FORMER FAKENHAM WINNERS HEAD BACK FOR MORE RICH PICKINGS
Horses with good records at Fakenham are returning in numbers on Wednesday for the north Norfolk course’s six-race card featuring the £20,000 Little Snoring Handicap Hurdle.
Both the 1.52pm opening contest and the 4.25pm finale feature runners successful the last time they raced at Fakenham.
The Dr Richard Newland trained Thirtyfourstitches, with Cillin Leonard riding, won on New Year’s Day at the course and looks favourite to take the Pudding Norton Handicap Hurdle.
The seven-year-old gelding has four rivals including the Lucy Wadham trained Tiny Tantrum, second and third at the track over a longer distance, while the Neil Mulholland trained and Richie McLernon ridden grey mare Sainte Doctor, also holds top hopes after finishing second at Warwick last month.
Midnight Mary, Ratoute Yutty and Avithos were first, second and fourth in January at Fakenham and all three contest the closing Coxford Mares Hurdle.
Cieran Gethings partners Stuart Edmunds’ Midnight Mary, Lewis Stones rides Wymondham-based Caroline Fryer’s Ratoute Yutty and Mark Gillard runs Avithos, fourth last time.
Only four go in the 3.52pm feature, the Little Snoring Hurdle, headed by Cheltenham specialist Kansas City Chief under Victoria Malzard.
The 13-year-old gelding was second at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day in the Paddy Power Hurdle after winning the Citipost Hurdle in December and the Pertempts Network Hurdle in October also at the Gloucestershire course.
Rivals are Ballyandy for Nigel Twiston-Davies, a Wetherby runner-up, Potters Hedger under Jack Quinlan for Wadham, fourth last time but a Fakenham winner back in May 2018, and Edmunds’ Havana Hermano, seventh in Kansas City Chief’s race in October.
The first of the day’s two chases is the 2.22pm Sherefore Novice Chase in which Richard Patrick rides Deborah Faulkner’s Taunton winner Mister Robbo. The Olly Murphy trained Dubai Guest was a Fakenham runner-up last month and a Fakenham winner in November and looks a threat.
Six go in the 3.22pm Hellesdon Leather and Cloth Furniture Chase with Rostello favourite for Dr Newland and Leonard after finishing third at the course in January. Main rival is Page Fuller’s mount for Jennie Candish, Zuckerberg.
Eight go in the 2.53 Toftrees Maiden Hurdle with Aidan Coleman on Murphy’s Swinging London, having a first run for Murphy following a move from the Irish stable of Ellmarie Holden. High Tech, a Ludlow runner-up on hurdling debut at Ludlow for Dr Newland, also has a major chance of making a hugely successful day for the Worcestershire handler.
