BOWEN’S 2021 WINNER GAME FOR A REPEAT BID IN THE NORFOLK NATIONAL
The Snellings Norfolk National Chase over more than three and a half miles is the £25,000 highlight of Fakenham’s six-race card on Tuesday (May 3).
Sixteen entries have been received for the north Norfolk’s course’s longest race of the season at 4.15pm, worth more than £12,000 to the winner and the feature race of the meeting, the first to be shown live on the Racing TV channel. https://www.racingtv.com/
Last year’s winner Game Line, for trainer Peter Bowen, is among the entries which include two representing David Pipe, three-time recent winner Red Happy and Chepstow third Abaya Du Mathan and another hat-trick scorer, Gats and Co.
The seven-year-old gelding, from David Brace’s stable, has become a Chepstow specialist, winning there three times since February although never over further than three miles and two furlongs.
Debden Bank, for Martin Keighley, was a recent Southwell winner over three miles and in the same race the Paul Nicholls trained Roque It was third and both hold entries, as does Tommie Beau, a Plumpton winner in April for Seamus Mullins.
The day’s action starts at 2pm with a Selling Handicap Hurdle in which Olly Murphy’s Hey Bob, a recent Sedgefield winner is entered along with Gary Moore’s The Flying Sofa, a previous Fakenham winner, and Balletican, third at Newton Abbot a fortnight ago for Kim Bailey.
There are 16 entries for the 2.30pm Handicap Chase including January’s course and distance winner Ajays Way under Kielan Woods for Fergal O’Brien. Stamina Chope, Lee Edwards booked to ride the Dave Roberts trained mare successful at Sedgefield last week, and Dr Richard Newland’s Go All The Way, are also among notable entries.
The 3.05pm Snellings Maiden Hurdle has a couple of entries from Nicky Henderson’s top yard in Rathmacknee, a Hereford runner-up last time and Flinteur Sacre, fifth last time at Newbury, while Newland has Tiger Orchid entered for the first time since October.
A total of 19 entries have been received for the 3.40pm Novice Handicap Hurdle and include Neil King’s Justified, third at Fakenham in March and runner-up at Stratford since, and Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer’s Cloudy Wednesday, with Lewis Stones booked to ride. Mark Gillard’s No No Tonic, a recent Wincanton winner, is another notable likely runner,
The day’s action concludes with the 4.45pm Turner Trophy Maiden Hunter Chase which should go to Gina Andrews on General Arrow, trained by her husband Tom Ellis and a winner of his last two point-to-point contests, including over course and distance on April 2.
