UPS AND DOWNS AS SUPER SAM COMPLETES A FAKENHAM TREBLE
Sam Twiston-Davies found himself on the ground during the opener at Fakenham but bounced back to land a surprise double with trainer James Owen.
He then went a step further, completing a treble by winning the finale on Mavis Pike, trained by his father Nigel.
Opec was impressive in winning the four-runner Greene King Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle under Twiston-Davies. Trained by Owen, Opec led from the start to score by eight lengths.
A faller on hurdling debut before winning at Wetherby, 2/9 favourite Opec was challenged by Window of Time but cruised home.
Jubilant was odds-on favourite to make it a double for jockey and trainer but in the Coleman Maiden Hurdle could only manage third after success for trainer Stuart Edmunds’ Miami Magic under Charlie Hammond. Beaten a head at Aintree last time, 9/4 chance Miami Magic won well.
However, the Twiston-Davies and Owen pairing hit back in style when 22/1 outsider River Gold produced a fantastic finishing sprint to win the PRA Prize Money Plaque to Fakenham Novice Chase.
The contest looked between Grain D’Oudairies and Nevendon but Twiston-Davies got a superb sprint out of his grey filly to complete a super day and the Fakenham Double Up Bonus.
That success seemed most unlikely after the opening Greene King Hurdle when the jockey was unseated from Laser Focus. The race went to Hiero Sport who justified his support into 3/1 favouritism under Kielan Woods for trainer Alex Hales. The grey gelding took it up before the final bend to score by six lengths.
In the finale, the Riding A Dream Academy Hurdle, Mavis Pike made every yard to score a 7/2, showing great improvement following her fifth at Exeter three weeks ago.
Telepathique looked a mare to note when taking the Queen Boudicca Series Qualifier Mares’ Chase under Tom Cannon for trainer Lucy Wadham at Fakenham.
Wadham’s six-year-old won her bumper and had been a winner and runner-up in two hurdles races. On chase debut Cannon sent the mare into the lead from the start and never saw a rival to win by 11 lengths.
“She’s had plenty of schooling and jumped well. She should do well in mares’ races and I’m sure will go on to the final of this series,” said Cannon.
Lunar Contact won the King Handicap Chase, delighting owner Keith Loads. The gelding won at 7/1 under Jack Andrews, for trainer Tom Ellis and beat favourite Instant Gambler, who was looking to make it five wins in five races.
“If Lunar Contact had not won today, he would have been off; I would have got rid of him tomorrow,” Loads told a section of the crowd.
