CHARLIE’S THE DARLING AS CAROLINE GRABS LOCAL GLORY AT FAKENHAM
Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer had her first winner for more than a year when grey mare Goodnight Charlie landed the opening Amateur Jockeys’ Chase at Fakenham.
It was a happy start to the New Year for Fryer who couldn’t believe the success of her veteran 12-year-old who won by two lengths from Summit Like Herbie after a three miles and five furlong stamina test.
“I had never run her at Fakenham before because I thought she would hate it. And I ran her without the usual headgear, just to try something different. And it’s all worked,” said a delighted winning trainer.
The mare, at 8/1, ridden by Alex Chadwick, recorded a fifth win in 24 chasing starts, the last being at Cheltenham in April 2019.
The £20,000 feature Fakenham Racecourse Handicap Hurdle went to Here Comes Henry much to the joy of owners, The Danum Partnership.
“He was a steal. The owners paid £10,000 for him at Tattersalls and he has repaid them now although I was starting to wish I hadn’t brought him here,” said trainer Stuart Edmunds.
“He didn’t seem to take to the tight course early on but he settled and in the end won it well,” added the trainer, thrilled with the ride by Jack Tudor.
Arriving late on the back of a good pace set by Feivel, Here Comes Henry got up by two lengths at 4/1, beating Small Bad Bob and Ray’s The One.
Tudor went on to complete a double when he took the Mares’ Chase on 11/8 favourite Barden Bella, trained by Christian Williams, beating Wildkatze by a wide margin.
The Wells Chase, went to Animal, the 9/4 favourite ridden by Charlie Hammond for trainer Suzi Smith.
Carrying top weight in the soft going, Animal was third before the last open ditch but jumped well and wore down market rival Jony Max to land the spoils.
Odds-on favourite Hidor De Bersy set off at a cracking pace under Tom Scudamore in the two-mile maiden hurdle and never saw a rival on his way to an impressive victory.
The 4/7 chance, trained by Tom Symonds, jumped well to record a first hurdling success at the third time of asking, finishing clear of River Tyne.
The finale, the Racing Partnership Handicap Hurdle, saw Lucy Wadham’s Terresita repeat her November Fakenham success this time under claimer Corey McGivern. The 9/4 favourite was helped by an early fall suffered by market rival Henschke.
