Four years after his first win in the race, the 11-year-old took the £150,000 May Bank Holiday card’s feature prize back off the field he’d once dominated, and gave his owner a result that mattered for reasons that had nothing to do with racing.

Tommie Beau had gone 14 races without a win, a losing run stretching back 20 months, when he lined up for the Chestnut Group Norfolk National on 4 May. He’d dropped 22lb from his peak rating. Nobody at Fakenham was writing headlines about him beforehand. Benjamin Macey settled him in midfield through the early stages of the 3m5f marathon, nudged him along down the back straight, and asked the question turning for home. Tommie Beau jumped the last in front. He held on by three lengths from Esperti, who’d arrived bidding for a hat-trick, with the previous year’s winner Stan’s The Man back in third.

A record day built around one horse
The Bank Holiday Monday card carried £150,000 in total prize money, the biggest single raceday in Fakenham’s history, and everyone knew walking out the gates which race they’d be talking about. This was Tommie Beau’s second Norfolk National, matching the one he’d taken in 2022, and he beat a field that included a horse chasing three straight wins in Esperti and a reigning champion sent off 7/2 favourite in Stan’s The Man. The official result put the winning distance at three lengths, with the field strung out to 23 lengths back in fourth. The time ran 16.58 seconds slower than standard, on ground that had softened through the afternoon.

Why the tactics worked
Fakenham doesn’t forgive horses that wait too long. It’s a tight, roughly square left-hander, six fences to a circuit, a short run-in. Handy, front-running types tend to have the better of it here, and the track rides more demanding than the official going ever lets on. Macey’s ride understood all of that. Rather than dropping Tommie Beau out and hoping for a strong pace to chase down, he kept the old horse up with the leaders early enough to still be there when it mattered, and asked for everything at the second-last instead of waiting for the final fence. “A veteran with 15 career wins already knows how a sharp track like Fakenham rides,” one racing analyst said, speaking to Gambling.com, home of the best online casino sites and independently reviewed UK betting sites. “That experience is worth more than raw ability once the placing has gone against you as often as it had for Tommie Beau this year.”

What it meant beyond the result
The racing was only half of it. Owner Simon Prout, speaking after the race, tied the win to something bigger than a trophy. He’d brought the horse back to what he called the best racecourse in the country to win back a title first claimed four years earlier, and he didn’t say it lightly given what he and his wife had lived through in the years between. “He’s an exceptional horse. He’s come back to what we think is the best racecourse in the country and won the title he won in 2022. We love Fakenham,” Prout said. It’s a line that gets said at a lot of racecourses. At Fakenham that afternoon, it happened twice. In the day’s other big prize, the £26,000 Chestnut Group Fakenham Grand Prix Hurdle, Lucy Wadham’s mare Rialannah followed up a recent course win under Gavin Sheehan at 11/2. “Gavin did a great job. She’s a lovely mare and a pleasure to train,” Wadham said. One repeat winner led straight into another.

Looking ahead to October
Fakenham’s jump season now sits quiet until the New Season Opener on Friday 16 October. It’ll take some going for the autumn return to match a card that produced a record prize fund, two horses backing up their own course form, and a story that went well beyond the winning post. For a small Norfolk track competing for attention against the bigger jump venues most of the year, days like this one are what bring the regulars back. Whether Tommie Beau, now 11, gets a shot at a third Norfolk National remains to be seen. Prout doesn’t sound like a man planning on retiring him any time soon.

Content provided by Peter McNeile

Horse racing is enjoying a resurgence across the UK and even overseas right now. Attendances have returned to 2019 figures, there seems to be even more of a spotlight on the major festivals, and the sport seems to have re-entered the water cooler conversation. Interest and involvement in horse racing is rising at a decent pace.

It’s at times like these when stakeholders should look for ways to capitalise on the rising levels of interest. Racecourses can put on special events and pricing promotions to spur further interest, as Fakenham is for Season Opener Raceday, and big names in the sport can leverage their notoriety to utilise other kinds of fan engagement.

Fakenham Favourite Could Take Centre Stage

Winner of the 2021 McCoy’s Leading Trainer Award upon its long-anticipated return to the schedule in 2021, Stuart Edwards has become one of the most popular trainers to frequent Fakenham Racecourse. Much of this, of course, is down to the success of his horses over the years.

Despite being based near Milton Keynes, his trips to Norfolk have paid dividends time and time again. To open June this year, it was announced that Edmunds had secured the best winning record here. From 65 runners, he’d secured 23 winners and an almighty 40 places, giving his stable a 62 per cent strike rate.

He may not be as nationally renowned as the likes of Willie Mullins, Paul Henderson, or Gordon Elliott, but he’s certainly done enough to be both recognisable and backed by fans at the right tracks. His position in the racing world could make him the ideal pick for a push into the wider entertainment space.

Expanding Horse Racing’s Presence Beyond the Track

Entertainment platforms have become a path for sports to grow their presence beyond the live events. Take Formula One, for example. Many credit its surge in popularity to the fly-on-the-wall series Drive to Survive. Already, horse racing is making its way into different entertainment arenas.

Among the collection of games with jackpot spins, you’ll spot Big Bass Return to the Races. It’s a part of the ever-popular fishing slot series, but has arrived to get in on the surge in popularity of horse racing. On the same platform, you’ll also spot the Frankie Dettori range of games, including Frankie Dettori’s Jackpot Roulette.

Any prominent trainer or jockey with a desire to explore this part of entertainment could do so with an officially branded slot game. It’d just take teaming up with a world-class studio to get the ball rolling. Alternatively, they could allow their stable to become the focus of a behind-the-scenes look from a docu-series.

Horse racing has enjoyed a few run-outs in this kind of formula. Horsepower on the BBC, Jockeys on Animal Planet, Champions Full Gallop on ITV, and Race for the Crown on Netflix give people the kind of engaging and exclusive look at the sport that many would never get to experience.

With horse racing powering forward, getting a docu-series team to follow a trainer like Edwards through the highs and the lows of a season could prove very popular, as could a dedicated game from the stable. Importantly, the sport is running hot right now, and more figures from within should look to capitalise on this opportunity.

Content provided by Peter McNeile

I’ve never been one for demoting racing purely to a story of horse racing odds. It’s primarily a people business, populated by a variety of rogues, well-bred gentry and ne’er do wells from every social level, all bound together by an interest in the horse. Small wonder Dick Francis and others found so much to colour their thrillers of scurrilous behaviour on the turf.

That said, given pretty much everyone attending the races likes to have a vested interest, it’s as well to know who’s hot and who’s not. Some statistical knowledge can go a long way.

Follow the money

Even winning in excess of £5m in prize money in a season hasn’t prevented Dan Skelton from running a negative balance to a £1 stake on his runners at a majority of tracks around the UK.

The country’s most successful trainer of Jump horses amassed 194 winners from 1,026 runners in the most recent season, a strike rate of 19%. Yet the winning machine of Alcester ran up a negative balance on all bar 15 of the country’s 41 Jumps courses.

The emphasis on the big events is illustrated by positive results at the country’s three leading racecourses – Ascot, Aintree and Cheltenham. 11 winners from 55 runners at Aintree make the Liverpool course a favourite among Skelton backers. £1 staked on each would have won you £43.75.

The 14 from 83 at Cheltenham tell a slightly different story. Whilst Skelton is leading the fightback against strong Irish competition at the Festival, good results early in the season but at shorter prices made this a trickier act to follow blindly, returning just £4.15 in comparison.

Team Skelton sent 43 runners to Fakenham last season, and landed joint top spot with Stuart Edmunds for Top Trainer trumps. His 14 runners may have only contributed £50,700 to his £5m haul, but they returned £14.19 to punters.

Seek out the clinical approach

Others to excel in this particular corner of Norfolk are Lucy Wadham and James Owen. And whilst Owen has been successful under both codes and across numerous national borders, the Wadham inheritance is a little more parochial.

Fakenham has always been a happy hunting ground for Wadham, whose stable of unremarkable jumpers rarely hits the headlines. But five winners from 12 runners points to a highly selective approach that is far from unique to Norfolk. 53% of runners from Moulton Paddocks reach the first four, which ranks right up with the best of them.

Nowhere else comes close to Fakenham, Kempton attracting 7 of her runners and fielding 3 winners. And take note if she ventures further north than Nottingham.

Owen on the other hand is a master of both codes of racing, fielding runners and winners on the flat, over jumps and on every surface imaginable. He’s not a man afraid to run his horses, as four seconds on the final day of May testify, three at Fakenham.

Last season, at only two other courses did he run more horses than at Fakenham – Worcester and Huntingdon. Conceivably, he likes being home for tea and evening stables. More likely, his crop of middle distance juveniles coming off the flat to go hurdling is a source of plenty of winners nearer to home before they graduate to smarter races elsewhere.

Take note of those infrequently sending runners

At the bottom end of the spectrum, Fakenham is largely ignored by the master of Seven Barrows. Only four other courses received less runners from Nicky Henderson, whose cadre of owners mercilessly focus on the Grade I courses, and on Cheltenham success. They’re unlikely to be seen in Norfolk unless invited to Sandringham.

A long way from the West Country, Fakenham is not on the shopping list of Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, who sent not a single runner, nor emerging powerhouses like Anthony Honeyball or the likeable Jeremy Scott, whose forays beyond the northern end of the M5 can be counted on one hand.

Fakenham doesn’t pretend to be a destination for every racing enthusiast. It has a course configuration like no other, and an ambiance that is equally quirky. It takes a bit of knowing, like all the best things in life.

Chacun à son gout.

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More than 100 miles separates Stuart Edmunds’ training yard in Leighton Buzzard from Fakenham Racecourse here in Norfolk. But the track has become a home from home for Edmunds, who over the course of the past five seasons has accumulated the highest strike rate of trainers to have won ten or more races here.

At the time of writing, that strike rate stands at a rather cool 37%, marking Edmunds’ horses out as ones to watch at the next meeting over the Fakenham obstacles.

Winning Record

Those who enjoy betting on horse racing are looking for clues as to who might prevail in any given race, with current form, course and distance history, handicap mark (where applicable) and speed ratings amongst the variables analysed.

The form of the trainer and jockey partnership is also another consideration, with the connection between Edmunds and his regular rider Charlie Hammonds one of the most eye-catching on the racecards at Fakenham.

At the time of writing, Edmunds has commanded a return of 23 winners from 65 runners, with 40 of his entrants at Fakenham placing – a strike rate of 62%. No wonder he has declared a soft spot for the racecourse… He concluded Fakenham’s season in style when Hello Sweety clocked up a third course victory.

Hammond, meanwhile, has piloted 17 winners and 32 placed horses from his 64 runners over the past five seasons at the venue, which again is a formidable success rate.

It’s noteworthy that Edmunds has a habit of training strong, front-running horses, which is a type that tends to do well at Fakenham. The racecourse features sharp turns and a short run in, so hitting the front early really does come with its advantages.

That also explains why course experience has been fruitful for a handful of jockeys, including the likes of Hammond, Gavin Sheehan and Jack Quinlan, who understand the very specific race style that can be so successful here.

Comfort Factor

It helps Edmunds’ cause that he has a pair of horses that have really taken to life at Fakenham. Bluegrass has certainly been singing from the same hymn sheet as the likes of Hammond and Fergus Gillard on his forays into East Anglia. The seven-year-old has won three times at the track; the highlight no doubt being the prestigious Silver Cup in March last year.

It should perhaps come as no surprise that Bluegrass enjoys the unique conditions at Fakenham, given that he showcased a tremendous turn of speed as a successful horse on the Flat – placing in the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York back in 2022.

With that pedigree, it’s little wonder that Edmunds was so keen to acquire Bluegrass from Aidan O’Brien and send him hurdling.

Another of the Edmunds yard to thrive at Fakenham has been Busy Being Busy. The five-year-old is still learning his craft but landed his maiden win at Fakenham back in March 2025 – defying top weight to score by a whopping 13 lengths in a handicap hurdle. He followed that with another win at Fakenham, this time in a Class 3 handicap, to confirm his burgeoning status.

Sent off as the joint favourite in a classy handicap hurdle at Kempton in November, Busy Being Busy looks set for a bright future in racing. If Edmunds brings him back to Fakenham, he will surely take some stopping.

Content by Peter McNeile

Trainer Ben Case was all smiles after his seven-year-old gelding Nickelforce won the Fakenham racecourse Ladies’ Day feature race, the Prince of Wales Cup Chase.

One of the owners, David Walsh, had, for many years sought a winner at Fakenham, and on Sunday that wish came true when Nickelforce stormed home at 11/5.

When early leader Tommy Cullen faded, Nickelforce took it up and held on to win from Coastguard Station to land the £15,000 contest.

“He was third at Uttoxeter and came on from that. He did it so well today. It’s good to win here at Fakenham,” said Case.

Hello Sweety, a bold frontrunner, completed her third course and distance victory when landing the 1^st The Queens’ Dragoon Guards Handicap Hurdle for trainer Stuart Edmunds and jockey Charlie Hammond.

“Hello Sweety does what Hello Sweety wants to do,” said Edmunds. “The race starts and she simply takes off. It’s the only way she knows how to race,” said the trainer.

Ambiente Friendly, runner-up in the 2024 Epsom Derby behind City of Troy, closed on Hello Sweety in the closing stages, but the 4/1 chance held on to complete a Fakenham hat-trick.

Most Wanted produced a shock in the four-runner Book Your Function @fakenhamracecourse.co.uk Chase for trainer David Bridgwater and jockey Tom Cannon.

The 17/2 outsider led with Not for Passin until that horse almost crashed out at the open ditch, subsequently pulling up. Champion jockey Sean Bowen galvanised favourite Getaway Jewel to close on the leader, but Most Wanted held on, on chasing debut.

Alibey, a filly out of Derby winner Golden Horn, put an end to a run of three second-placed finishes to take The Bruce Towers & Sons Mechanical Engineers Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.

Under Tabitha Worsley for trainer Dylan Cunha, Alibey produced a fine leap at the final flight to clinch a 13/8 success by getting the upper hand on favourite Dancing Dame, the pair having had a terrific scrap throughout the contest.

Tuba, a recent winner on the all-weather at Wolverhampton, won for the first time over hurdles when landing the opening Fakenhamdogfield.co.uk Novices’ Handicap Hurdle under Fern O’Brien for her father, trainer Fergal.

The 5/6 favourite, a grey son of Golden Horn, led from the start and saw off the challenge of Madajovy, scoring by 12 lengths.

The closing Fisher Electrical Contractors Female Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle was won last year by Alice Stevens on Gone In Sixty. This year, Gone In Sixty crashed out under Isabelle Ryder and Stevens went on to win again, this time on 11/2 outsider of the quartet of runners, Nottodaybobo.

The meeting brought down the curtain on Fakenham’s 2025/26 season, the next meeting scheduled for Friday, October 16.

Terry Redhead

Newmarket trainer James Owen always seems to have his horses in form whether on the flat or over the jumps and he has chances to improve his already successful record at Fakenham on Sunday.

The north Norfolk racecourse holds its annual Ladies’ Day as it brings down the curtain on the 2025/26 season before its four-month summer break.

Owen’s first likely favourite is in the 3.05pm Bruce Towers and Sons Mechanical Engineers Mares’ Maiden Hurdle over two miles in which he has Jonathan Burke booked to ride Dancing Dame. The seven-year-old mare will be having her first run for Owen since joining his yard from Tommy Doyle in Ireland.

Main rival looks to be Alibey, a filly out of Derby winner Golden Horn. Trained by Dylan Cunha, Tabitha Worsley rides the four-year-old who was a runner-up at Plumpton earlier this week.

Owen and Burke pair up again in the 4.07pm 1^st Queens’ Dragoon Guards Hurdle with Ambiente Friendly, eighth in a class two event at Sandown last month.

Among that gelding’s rivals are champion jockey Sean Bowen’s mount An Bradan Feasa, trained by Jack Jones. The gelding bids for a hat-trick after scoring at Southwell and Worcester since when he has also fared well on the flat at Lingfield and Chelmsford.

Stuart Edmunds’ frontrunning Hello Sweety, twice a Fakenham winner this season and Neil King’s Blackwater Lilly, complete the four-runner field.

Owen’s final chance is in the finale, the 5.07pm Fisher Electrical Contractors Female Jockeys’ Hurdle with the Gina Andrews partnered Market House, a Plumpton winner last month. Rivals include Nottodaybob under Alice Stevens for Micky Hammond, a Market Rasen winner this month, and Gone in Sixty, a Fakenham regular for Alex Hales.

Feature race is the 4.37pm Prince of Wales Cup Chase in which another Newmarket trainer, Lucy Wadham, looks to continue her winning streak at Fakenham with hot favourite Hurricane Bay under Tom Cannon. The 10-year-old won at Huntingdon three weeks ago and should see off four rivals including Henry Oliver’s Coastguard Station, Ben Case’s Nickelforce and Matt Crawley’s Tommy Cullen.

Racing starts with the 2.35pm fakenhamdogfield.co.uk hurdle in which favourite is the Fergal O’Brien trained Tuba, a winner on the flat at Wolverhampton. Madajovy goes for Louise Allan, the former Dan Skelton runner second at Plumpton in February.

The 3.35pm BookYourFunction’fakenhamracecourse.co.uk chase sees a quartet battle it out over two miles. They are headed by Not for Passing for trainer Rob Llewellyn although Bowen will be hoping Hammond’s veteran Getaway Jewel could spring a surprise.

Terry Redhead

FAKENHAM racecourse stages its richest ever race day on Bank Holiday Monday with prize money totalling £150,000 for the seven contests.

An excellent total of 111 entries has been received for the seven races on a card sponsored by the Chestnut Pub Group and, apart from racing the day provides entertainment for the whole family.

Norfolk Young Farmers are hoping to hold a tug-o-war in front of the stands at 1pm, there is a funfair in the centre of the course, a static tractor display and lambs for petting.

‘Lord Nelson’ will be in attendance and before the Norfolk National, off at 4.38pm, jockeys will congregate outside the weighing room for the National Anthem before being led into the parade ring by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, Fakenham’s Mayor and ‘Lord Nelson’.

The Chestnut Group Norfolk National is worth £25,000, with £13,000 to the winner, and has attracted 17 entries including Esperti, trained by David Rees. Champion jockey Sean Bowen is booked to ride the gelding who followed up a Fakenham victory with success at Ffos Las on April 21.

Rivals could include Neil King’s Enjoy d’Allen, a recent Plumpton runner-up, Gold Clermont, Andy Irvine’s recent Fontwell scorer, Stan’s The Man, Ella Pickard’s Sussex National second and the Paul Nicholls trained Wicked Thoughts, a Taunton winner earlier this month.

But it’s not just about the Norfolk National. Most valuable race of the day is the 5.13pm Chestnut Group Fakenham Grand Prix Handicap Hurdle. Its £50,000 prize money, including £26,000 to the winner, has attracted 24 entries, eight of them last time out winners.

Leading lights are Nicky Henderson’s Diamonds Galore, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Glynn Brae, Ollie Murphy’s Kentucky River, Faye Bramley’s No Ordinary Joe, Tom Ellis’ Secret Vino, a previous Fakenham winner, and Dan Skelton’s Tyson. All tasted victory in their most recent races.

The 4.03pm Norfolk Community Foundation David Keith Memorial Veterans’ Chase is worth £30,000, with £15,000 to the winner, and has 13 entries including old favourite Numitor. Heather Main’s 12-year-old grey gelding has won nine times over the bigger obstacles including at Hereford earlier this month.

Racing starts with the 2.18pm Each the Nook Novice Hurdle for which trainers Skelton and Christian Williams both have two entries among the 14 while there are nine entries for the 2.53pm Norfolk Wildlife Trust Centenary Mares’ Chase. They include Rialannah, a winner at the last Fakenham meeting, and Annie Nail, a Fakenham scorer over hurdles.

There are 18 entries for the 3.28pm Heritage House Mares’ Maiden Hurdle and a packed day of racing closes with the 5.48pm Break Mares’ Hurdle, in which Dartmouth Rose tries to win again at the Norfolk course for trainer Matt Crawley.

Content by Terry Redhead

Champion jockey Sean Bowen completed a magnificent hat-trick of winners to further boost his tally before officially retaining his title when the current National Hunt season ends at Sandown at the end of April.

Trainer Christian Williams sent horses on a 540-mile round trip from his stables in Wales and was rewarded when Bowen rode 7/4 favourite Fortunefavorsdbold to victory in the Weatherbys Mares’ Chase.

Ballygelly, the winner of the race last year, led until the closing stages when Bowen steered his mount clear and held off the challenge of Annie Nail, a winner at the course on Easter Monday.

“She has been placed so many times this season, I’m pleased she’s won this one,” said Bowen, certain to be champion jockey again, for the 2025/6 season.

Bowen then took the Woodfordes Supports Dereham Meeting Point Chase with 6/4 favourite Esperti for trainer David Rees.

Blackacre crashed out at the open ditch to leave three runners in contention over the three miles and five furlongs. The trio were closely packed until Bowen pressed the button on Esperti to steal the spoils.

“He stays well and jumps well. I rode him to get the trip last time so knew he would see it out,” said Bowen.

Bowen’s threesome was complete when Jamada lost his maiden tag by winning the Weatherbys Design and Print Maiden Hurdle. Bowen pushed the gelding clear down the back straight and held on to see the Olly Murphy trained six-year-old returned 4/6 favourite.

“Jamada took well to the course. He did it well and will be a nice chaser next season,” said Bowen, more than satisfied with his afternoon’s work in Norfolk.

Former Fakenham winner Dartmouth Rose returned to score again. The recent Southwell winner, trained by Matt Crawley, led from the start under Jack Quinlan, to take the Woodfordes Mares’ Novice Hurdle, returned the 11/10 favourite.

When Bowen had to pull up Natus Vincere, Dartmouth Rose looked sure to win but had to battle hard to hold off Silver Gale.

Trainer Lucy Wadham seldom fails to have a winner at Fakenham and she notched another success when 2/1 chance Rialannah took the opening Racing TV Handicap Hurdle under Gavin Sheehan. Ridden patiently for the first two of three circuits of the track, Sheehan produced Rialannah to record the first success of the mare’s 16-race career.

The closing Sandcliff Cromer Maiden Hurdle Hunters’ Chase for the Turner Trophy produced the finish of the day with 7/4 chance On Lover’s Walk, under a terrific ride from Meisha Micklewright for trainer Kelly Morgan, defeating Mister Splash by a short head. It meant Mister Splash was the only favourite on the card not to land the spoils.

Content by Terry Redhead

CHAMPION jump jockey Sean Bowen, certain to retain his National Hunt title after winning it for the first time last season, has three outstanding chances to add to his tally at Fakenham on Monday.

Bowen, who had 225 winners before this weekend, 109 more than nearest rival Harry Skelton, could score twice for trainer Olly Murphy as well as for David Rees.

Bowen’s first chance is on the Murphy trained seven-year-old mare Natus Vincere in the 3.40pm Woodfordes Mares’ Novice Hurdle. The mare was runner-up at Market Rasen following an earlier success at Huntingdon.

Main rival could be Dartmouth Rose under Jack Quinlan for Matt Crawley, the former Fakenham winner also successful at Southwell last month while grey mare Silver Gale goes for Katy Price after finishing third at Warwick recently.

David Rees’ Esperti gets the Bowen treatment in the 4.10pm Woodfordes Supports Dereham Meeting Point Chase, looking to better last month’s second at Chepstow.

Likely market leader is Slaney Opera under Harry Reed. The gelding was second last time at Wetherby when running for trainer Ruth Jefferson although Monday will see his first outing for trainer Nick Scholfield.

Bowen’s mount in the 4.40pm Weatherbys Design and Print Maiden Hurdle, Jamada, looks set to go off favourite. Trained by Murphy, Jamada was third at Ffos Las in February after finishing second at Lingfield a month earlier.

Debutant Crackalackin for Dr Richard Newland, a Lingfield flat winner in November and former Chelmsford flat winner Sense of Reason for Charlie Fellows, look the main dangers.

The action gets under way at 2.40pm when eight go in the Racing TV Handicap Hurdle over three miles. Tropical Speed for trainer Andy Irvine, won at Lingfield in November and returns to action where chief rivals could be Raby Mere and Rialannah.

Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer saw Raby Mere win at Southwell last month while Rialaannah, from Lucy Wadham’s stable, is looking to come on for a recent fifth at Uttoxeter.

The 3.10pm Weatherbys Mares’ Chase has five runners with Fakenham winner and regular visitor Annie Nail going for trainer Tracey Leeson, the mare having won at the course over hurdles on Easter Monday.

Moviddy for Noel Williams, Fortunefavorsdbold for Christian Williams and Lilly Pinch’s mount Ballygelly also have high hopes.

The 5.10pm finale is the four-runner Sandcliff Cromer Maiden Hunters Chase for the Turner Trophy. Hot favourite is the Ed Turner trained Mister Splash, a winner of a recent point-to-point at Fakenham, with Paddy Barlow booked to ride.

Content provided by Terry Redhead

Freddie Gingell rode the winners of the first three races at Fakenham’s six-contest Aldiss Easter Monday race day.

The reigning champion conditional jockey was in unstoppable form, taking the opening three contests on Painted Wolf, Cotton Socks and Sonigino, to record a stunning Bank Holiday hat-trick and take his seasonal winners’ tally to 27.

“It’s been well worth the trip here,” said Gingell, after dismounting from his third winner, Sonigino, making his chasing debut.

That win, for trainer Paul Nicholls, in the feature Watch on Racing TV Chasing Excellence Novice Chase, was never in doubt, the 8/13 favourite ahead from start to finish.

“It was very straightforward. He jumped the last well and there was loads left in the tank. He can go on from here,” said Gingell.

Cotton Socks pulled the wool over the eyes of odds-on favourite Tralee Girl to take the £10,000 Aldiss Juvenile Maiden Hurdle for trainer Lucy Wadham.

Harry Skelton raced into the lead on the 1/4 hotpot but after being stirred up by Gingell down the back straight, Cotton Socks, at 4/1, responded spectacularly to overtake Tralee Girl and land the honours by two lengths.

Earlier Painted Wolf, second at Fakenham less than a month ago, had made every yard to score in the opening Join Racing TV Now Handicap Hurdle.

Bitsnbuckles crashed out at the flight of hurdles in front of the stands but that failed to deter the Ben Case trained winner, ridden to maximum effect by Gingell.

The last flight had to be omitted due to that earlier incident, but 7/2 joint favourite Painted Wolf held on throughout the lengthy run to the line to beat Livano Bello by two lengths.

Former Fakenham winner Annie Nail returned to win again for trainer Tracey Leeson when taking the Cecil and Sheila Buttifant Memorial Mares’ Hurdle at 5/2 under Oscar Palmer.

Outsider Callmesusie led her four rivals throughout, but Palmer delivered Annie Nail four-wide around the final bend and she stayed on stoutly to claim the prize.

The Aldiss Handicap Chase featured four runners with the outsider of the quartet, Another Mystery, the only finisher. One by one his three rivals, including Fakenham hat-trick win seeker Brother Boris and Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer’s Cloudy Wednesday, pulled up, leaving Tabitha Worsley to triumph on the Sarah Humphrey trained 5/1 chance.

The closing Every Race Live on Racing TV Mares’ Flat Race went to 2/1 chance L’Amandine, who had been third on debut, who responded to a powerful ride by James Davies to pass Hidden Fortune to record another success for trainer Jamie Snowden.

Content provided by Terry Redhead