PIPE DECLARES WAR IN A BID TO LAND FAKENHAM’S NORFOLK NATIONAL
Trainer David Pipe and jockey Jack Tudor are looking to record another major success for their Somerset-based yard by landing the £20,000 Norfolk National at Fakenham on Tuesday.
Pipe sends eight-year-old gelding Chemical Warfare on the 518-mile round trip to contest the finale, off at 4.50pm., which features eight runners for the three miles and five furlongs stamina test.
Chemical Warfare won last time at Sedgefield in April, recording his eighth chase victory from 16 starts and looks to defy top weight to score again.
Main rivals could be Fever Dream and Fern Hill. The former, trained by Christian Williams in Wales, won at Southwell last month after having had wind surgery.
The Ben Case trained Fern Hill was third at Uttoxeter in March and was runner-up over course and distance in December so clearly appreciates the Fakenham circuit.
Others with chances include Ali Star Bert, a Southwell winner for Shaun Harris and the James Owen trained My Gift To You under Alex Chadwick, another with winning previous form at Fakenham.
The earlier contest on the six-race card is the 4.15pm £30,000 David Keith Memorial Veteran Chase, the fifth leg of the stayers’ veteran series, and features, among the five runners, some old regulars.
Likely favourite is the Dan Skelton trained Le Milos, a winner of six chases and recently fourth at Haydock with former champion jockey Harry Skelton booked to ride.
He faces Tommie Beau, the Seamus Mullins gelding a winner of 10 chases and returning after a 101-day break. He won over course and distance in January while another with a chance is Glynn, Sam Twiston-Davies on Anthony Honeyball’s three-times chase winner third at Haydock last month.
Racing starts at 2.15pm with likely favourite Collingham in the Regency Security Claiming Hurdle for trainer Archie Watson. The seven-times hurdle winner won at Catterick in March, beating the re-opposing Honneur d’Anjoc from Owen’s stable.
Five contest the 2.45pm Alan Boswell Group Mares Chase with Mullins running Miss Fedora, a Plumpton winner in an open contest in which Mickey Bowen sends out interesting grey mare Kate Madrik, twice a winner in France but pulled up on debut for Bowen.
The 3.15pm Racing TV Mares Maiden Hurdle sees the Skelton’s looking to Claim Du Brizais to follow up her victory at Fakenham’s previous meeting.
Owen’s hopes of a winner on a busy afternoon for the Newmarket trainer could rest on Market House in the 3.45pm Racing TV Novice Hurdle, the five-year-old runner-up at Southwell on the flat in April.
