SILVER JOY AS BLUEGRASS WINS AGAIN TO DOUBLE UP FOR EDMUNDS AND HAMMOND
Trainer Stuart Edmunds and jockey Charlie Hammond snapped up doubles and the silverware at Fakenham’s St Patrick’s Raceday.
On a day when eyes were on the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Fakenhams’ Silver Cup, sponsored by P H Betts (Holdings) Ltd., produced a superb two-mile hurdle which saw four runners in a line rounding the final bend.
But it was 11/8 favourite Bluegrass, a previous winner at the course in November, who defeated Admiralty House by a neck in a superb finish to the £20,000 contest.
“He was long at the last but brave enough and good enough,” said Hammond.
“I love taking the spoils at Fakenham,” said Edmunds, whose victory with Bluegrass completed a Fakenham Double Up, meaning £1,000 bonuses for winning owners and trainers.
“I wish I could say I planned it. He is good around here and very brave and consistent,” added Edmunds.
Pat Betts, the race sponsor, saw his Secret Des Dieux finish fourth. “I was hoping to win my own money!” he said.
Earlier Edmunds’ Busy Being Busy recorded a maiden success when taking the Volt Low Alcohol IPA Hurdle for the Walter Wales Cup. Under Hammond, the 7/2 chance bided his time before racing clear to score from Lightning Flash.
Jockey Lewis Stones also grabbed a double thanks to victory on the Jennie Candlish trained Remarkable Flight in the Woodfordes Wherry Champion Beer Mares’ Hurdle.
A runner-up at Southwell, Remarkable Flight looked under pressure a mile out but rallied to win at 11/4 from Arenas Del Tiempo.
Trainer Olly Murphy took the opening Robert Chase Memorial Maiden Hurdle with favourite Dinofromberlais ridden by Stones.
The 11/5 chance made the running and although he looked inexperienced, the five-year-old battled well to hold off Mount Olympus. It was a good performance by the winner who made amends after crashing out at Huntingdon last time.
Owner J P McManus was in superlative form at Cheltenham with Inothewayurthinkin’s magnificent triumph in the Gold Cup, and his extensive collection of horses found another opening when landing the Racing TV Mares’ Chase with Rock on Rita under Richie McLernon for trainer Neil Mulholland.
Returned at 6/4, the winner got the better of favourite Taxus Baccata, trying to follow up a victory at Plumpton on Monday, to record a first chase success at the seventh attempt.
The closing Pointing Pointers Queens Cup Hunters’ Chase went to the Rupert Stearn ridden 9/4 chance, Janika, the top weight getting the better of front-running Go Go Geronimo.
