Brother Boris produced a fine round of jumping to land the Tim Barclay Memorial Chase over a stamina-testing three miles and five furlongs at Fakenham to maintain jockey Tom Cannon’s excellent form.
Cannon, who rode a double at Leicester on Thursday, recorded his seventh success from his last 10 rides when partnering the Lucy Wadham trained gelding to a 27-length victory, at 11/8.
Favourite Animal unseated Isabelle Ryder with a circuit to go and nothing could get to Brother Boris, recording his first career success. Runner-up Edgewell was the only other finisher, having seen rider Jack Quinlan perform miracles to keep that partnership intact.
“He’s a big horse and has struggled to get home at times. He got into a lovely rhythm today although it did seem an awful long way in the soft ground,” said Cannon.
Trainer Stuart Edmunds’ terrific record at the course improved further when his Jury’s In was most impressive when taking the EBF Novices’ Hurdle under Charlie Hammond, at 9/4.
Ionian in the Constitution Hill colours and ridden by Nico de Boinville tried to make all but had no answer to Jury’s In who raced clear to score by 20 lengths.
“He’s a good one. He loves soft ground and hopefully he will now head to Sandown for the EBF Final,” said Edmunds.
The Terry Moyise Memorial Mares’ Chase went the way of 5/6 favourite Kalista Love under Ben Poste for trainer Tom Symonds. The recent Warwick third was dropping in class and proved too good for her three rivals, including runner-up Belle Montrose, winner of the Queen Boudicca Final at Fakenham three weeks earlier.
Patrick Mullins ticked off Fakenham in his quest to ride a winner at every British course when 4/6 favourite Stattler, trained by Faye Bramley, won the William Bulwer-Long Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase in which runner-up Hollywood Harmon was the only other finisher.
Trainer Nick Scholfield’s first runner at Fakenham proved a winner when Kielan Woods stormed home on 4/6 favourite Morning Mayhem in the opening £150,000 Prize Money on 4th May Handicap Hurdle.
The Harry Redknapp owned Risk It All tried to make all but the market leader’s great leap at the final flight clinched victory.
The day got better for Scholfield when his 13/2 shot Junior Des Mottes, under Jack Quinlan, won the Racing TV Novices’ Hurdle, holding off the challenge of favourite Castanea Breeze.
The closing bumper (National Hunt flat race) went to Highclere’s Cooltobecareless, trained by Dan Skelton and ridden by Tristan Durrell. Durrell produced the recent Chepstow runner-up perfectly to romp home at 4/9 from Paul Nicholls’ debutant Beau Speed.
