A faller nine days ago at Plumpton, Knocknanuss quickly gained compensation when landing the £14,000 Greene King IPA Novice Chase at Fakenham.
“I was surprised when he fell at Plumpton. But once we knew he was ok both my dad and I said Fakenham next week,” said winning rider Jamie Moore, son of Sussex-based trainer Gary.
“He is very keen but on his day he’s a decent sort. I’m pleased for the owners, they deserve this good prize,” he added.
The 9/4 chance was left clear when odds-on favourite Movewiththetimes crashed out down the back straight after another key rival, The Linksman, had fallen at the open ditch.
There had been better times for Movewiththetimes’ jockey Barry Geragthy when his mount made a winning debut over hurdles in the opener. The odds-on Didtheyleaveuoutto got up in the dying strides to defeat pacesetter Starjac.
The Nick Gifford trained five-year-old had shown smart form in bumpers and jumped well, returned the 2/5 favourite in a slowly run contest.
Tom Scudamore made the trip from trainer David Pipe’s Somerset yard worthwhile when he landed the Greene King handicap hurdle on 4/1 chance Jacbequick.
Always up with the leaders, Jacbequick had enough left to hold off Mauricio and My Brother.
“He was brilliant. He is such a professional at home and on the track. He won eight times on the flat and has now won over hurdles,” said Scudamore, after his only ride of the afternoon.
You can’t ignore Newmarket trainer Lucy Wadham at Fakenham and her Dance To Paris made a winning hurdles debut under Leighton Aspell.
Hot favourite Lisa De Vassy was pulled up and left 5/1 chance Dance To Paris to waltz home in the fillies’ juvenile event, beating outsider Powerful Society.
Our Reward demolished his six rivals to coast home in the handicap hurdle by 26 lengths under Jack Quinlan for trainer Jamie Snowden. Nothing challenged the leader who was returned at 3/1.
Gavin Sheehan produced favourite Beau Sancy perfectly to take the Greene King Chase for trainer Olly Murphy. Sheehan took it up before the last to get his 15/8 gelding home to complete a hat-trick of victories.
Murphy then completed a swift double when his Skandiburg, under Fergus Gregory, won the finale, the two-mile bumper at 5/6.
Words by Terry Redhead
DATE OF NEXT RACE MEETING: NOVEMBER RACE MEETING, 20TH NOVEMBER
FIRST RACE TIME: 1 PM
