CHELTENHAM ACE ENTERED FOR £20,000 FAKENHAM CONTEST
Kansas City Chief, a Cheltenham hero under Victoria Malzard this season, is among the initial nine entries for the £20,000 Little Snoring Handicap Hurdle, the feature of Wednesday’s (February 9) six-race card at Fakenham, off at 3.52pm.
The 13-year-old was second at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day in the Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle after earlier winning at the same course in December when taking the Citipost Handicap Hurdle, and in October, when winning the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle.
Should trainer Neil Mulholland decide to run the veteran gelding, his main rival may be the Lucy Wadham trained Terresita, the five-year-old mare a winner over course and distance on New Year’s Day, before finishing runner-up at Ludlow three weeks later.
Newmarket-based Wadham has a magnificent strike rate at Fakenham and initial entries give her several good chances to add to her winning tally at the north Norfolk venue.
In the opening 1.52pm Pudding Norton Handicap Hurdle, Wadham has both Glutnforpunishment and Tiny Tantrum entered, although the main rival could be Dr Richard Newland’s Thirtyfourstitches, a course and distance winner on New Year’s Day. Another former Fakenham winner entered is Conceroe, under Jack Andrews, a scorer at the pre-Christmas fixture for trainer Ben Case.
Wadham also has Brandisova in the finale, the 4.25pm Coxford Mares Handicap Hurdle. The six-year-old was runner-up last time out at Warwick in December. One rival may be Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer’s mare, Ratoute Yutty, a Fakenham runner-up in January when the complete outsider in the field.
Another former Fakenham winner, Ajay’s Ways, has been entered by trainer Fergal O’Brien for the 2.22pm Shereford Novice Chase. Main rival could be the Deborah Faulkner trained Mister Robbo, the 11-year-old gelding successful at Taunton in November.
Another highly successful trainer at Fakenham, Olly Murphy, has Swinging London entered in the 2.52pm Toftrees Maiden Hurdle. The four-year-old makes his debut for Murphy, having moved from Irish trainer Ellmarie Holden, for whom the gelding was third at Cork in December. A threat could be Daniel Steele’s Gold Souk under Daniel Sansom, the gelding having been third at Huntingdon last week.
The 3.22pm Hellesdon Leather and Cloth Furnishing Company Chase sees Rostello among the initial entries, trainer Dr Newland’s gelding third at Fakenham in January following an earlier Huntingdon success. In the same race, trainer Jennie Candish has Zuckerberg entered, the gelding finishing fifth at Leicester and third at Huntingdon, both in January.
