The green and gold hoops of owner JP McManus swept the board at the Cheltenham Festival and also scored at Fakenham when grey gelding Onefortheroadtom made it a winning debut at the track for trainer Harry Fry.
Winning jockey Jonathan Burke sat quietly throughout the three-mile Prince Carlton Chase but took his chance to squeeze through on the inside of market rival Echiquier on the final bend. After the two jumped the last together, Burke was able to drive his mount home.
The 5/4 favourite was winning his third race over fences. “I could see Echiquier was jumping to his right and took my chance. My horse is progressing and I think he will be even better on a more conventional track,” said Burke.
Burke went on to complete a double when he won the Country Food Trust £20,000 Fakenham Silver Cup on 10/1 shot Nebuchadnezzar for trainer Alan King.
Favourite Homer proved disappointing and rounding the final bend with one flight to jump, rivals were lining up but pacesetting Nebuchadnezzar found more to win his first hurdle race at the eighth attempt.
“He changed gear two out and they couldn’t get to him. He will be even better over fences,” said Burke.
Medalla De Oro looked a useful newcomer to hurdling when, at 2/1, he won the Robert Case Memorial Hurdle over two miles under conditional jockey James Neild for trainer Harry Whittington.
A Chester flat winner in July, the gelding led from the start and clinched success with a good leap at the final flight to beat favourite Sorbet.
Corri Lindo quickened away after the last to land the Walter Wales Memorial Hurdle at 8/1 for claimer Nathan Brennan and trainer Henry Oliver. The 10-year-old gelding pounced to land the first success at his 19th attempt.
The opener boosted favourite backers when 4/7 chance Swaffham Bulbeck won the Claiming Hurdle. Under Callum McKinnes for trainer Olly Murphy, Swaffham Bulbeck, who won at the same meeting last year, tracked market rival Coole Well before taking it up before the last flight to score. The winning horse was bought by trainer Conor Dore for £14,000.
The finale, the Robert Hoare Memorial Hunter Chase, went to fast-finishing Full Irish under Jack Andrews for trainer David Phelan.
Words by Terry Redhead.
