TAKE A GAMBLE ON SOME TOP ACTION TO WELCOME IN 2024 AT FAKENHAM
A large crowd is expected when Fakenham Racecourse bursts into 2024 action with its seven-race Gamble Plant New Year’s Raceday on Tuesday (January 2).
Fourteen entries have been received for the £30,000 feature, the 3pm Gamble Plant Norfolk Ltd Grand Prix Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles, including three last time out winners.
El Jefe, trained by Andrew Hamilton and with Conor Rabbitt booked to ride, has won his last three contests, at Haydock just before Christmas and twice at Sedgefield in November.
Alastair Ralph is another northern raider and he seems likely to send grey mare Magical Maggie, a recent Ludlow winner, to take her chance. Neil Mulholland’s Mothill won at Sedgefield on Boxing Day and is among the entries as is Jedd O’Keeffe’s Ip Up. The six-year-old was third last time at Musselburgh but won at Fakenham in November.
The closing 3.30pm Racing Again on January 21 Hurdle also sees recent winners among the 13 entries, including For Gina, representing Lucy Wadham whose six-year-old mare won at the track in November, while likely rivals will be Mulholland’s Hobb’s Delight, a Fontwell winner on Boxing Day and the Sarah Humphrey trained The Wise Traveller, a Huntingdon scorer in November for whom Bradley Roberts is booked to ride.
Action gets under way at 12.30pm when Humphrey’s Fakenham regular Le Tuer is among 10 entered for the Happy New Year from Gamble Plant Amateur Jockeys’ Chase. It will be Le Tuer’s fourth race at the course this season.
Wadham’s Éclair De Guye and Nick King’s Go Fox will need a market check if taking their chances in the three miles and five furlongs stamina test.
Biggest entry sees 18 for the 1pm Book Your Skip Online @Fakenhamskips.co.uk maiden hurdle and it includes the Donald McCain trained Just Gino, the gelding recently sent off favourite at Bangor on hurdling debut, where he finished fifth in a field of 10.
David Pipe’s Ya Know Yaseff with Jack Tudor booked is an interesting entry for the 1.30pm Fakenham Double Up Bonus is Back Mares’ Chase over three miles, the mare a recent Wincanton runner-up and second on her last visit to Fakenham in February.
There are 17 entries for the 2pm Fakenham Racecourse Mares’ Novice Hurdle at 2pm with the 2.30pm Cool Roxy The Fakenham Favourite Novice Chase having nine entries including course and distance winner My Gift To You, a November winner at the course with Lilly Pinchin again booked to ride for James Owen.
