PIPE AT THE DOUBLE IN A BID FOR NATIONAL GLORY
Trainer David Pipe is double handed in the feature £25,000 Snellings Norfolk National at Fakenham this afternoon (Tuesday, May 3).
Already boasting a good strike rate at the north Norfolk venue, Pipe has both Red Happy and Abaya Du Mathan in the 4.15pm test over more than three-and-a-half miles.
There are 10 runners for the longest race of the season at Fakenham and Red Happy is partnered by conditional jockey Philip Armson who claims a useful five pounds off the recent Ludlow runner-up.
Pipe’s other runner has Fergus Gillard on board and was third last time at Chepstow, following a Ffos Las success.
Plenty have a chance in the feature, including last year’s winner, Game Line from Peter Bowen’s stable, under Jamie Moore.
But a bigger threat to Pipe’s victory ambitions may come from veteran Potters Legend. The Lucy Wadham trained 12-year-old has been runner-up in his last two starts, both at Fakenham, and has the services of Corey McGivern, who claims a 10-pound allowance.
Debden Bank is another with a shout in a very competitive contest, the Martin Keighley trained gelding under Sam Twiston-Davies having scored at Southwell a month ago.
It’s one of the course’s most competitive cards of the season with 50 horses declared to contest the six races, starting with the 2pm selling handicap hurdle in which Hey Bob aims to give trainer Olly Murphy victory by following up a recent Sedgefield success.
As well as sponsoring the feature, Snellings support the maiden hurdle at 3.05pm in which top trainer Nicky Henderson runs Rathmacknee. The gelding has had a wind operation since finishing second at Hereford and could give Nico de Boinville another victory in the saddle.
Go All The Way is the market leader for the 2.30pm handicap chase featuring nine runners. The Dr Richard Newland trained gelding was third at Fontwell last month but has good opposition in the shape of Fakenham course and distance winner Ajay’s Way, under Kielan Woods for Fergal O’Brien and Brooksway Fair, under Adam Wedge for Welsh trainer Evan Williams.
There are 11 in the 3.40pm novice handicap hurdle including Dan Skelton’s Watashock, third at Southwell a month ago, and Henderson’s Commodore Miller, looking to get back on track after pulling up after breaking a blood vessel at Doncaster before a poor run at Newbury.
A competitive Turner Trophy Hunter Chase ends the day at 4.45pm and should be between Gina Andrews on General Arrow, trained by husband Tom Ellis, and Socialiser under Tristan
