GRAND CHASER BEAU BAY SET TO OVERCOME FAKENHAM’S OBSTACLES
Beau Bay, winner of the Sefton Chase over Aintree’s Grand National fences in December, tackles the obstacles at Fakenham on Tuesday as he bids to win a second race in the Veterans’ Handicap Chase Series.
Trained by Dr Richard Newland, with Charlie Hammond riding, the 10-year-old scored at Doncaster in leg two of the series. The 4.30pm feature on Tuesday, the David Keith Memorial Chase, is leg six.
Main rivals for the £25,000 contest are the Lucy Wadham trained Potters Legend and Gary Moore’s Antony. The former last won in November at Warwick and then finished sixth in Haydock’s Grand National Trial.
Antony pulled up at Fontwell in December after twice finishing a runner-up, at Warwick and Chepstow.
Biggest field of the day sees eight go in the 4pm Aldiss Furnishing Stories Hurdle in which Mr Jack is the likely favourite.
The Andy Irvine trained nine-year-old has won three of his last four contests, including at Fakenham, at the most recent meeting on March 19.
Another recent winner, at Plumpton a fortnight ago, is Runasimi River and Ben Jones takes the ride on Neil Mulholland’s mare while Sopat, a winner at Fakenham in January, returns to north Norfolk for trainer Phil Middleton and jockey, Kielan Woods.
Sam Twiston-Davies could be the man to follow earlier in the day. He rides Torn and Frayed for his father Nigel in the opening 2.15pm Easter Novices’ Hurdle, the gelding a Kelso runner-up following a Hereford success.
Main rival could be Harry Cobden on Paul Nicholls’ Take Your Time, pulled up in heavy ground last time after finishing third at Wincanton.
Twiston-Davies then partners Irish Odyssey for Mulholland in the 3.25pm Cecil and Sheila Buttifant Memorial Hurdle, the grey gelding runner-up at Sedgefield earlier this month.
Reverend Jacobs, a Wetherby winner last week for Nick Kent, and Good Bye, under Kevin Jones for Milton Harris, look the main rivals.
Court Jurado won at Fakenham at the end of November and returns for the 2.50pm Conditional Jockeys’ Chase having been midfield on his return at Lingfield after a 63-day absence.
Five hunter chasers contest the Queen’s Cup at 5pm with David Maxwell on Monsieur Gibraltar, a point winner in January after victories at Fontwell, Kempton and Southwell.
The finale, the 5.30pm Jarrold Ladies Day May 31 bumper, sees David Bass on Barry Brennan’s Guidedbythescience, third at Hereford in December while two interesting debutants are Michael Bell’s Heartbreaker and Tom George’s Miss Chantelle.
