14th Mar 2021

Preview of Entries for Friday 19th March Race Meeting

SILVER CUP TO SPARKLE AT FAKENHAM ON A GOLDEN DAY OF RACING

The Cheltenham Gold Cup, the blue riband of the jump racing season takes place on Friday, but local National Hunt fans will have their eyes on Fakenham’s very own Silver Cup the same afternoon.

Initial entries number 26 for the Country Food Trust Fakenham Silver Cup, a hurdle contest over two miles worth more than £19,000.

Several last time out winners have been entered for the 4.05pm race. They include Floating Rock. The six-year-old from Mark Walford’s stable has Jamie Hamilton booked to ride, the gelding having won two recent flat races on the all weather at Southwell and Newcastle. Prior to that, Floating Rock scored over hurdles at Sedgefield and Stratford.

Fairway Freddy from Nick Gifford’s yard is a recent Plumpton scorer; John Quinn’s First Impression won at Wetherby last time, Ginistrelli for Olly Murphy won last week at Doncaster and Lucy Wadham’s Martello Sky, loves Fakenham.

Martello Sky won at Market Rasen in February, having earlier triumphed over course and distance at Fakenham’s pre-Christmas meeting.

The seven-race card starts with the 1.10pm Country Foods Trust Claiming Hurdle which sees both Falberto and Ferrobin entered. They met at Market Rasen in December with Max Young’s Ferrobin getting the better of Jake Coulson’s second-placed six-year-old.

There are 20 entries for the 1.45pm Robert Case Memorial Conditional Jockeys’ Maiden Hurdle with Fergal O’Brien’s Yauthym looking to make up for a fall at Southwell in February. The five-year-old had previously been a Fakenham runner-up.

The first chase of the day is the Shereford Chase at 2.20pm in which Henry Brooke has been booked for Oliver Greenall’s Furius De Ciergues, a recent Sedgefield scorer. Game Line, for Peter Bowen, a recent Carlisle winner, and Evan Williams’ Oxwich Bay, successful at Sedgefield last week, are also entered.

Nick King’s Cheng Gong, a Taunton winner earlier this month, is one of 18 entries for the 2.55pm Walter Wales Memorial Hurdle along with Pat Murphy’s Galtee Mountain, Neil Mulholland’s Mongol Emperor and Wadham’s Shangtung.

At 3.30pm the Prince Carlton Chase honours one of Fakenham’s iconic previous multi-times winners and 14 are entered for the three-miler, including One More Fleurie from Ian Williams’ stable. The seven-year-old won at Doncaster a fortnight ago having earlier scored at Warwick.

The 4.40pm finale is the Robert Hoare Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase over three miles and among entries are veterans Henri Parry Morgan, Mercers Court, Gold Opera and Straidnahanna.

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David Hunter