FAKENHAM’S SILVER CUP IS FOOD FOR THOUGHT ON GOLD CUP DAY
Fakenham stages its Country Food Trust Raceday of Friday when its own Silver Cup Hurdle contest worth £25,000 is the highlight to rival the famous Gold Cup happening on the same afternoon at the Cheltenham Festival.
While the eyes of the racing world will be on the events in Gloucestershire, Fakenham expects a good crowd for a seven-race card in which the Silver Cup is the highlight at 3.45pm., minutes after the Gold Cup has reached its conclusion.
Dr Richard Newland has tasted success at the north Norfolk venue recently and he has two entries for the Silver Cup in Olympic Conqueror, a course and distance winner at back in March 2021, and Purple King, a Sandown winner just a week ago.
Olly Murphy is another trainer to be reckoned with at Fakenham and he has Dr T J Eckleburg entered, the four-year-old chasing a hat-trick after victories at Taunton and Ludlow.
Among the other 14 entries are two more course and distance winners in Toby Lawes’ Vocal Duke, and Glimpse of Gold, representing trainer Sarah Humphrey.
The Prince Carlton Handicap Chase at 2.25pm is the other highlight on the card with 11 entries for the £20,000 contest headed by Lucy Wadham’s Admiral Barratry, a winner at Fakenham just before Christmas.
Eaglehill, representing Murphy, is another interesting entry, the eight-year-old grey gelding having scored at the course in October.
The 3.05pm Walter Wales Memorial Hurdle sees four horses among the 17 entries who have won over course and distance. The quartet who clearly handle Fakenham well are Ben Case’s Conceroe, a winner in December; Stuart Edmunds’ Here Comes Henry, successful on New Year’s Day; Gary Moore’s Jumping Cats who won in October; and Thirtyfourstitches from Dr Newland’s stable, a dual Fakenham winner, in January and February.
Biggest entry is 18 for the closing 5pm Robert Hoare Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase which includes three in-form horses in the shape of Fifty Shades, Jeremy Central and the Philip Rowley trained Dragon D’estruval.
By contrast just six entries have been made for the 4.25pm Hellesedon Leather and Cloth Furnishing Company Chase. Ajay’s Ways, for Fergal O’Brien, won at the course in January while Vinnie’s Getaway was runner-up at the track last month.
Nicky Henderson, sure to be at Cheltenham, has entered Rathmacknee in the opening 1.10pm Robert Case Maiden Hurdle while at 1.45pm Coole Well looks an interesting possible runner in the Country Food Trust Claiming Hurdle.
