It may have been a long way from the Gold Cup at Cheltenham but celebrations were equally as enthusiastic when 8/1 chance Potters Midnight grabbed the Silver Cup at Fakenham yesterday.
Breeder and owner Jane May greeted winning jockey Jack Quinlan with a massive hug after he had dismounted from the mare, whose well-timed run guided her home by a length.
It could have been closer but for a jumping error at the final hurdle by eventual runner-up All My Love.
“She’s a tough little mare who jumped great and travelled well. It may have been closer had the other horse not hit the last, but mine was staying on,” said Quinlan.
“I’m so pleased for Mrs May, she’s so enthusiastic and bred this one,” he added.
Mrs May could not complete a double after a dramatic climax to the Prince Carlton Chase. Her Potters Legend was closing in on long-time leader Minella On Line but both fell at the final fence to leave outsider Morney Wing to triumph, having been 35 lengths adrift when the leading pair crashed out.
Trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Josh Moore, it was a lucky success for 9/1 chance Morney Wing, who held off What Happens Now.
Jockey Harrison Beswick managed a near all-the-way success when steering home Enjoy Responsibly, owned by his father John, in the Easter Monday Racing at Fakenham Chase.
The 5/2 chance, trained by Oliver Sherwood, took it up after the second fence and never saw a rival, producing a superb display of jumping to win from Morton’s Leam.
Winning machine Ascendant notched his sixth victory in seven starts this season when landing the selling hurdle under Patrick Cowley for trainer Johnny Farrelly. Sent off 4/11 favourite, 12-year-old Ascendant swept to the front before the final bend to run clear from Saucysioux.
Trainer Ollie Murphy continued his excellent success rate at the course when favourite Weebill had a facile win under James Nixon in the Robert Case Memorial Hurdle, returned a prohibitive 1/4.
But there was no double for Murphy when his gelding Wood Pigeon, sent off favourite, was beaten in the Walter Wales Memorial Chase, by 2/1 chance Heresmynumber, Adam Wedge’s only ride of the day, the winner trained by Ali Stronge.
Words by Terry Redhead
DATE OF NEXT RACE MEETING: Easter Monday, 2nd April 2018
FIRST RACE TIME: 2.15 PM
