Champion jockey Sean Bowen freely admitted he loved his trips to Fakenham after grabbing a treble at the Norfolk course’s Greene King Raceday, taking his seasonal tally to 121 winners.
Bowen completed his double on trainer James Owen’s Zahra Dodville in the Greene King Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle. It was a first run by the filly for Owen since leaving Giada Menato in France.
The victory meant that Owen collected a Fakenham Double Up bonus of an extra £1,000 for the winning owners as well as the trainer himself.
Returned 10/11 favourite, Bowen stalked Manyana Blue throughout before scoring comfortably.
“She’s very progressive and jumped well throughout. There should still be more to come,” said Bowen.
Bowen had earlier produced an excellent ride to win the Greene King Novice Chase on 10/11 favourite Secret Des Dieux. Owen’s gelding, making a chasing debut having scored at Fakenham last year over hurdles, won well.
“He was keen over hurdles, but the fences helped to settle him. He could be a lot of fun going forward,” said Bowen.
Bowen’s treble arrived when he won the feature Axe The Racing Tax Mares’ Chase on trainer Tom Gretton’s Fancy Stuff, the 3/1 favourite.
Bowen was locked in a tussle with Mavis Pike as they arrived at the final fence, but Mavis Pike fell leaving Bowen to land the spoils.
“I didn’t have a clue the other horse fell until I was halfway up the run-in. She jumped well and deserved her success,” said Bowen.
Gretton’s winner meant he also landed a double and the Fakenham Double Up bonus thanks to a win by 3/1 chance Reforme.
There was a dramatic finish to the Robert Edwards Memorial Novices’ Chase when leader Ballygelly fell at the last leaving the way clear for Reforme to score. It was Gretton’s first win of the season with the Robert Dunne ridden Reforme going one better than when runner-up at Huntingdon last time.
The Greene King Novices’ Hurdle provided drama with runaway leaders Hello Sweety and Noble Miss eventually falling and pulling up after racing off too quickly.
They set up the contest for 3/1 favourite Basilette who came from the back to win for trainer Seamus Mullins and rider Daniel Sansom.
North of Richmond went off a 4/6 favourite for the opening racingtv.com Maiden Hurdle and delivered under Kielan Woods for trainer Alex Hales, the five-year-old gelding, which cost £75,000, overtaking Codetalker before the final flight.
The closing Racing TV Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle went to the outsider of the five runners, Itaintmebabe, under Jamie Gambin for trainer Sarah Humphrey, returned at 18/1.
