Pearly Island, back over hurdles, landed Fakenham’s £35,000 Gamble Plant Norfolk Ltd Grand Prix Handicap Hurdle at the course’s traditional New Year’s Day meeting.
Trained by Lucy Wadham at Newmarket, Pearly Island, at 7/1, won over fences in March but after his last run, jockey Tom Cannon suggested he went back hurdling. “I just thought he would do better over the smaller obstacles. It’s great to get it right now and again,” joked Cannon, who went clear to win by eight lengths. “That’s definitely a happy New Year,” said Justin Wadham, the trainer’s husband. “It’s a great prize to win.” The seven-race card saw prizemoney on offer to the total of £130,000.
Gazette Bourgeoise won the Queen Boudicca Last Chance to Qualify Mares’ Chase at 7/2 and will return for Fakenham’s next meeting on Sunday, January 19 for the £50,000 series final. “We came because of the prizemoney; it was a £20,000 race. We will be back for the final,” said trainer Ben Case, after the mare, ridden by Harry Bannister, won from Micks Jet. The mare had failed to win in her previous 12 chases but made it lucky 13. “She was given a positive ride and perhaps she is older and wiser now,” added Case.
Favourite backers got off to a great start when 2/1 Crac De Megaudais won the Happy New Year from Gamble Plant Hurdle. The result was never in doubt with jockey Tommie O’Brien dominating on the six-year-old to see off seven rivals.
Winning trainer Tom Gretton went on to complete a double when 9/4 favourite One Last Glance won the Racing TV Novice Chase. Third of six on the final bend, the recent hurdles winner was galvanised by Freddie Mitchell and won from Brother Boris. It meant Gretton completed a Fakenham Double Up bonus earning an extra £1,000 for himself and both his winning owners.
Mitchell had been in the winners’ enclosure when Malago Rose defied top weight to win the Sky Bet Mares’ Novice Hurdle for trainer Neil Mulholland. Returned at 2/1, the mare easily saw off disappointing favourite Barra Blue and scored from Lady’s Present.
This season’s leading trainer Dan Skelton added to his tally when Tristan Durrell steered 7/4 favourite Lindy Reilly home in the maiden hurdle. The mare held off fast-finishing 40/1 outsider Mohawk Chief to score well.
The closing handicap hurdle saw trainer Stuart Edmunds gain some compensation for the disappointing run of favourite Bluegrass in the feature race, when 13/8 favourite Court Cian won well under Ciaran Gethings.
