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
