TRAINER Stuart Edmunds likes nothing more than visiting Fakenham racecourse and returning to his Stewkley near Milton Keynes stables with pockets full of prize money.
He admits to having a soft spot for Fakenham and on Friday he attempts to boost his finances again with four runners on the seven-race card at the Norfolk track.
Racing fans will not only be treated to live action but will also be able to see all Cheltenham Festival races on screens at the course, including the pinnacle of the National Hunt season, the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The 4.15pm Fakenham Silver Cup is the feature and in Edmunds has former Fakenham winner Bluegrass, the gelding fourth last time at Doncaster in February.
Rivals may include Nick Scholfield’s Morning Mayhem, a winner at the Fakenham meeting a month ago, Alan King’s Nap Hand, a recent Kempton fourth and Suzy Smith’s, grey gelding Tapley, last seen finishing second in a Kempton chase in October.
Edmunds has Always Stronger in the 1.35pm Robert Case Memorial Maiden Hurdle which also includes entries for Babyken, a Taunton third for Paul Nicholls, Master Ursus, Ollie Murphy’s recent runner-up at both Chepstow and Leicester and Jamie Snowden’s Rebel Tribesman, not seen since winning an Aintree bumper last May.
Blue Marvel represents Edmunds in the 2.54pm Walter Wales Memorial Handicap Hurdle, the mare recently third at Huntingdon. Jack Andrews rides brother-in-law Tom Ellis’ Secret Vino, a Catterick winner last month and Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer has Raby Mere, fourth at Huntingdon last month.
Another cracking chance for Edmunds is with Hello Sweety in the 3.34pm Racing TV Mares’ Hurdle, In December the mare won over course and distance but could face opposition from Bluenose Belle from Richard Phillips’ yard and Little Venice, a winner at Wincanton for trainer Neil Mulholland three weeks ago.
Mulholland will be hoping for good things earlier, when his grey mare Jamaicaine makes her chasing debut in the 2.14pm Hyde, Denny, Cunningham 70th Birthday Mares’ Chase. She won her last three hurdle races at Doncaster and at Hereford in January and December.
Belle Montrose, winner of the Queen Boudicca Final at Fakenham in January and runner-up at the course last month, returns for trainer Sam Drinkwater to a course she obviously relishes.
Lucy Wadham saw Brother Boris land the Tim Barclay Memorial Chase at the last Fakenham meeting and the gelding is entered for the opening 12.55pm £15k prizemoney on 4th May Novice Chase while the card closes with the 4.50pm Pointing Pointers Queen’s Cup Grassroots Hunters’ Chase in which Janika tries to repeat his victory in the race last year.
