Midnight Shot stormed to his 11th career win when landing the £16,500 Sky Sports Chase at Fakenham’s opening race meeting of the 2018/19 season.
Victory by the Charlie Longsden trained eight-year-old was a reward for connections after the horse had run in the Topham Trophy at Aintree and been affected by the experience.
“The Topham frightened him. The trainer had to re-building his confidence. He’s honest and his jumping is his strength. When you ask he gives his all,” said winning rider Jonathan Burke.
It was a first Fakenham success and a 19th win of the season for Burke who moved from Ireland last season. The winner was returned at 7/2 ahead of favourite Ballykan.
David Bass made it five wins from his last nine rides when Rocky’s Treasure won the novice chase. The evens favourite had his job made easier when one of two rivals, Cultivator, was pulled up after some poor jumps. The Kim Bailey trained seven-year-old then rushed clear of Comanche Chieftain to take the £14,000 contest.
Wayne Hutchinson gave Canyon City a perfect ride to land the handicap hurdle for Neil King at 9/4. Miles To Milan cut out the pace but Hutchinson stalked the field and produced the five-year-old, out of Derby winner Authorized, to cruise home from the staying-on Todd.
There was an all-the-way winner of the selling hurdle when evens favourite Collodi ran his five rivals ragged to score by 22 lengths.
Ridden by Harry Reed, the Neil Mulholland trained gelding was never in trouble in a contest in which Excellent Result slipped over on the bend leaving the home straight. Neither horse nor Norfolk-based jockey Fergus Gregory suffered any ill effects. The winning nine-year-old was bought at auction for £10,700 by Boston-based trainer Conor Dore.
After the first three races had gone to the favourites, there was a shock when 2/9 market leader Mon Port, was beaten. Richard Johnson tried to make all but Jack Quinlan stayed close on Fearsome and took it up before the last to score at 5/1 for trainer Nick Littmoden.
The four-runner novice hurdle finale was a slowly run affair until the final half a mile when Maxime Tissier took it up on the Lucy Wadham trained 6/4 favourite Movie Legend who held off General Custard to score at 2/1.
Wors by Terry Redhead
DATE OF NEXT RACE MEETING: The Greene King Raceday
FIRST RACE TIME: 1 PM
