Horses with good records at Fakenham are looking for big prizemoney again when many return for Sunday’s Sky Bet Race Day at the north Norfolk course.
It’s a big day for Fakenham with two feature races, worth £30,000 and £25,000 respectively, both being screened live on terrestrial television’s ITV3.
The 2.40pm Sky Bet Mares’ Handicap Hurdle features two former course winners amongst the initial 15 entries.
They are Crem Fresh, Barry Brennan’s 10-year-old successful at the track in November and Ip Up, with Craig Nichol booked to ride for Jedd O’Keefe on a mare also a November winner in north Norfolk.
Pretending, a grey mare, trained by Lucy Wadham, won at Sandown last time while another to watch is the Nicky Henderson trained Spring Note, successful at Newbury on December 30.
There are eight entries for the £30,000 Sky Bet Veterans Chase for the David Keith Memorial Cup at 3.15pm including Francky Du Berlais from Peter Bowen’s yard. The 11-year-old has recently been targeting cross-country events, finishing second and fourth at Cheltenham in November and December.
Chambord, representing Venetia Williams, pulled up in the Welsh Grand National after winning at Aintree while Celebre D’Allen and Jamie Snowden’s Goose Man are others of interest.
The seven-race card opens at 12.20pm with the Mares’ Maiden Hurdle in which Olly Murphy has Roccos Inspiration, bought from Michael Kennedy’s yard in Ireland for whom she was runner-up at Clonmel in October.
Previous Fakenham winners My Gift To You and Lincoln Lyn are amongst 14 entries for the 12.55pm Sky Bet Handicap Chase, the former, trained by James Owen, a course winner in November. Tom Gretton’s Lincoln Lyn won at Fakenham a year ago and returned to finish second at the pre-Christmas meeting.
Lady Berlais and Sawpit Sienna are two more former Fakenham winners entered for the 1.30pm Sky Bet Mares’ Handicap Hurdle over two miles. Dan Skelton’s Lady Berlais won at the pre-Christmas meeting while Sam Drinkwater’s Sawpit Sienna won at the course in October 2022 and also scored at Taunton a fortnight ago.
For Gina stormed home at Fakenham for Lucy Wadham in November and is among the entries for the 2pm Sky Bet Handicap Hurdle although The Wise Traveller and Steven Seagull, last time out winners, are also entered.
The closing 3.45pm Revel Festival NH Flat contest features 16 entries, eight of whom would be making their debuts. Of those with experience, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Habibi was third on debut at Newbury while Mick Appleby’s Midnight Sting was third at Fakenham in November.
Terry Redhead – 16 Jan
