TOP-FORM WILLIAMS HEADS EAST IN SEARCH OF DOUBLE CHRISTMAS CHEER
In-form trainer Venetia Williams, with six winners from 13 runners up to the weekend, has two leading chances of grabbing some pre-Christmas cheer at Fakenham’s Christmas Raceday meeting on Tuesday.
Williams, from her Herefordshire base, runs Eceparti and Georges Saint, in two of the three chases on the seven-race card.
Feature is the 2.40pm Sky Bet Female Jockeys’ Chase worth £20,000 and Williams has Lucy Turner booked for Georges Saint, a grey gelding recently third at Ffos Las.
The seven-runner contest looks competitive and Georges Saint has a host of rivals including Scene One, Yccs Portocervo and Jony Max. For good measure, Fakenham Racing Club’s own hero, Allo Allo, also goes under Charlotte Jones for Stuart Edmunds.
Bryony Frost rides the Lucy Wadham trained Scene One, who scored on chasing debut at Fakenham in November while Lilly Pinchin partners the Dr Richard Newland trained Yccs Portocervo, third at the course before going on to score twice at Uttoxeter.
Alice Stevens, fresh from an impressive weekend winner, rides the Christian Williams’ trained Jony Max, last seen winning at Fakenham last month.
The earlier 1.40pm Sky Bet Stayers’ Chase over almost four miles sees Eceparti likely favourite under Charlie Deutsch, the gelding having won five of 22 chases, including two at Chepstow in October and November.
Main rivals among the eight runners include Kadex, for Wadham and Frost, the gelding runner-up at Fakenham behind Jony Max, and Le Tuer, a Fakenham winner in March for trainer Sarah Humphrey.
The other chase is the 12.40pm Mares’ Chase in which Wadham and Frost have Brandisova, whose only chase win was at Fakenham in March. Likely market leaders are Our Nel for Harry Fry and Fine By Her, Harry Bannister on Julian Smith’s mare who makes a chasing debut.
The action begins at 12.10pm with Michael Wigham having the favourite for the Nar Valley Bloodhounds Maiden Hurdle in September Power. The six-year-old has won six times on the flat and was runner-up in a class two event at Kempton earlier this month.
Crem Fresh won at Fakenham in November and returns for the 1.10pm Mares’ Novice Hurdle under Bannister for Barry Brennan although Lady Gwen, with Kai Leniham taking off seven pounds for trainer Kim Bailey the threat.
Nigel Twiston-Davies likes a Fakenham winner and he runs Sergeant Wilson in the 2.10pm Sky Bet Hurdle where main opposition is Anthony Charlton’s Western Soldier while the 3.10pm finale, the Each Business Circle Norfolk Handicap Hurdle, sees grey gelding Copshill Lad, runner-up at Plumpton, hoping to go one better.
