CHAMPION BOWEN CHASES MORE WINNERS AS FAKENHAM CLOSES ITS 2024/25 SEASON
Champion jockey Sean Bowen, who earlier this year at Fakenham recorded the 1,000th winner of his career, returns to the north Norfolk venue on Sunday looking to scoop top prizemoney on the closing day of the racecourse’s 2024/25 season.
The Payne Crop Nutrition Ladies Day features six races with the main event, the £20,000 Payne Crop Nutrition Prince of Wales Cup Chase over two miles and five furlongs, off at 4.35pm.
Bowen rides seven-year-old gelding Abingworth. Trainer James Owen has been in great form and his obvious expertise could be tested by Abingworth. Previously with Gary and Josh Moore, the gelding unseated his rider at Warwick earlier this month. Now Owen tries to get him back to the form that saw him score at both Warwick and Wincanton.
Among the rivals are Lucy Wadham’s Hurricane Bay, with Tom Cannon riding the gelding who pulled up at Uttoxeter in May after having scored at Huntingdon.
Trapista goes for Richie McLernon and trainer Jonjo O’Neill, the eight-year-old a Ludlow runner-up in May and owner J P McManus has another runner among the six, the Nick Gifford trained Belargus, off the course for 225 days, with James Davies booked to ride.
Bowen rides newcomer Alvesta for Newmarket trainer Matt Crawley in the opening 2.30pm Payne Crop Nutrition Novice Hurdle. The filly faces three rivals with likely favourite High Court Judge under Ben Bromley for Owen, the gelding a Huntingdon winner a fortnight ago.
The 4.05pm 1st The Queens’ Dragoon Guards Hurdle sees Bowen ride Owen’s Tara Iti in a four-runner contest that is nevertheless competitive. Tara Iti was second at Uttoxeter recently and faces leading rival, the aptly named Light Dragoon, a recent Fontwell scorer for trainer Tom Lacey and jockey Stan Sheppard.
Trainer Crawley has high hopes of a good day and in the 3pm Racing TV Novice Handicap Hurdle he runs Dartmouth Rose under Jack Quinlan, the mare a Fakenham runner-up in May.
Lyness Dancer could go off favourite for that contest under Jack Andrews. Trainer by Tom Ellis the mare won at Huntingdon recently while Kankin and Varinia also have chances in a tricky six-runner puzzle.
Crawley runs Pottersgetamay, again with Quinlan up, in the 3.35pm Payne Crop Nutrition Chase, the gelding a recent Southwell runner-up while the curtain falls on the day and season at 5.05pm with the seven-runner Racing TV Female Jockeys’ Hurdle which features two former Fakenham winners in Mersey Street and Annie Nail.
Even so, top weight Another Mystery could be the one for Tabitha Worsley and trainer Sarah Humphrey.
