Trainer Ben Case was all smiles after his seven-year-old gelding Nickelforce won the Fakenham racecourse Ladies’ Day feature race, the Prince of Wales Cup Chase.
One of the owners, David Walsh, had, for many years sought a winner at Fakenham, and on Sunday that wish came true when Nickelforce stormed home at 11/5.
When early leader Tommy Cullen faded, Nickelforce took it up and held on to win from Coastguard Station to land the £15,000 contest.
“He was third at Uttoxeter and came on from that. He did it so well today. It’s good to win here at Fakenham,” said Case.
Hello Sweety, a bold frontrunner, completed her third course and distance victory when landing the 1st The Queens’ Dragoon Guards Handicap Hurdle for trainer Stuart Edmunds and jockey Charlie Hammond.
“Hello Sweety does what Hello Sweety wants to do,” said Edmunds. “The race starts and she simply takes off. It’s the only way she knows how to race,” said the trainer.
Ambiente Friendly, runner-up in the 2024 Epsom Derby behind City of Troy, closed on Hello Sweety in the closing stages, but the 4/1 chance held on to complete a Fakenham hat-trick.
Most Wanted produced a shock in the four-runner Book Your Function @fakenhamracecourse.co.uk Chase for trainer David Bridgwater and jockey Tom Cannon.
The 17/2 outsider led with Not for Passin until that horse almost crashed out at the open ditch, subsequently pulling up. Champion jockey Sean Bowen galvanised favourite Getaway Jewel to close on the leader, but Most Wanted held on, on chasing debut.
Alibey, a filly out of Derby winner Golden Horn, put an end to a run of three second-placed finishes to take The Bruce Towers & Sons Mechanical Engineers Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.
Under Tabitha Worsley for trainer Dylan Cunha, Alibey produced a fine leap at the final flight to clinch a 13/8 success by getting the upper hand on favourite Dancing Dame, the pair having had a terrific scrap throughout the contest.
Tuba, a recent winner on the all-weather at Wolverhampton, won for the first time over hurdles when landing the opening Fakenhamdogfield.co.uk Novices’ Handicap Hurdle under Fern O’Brien for her father, trainer Fergal.
The 5/6 favourite, a grey son of Golden Horn, led from the start and saw off the challenge of Madajovy, scoring by 12 lengths.
The closing Fisher Electrical Contractors Female Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle was won last year by Alice Stevens on Gone In Sixty. This year, Gone In Sixty crashed out under Isabelle Ryder and Stevens went on to win again, this time on 11/2 outsider of the quartet of runners, Nottodaybobo.
The meeting brought down the curtain on Fakenham’s 2025/26 season, the next meeting scheduled for Friday, October 16.
Terry Redhead
