^th 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.

PIPE’S DUC GOES THE DISTANCE TO SNATCH THE NORFOLK NATIONAL GLORY

Duc De Beauchene went further than three miles for the first time in his career and won the £30,000 Norfolk National at Fakenham under Fergus Gillard for trainer David Pipe.

It was a cracking renewal of the three-mile five-furlong marathon and Duc De Beauchene, Jonny Max and Wake Up Early took the last of the 21 fences in a line. But it was the J P McManus owned 10-year-old who prevailed at 5/1.

“That was amazing. It’s the first time he has raced further than three miles. But he would not settle and leaned in on me for the first two circuits. Then he seemed to start enjoying himself and did it well. He is a bit temperamental; you never really know what you are going to get,” said Gillard.

The result was harsh on the second and third who had battled it out for most of the stamina-sapping contest which was very competitive throughout.

Way Out, trained by Syd Hosie, took the opening Duke of Lancaster Academy Hurdle in style. Favourite Copshill Lad crashed out at the final flight but had never looked like pegging back the 7/4 winner ridden by Micheal (correct) Nolan.

Nolan completed a double when 22/1 outsider Baby Sham held on in a three-way finish to land the Autism in Racing Handicap Hurdle. The photo saw the Seamus Mullins trained mare get the verdict over fast-finishing favourite Scudamore and early leader Lighthouse Mill.

The race had real drama when Living’s Boy An Co and Top Draw fell at the flight in front of the stands, leaving Bryony Frost and Ben Ffrench-Davis needing medical attention. Frost was stood down for the day as a result.

Jigginstown King scored a debut chase success when running his six rivals into the ground in the Fakenham Handicap Chase under a well-judged ride by Cillin Leonard. Trained by Oliver Signy, the 9/4 chance was a runner-up at Hereford in February and improved again to lead from start to finish.

Hot favourite Gavin tore his rivals apart to take the Snellings Selling Hurdle from last year’s returning winner, Hey Bob. Under Jack Quinlan, the Joe Ponting trained gelding won by 16 lengths at 15/8 and was subsequently bought by trainer Peter Bowen for £8,600.

The closing Maiden Hunters’ Chase for the Turner Trophy went to the Charlie Marshall ridden Raleagh Flora trained by Andrew Pennock who, at 9/4, beat For Rita by 49 lengths.

Before racing, Fakenham Racing Club’s Allo Allo graced the parade ring. Trained by Stuart Edmunds, Allo Allo won two hurdle races at Fakenham before a first chase victory, at Bangor. The club also owns Conceroe, trained by Ben Case, who will also train the club’s latest recruit, Pollywiggle.

TOMMIE TAKES A CHANCE ON REPEATING LAST YEAR’S NORFOLK NATIONAL SUCCESS

A field of 11, including last year’s winner Tommie Beau, has stood its ground for the £30,000 Snellings Norfolk National, the highlight of Tuesday’s six-race card at Fakenham.

The marathon three miles and five furlongs contest, off at 4.20pm., always results in a competitive race and the Seamus Mullins trained eight-year-old gelding Tommie Beau will be a popular choice to repeat his 2022 success under the same jockey, Micheal Nolan.

Tommie Beau has had mixed fortunes since that Fakenham victory, recently sixth of eight at Southwell following a victory at Plumpton.

Bryony Frost will be on Newmarket trainer Lucy Wadham’s Midnight Mary, up in trip after recent runner-up efforts at Southwell and Warwick while David Pipe legs up Fergus Gillard on top weight Duc De Beauchene, second at Kempton on May Day.

Theo Gillard rides the David Dennis trained Flying Verse, second at Perth last month while Shetland Bus, under seven-pound claimer Luke Scott for Dr Richard Newland, won at Fakenham over three miles in October, so clearly likes the track. More recently the 10-year-old was fifth of eight at Southwell.

Norfolk-based Snellings also sponsors the Snellings Handicap Chase at 2.40pm in which Legendary Rhythm under Ben Poste for trainer Tom Symonds, bids for a hat-trick after scoring at Wincanton and Leicester. In winning at Leicester, the gelding beat Olly Murphy’s mare Auditoria, who is also in the seven-runner field.

Main rival to Legendary Rhythm could be David Pipe’s Abaya Du Mathan, who won his seventh chase at Ffos Las in April, while Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer runs Cloudy Wednesday, a course winner in February.

The Duke of Lancaster Academy Fakenham Maiden Hurdle at 2.10pm looks between Neil King’s State of Bliss, the former Mark Johnston trained three-time flat winner recently third at Kempton, and the Milton Harris trained Copshill Lad, the grey third at Plumpton last month.

The 3.10pm Autism in Racing Novice Hurdle could be another chance for trainer Jennie Candish who collected two top prizes at the weekend. She runs Scudamore, a Stratford winner in April. Main threat appears to be from Lighthouse Mill, a recent Southwell second.

Six contest the 3.45pm Jarrold Ladies Day on Sunday June 4 Selling Hurdle in which Murphy’s Weebil, a course and distance winner in March, looks like repeating that effort.

The closing 4.55pm Maiden Hunter Chase for the Turner Trophy could go to Tom Chatfield, riding the Kelly Morgan trained Doctor Tom, a winner over course and distance at the West Norfolk point-to-point meeting last month.

TOMMIE TAKES A CHANCE ON REPEATING LAST YEAR’S NORFOLK NATIONAL SUCCESS

A field of 11, including last year’s winner Tommie Beau, has stood its ground for the £30,000 Snellings Norfolk National, the highlight of Tuesday’s six-race card at Fakenham.

The marathon three miles and five furlongs contest, off at 4.20pm., always results in a competitive race and the Seamus Mullins trained eight-year-old gelding Tommie Beau will be a popular choice to repeat his 2022 success under the same jockey, Micheal (correct) Nolan.

Tommie Beau has had mixed fortunes since that Fakenham victory, recently sixth of eight at Southwell following a victory at Plumpton.

Bryony Frost will be on Newmarket trainer Lucy Wadham’s Midnight Mary, up in trip after recent runner-up efforts at Southwell and Warwick while David Pipe legs up Fergus Gillard on top weight Duc De Beauchene, second at Kempton on May Day.

Theo Gillard rides the David Dennis trained Flying Verse, second at Perth last month while Shetland Bus, under seven-pound claimer Luke Scott for Dr Richard Newland, won at Fakenham over three miles in October, so clearly likes the track. More recently the 10-year-old was fifth of eight at Southwell.

Norfolk-based Snellings also sponsors the Snellings Handicap Chase at 2.40pm in which Legendary Rhythm under Ben Poste for trainer Tom Symonds, bids for a hat-trick after scoring at Wincanton and Leicester. In winning at Leicester, the gelding beat Olly Murphy’s mare Auditoria, who is also in the seven-runner field.

Main rival to Legendary Rhythm could be David Pipe’s Abaya Du Mathan, who won his seventh chase at Ffos Las in April, while Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer runs Cloudy Wednesday, a course winner in February.

The Duke of Lancaster Academy Fakenham Maiden Hurdle at 2.10pm looks between Neil King’s State of Bliss, the former Mark Johnston trained three-time flat winner recently third at Kempton, and the Milton Harris trained Copshill Lad, the grey third at Plumpton last month.

The 3.10pm Autism in Racing Novice Hurdle could be another chance for trainer Jennie Candish who collected two top prizes at the weekend. She runs Scudamore, a Stratford winner in April. Main threat appears to be from Lighthouse Mill, a recent Southwell second.

Six contest the 3.45pm Jarrold Ladies Day on Sunday June 4 Selling Hurdle in which Murphy’s Weebil, a course and distance winner in March, looks like repeating that effort.

The closing 4.55pm Maiden Hunter Chase for the Turner Trophy could go to Tom Chatfield, riding the Kelly Morgan trained Doctor Tom, a winner over course and distance at the West Norfolk point-to-point meeting last month.

HUGE ENTRY CHASING NORFOLK NATIONAL GLORY AT FAKENHAM

Twenty horses have entries in the £30,000 Snellings Norfolk National Handicap Chase, the main event of Fakenham Racecourse’s six-race card on Tuesday (May 9).

Last year’s winner and runner-up Tommie Beau, trained by Seamus Mullins, and Red Happy, from David Pipe’s stable, are both possible starters once again for the 4.20pm feature contest.

Pipe has also entered Duc De Beauchene, a recent Kempton runner-up, and D’Jango, in a three-mile-and-five-furlong contest worth £15,600 to the winner.

Lord Sparky, trained by Stuart Edmunds, won over the same course and distance on New Year’s Day and would be one of the more fancied runners while Newmarket trainer Lucy Wadham always has a big Fakenham following and has Bryony Frost booked to ride Midnight Mary, stepping up in trip after a recent runners-up effort at Southwell.

Welsh trainer Evan Williams has entered Kim Eyre, the mare a winner at Stratford at the end of last month where she beat another possible runner, Ali Star Bert, from Shaun Harris’ yard.

Norfolk company Snellings has also sponsored the 2.40pm Snellings Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs for which there are 13 entries including three former Fakenham winners in Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer’s Cloudy Wednesday, Christian Williams’ Joey Steel and The Knot Is Tied, representing Neil King.

Worcestershire-based trainer D J Jeffreys is also eyeing the prize, having entered both Cardboard Gangster and veteran 13-year-old Ben Brody.

The action starts at 2.10pm with the Duke of Lancaster Academy Fakenham Maiden Hurdle in which Milton Harris has two entries, Ikorak, Harry Cobden booked to ride a gelding having his first run for the trainer since moving from Francois Nicolle’s stable in France. Harris also has grey gelding Copshill Lad, a recent Plumpton third when returning after a lengthy break.

There are 16 entered for the 3.10pm Autism in Racing Hurdle in which Nick Schofield is booked to ride Syd Hosie’s Astroman, a recent mover from Mark Walford’s yard and a recent Wetherby second.

The 3.45pm Jarrold Ladies Day Sunday June 4 Selling Hurdle sees Olly Murphy’s March Fakenham winner Weebil in the entries as is Joe Ponting’s Gavin, runner-up last time at Taunton.

The intriguing card closes with the 4.55pm three-mile Maiden Hunter Chase for the Turner Trophy in which trainer Philip Rowley has entered both multiple point winners Forest Chimes and Slievegar.