TOP TRAINERS AT THE DOUBLE AT THEIR BELOVED FAKENHAM
In-form Staffordshire-based trainer Olly Murphy and Newmarket trainer Lucy Wadham, both great suppporters of Fakenham Races, were among the prizemoney on Weatherbys Raceday with doubles.
Murphy’s 7/4 favourite Dubai Guest landed the conditional jockeys’ three-mile chase under Norfolk-based rider Fergus Gregory.
Gregory, from Thompson near Watton, produced the six-year-old to romp home by 15 lengths and confirm his improvement after finishing fourth at Worcester in September.
Murphy made it a double when 4/5 favourite Salley Gardens followed up victory at Huntingdon last week with success in the Peter Charter Hurdle.
Ridden by Katie O’Farrell, the winner tracked the leaders and took it up before the final flight to score easily.
“He wasn’t going as well as I would have liked early on but he’s won well and the whole stable is on the crest of a wave,” said O’Farrell.
There is no more popular jockey at Fakenham than Bryony Frost and she received a fantastic welcome in the winners’ enclosure when landing the mares’ hurdle on Terresita.
Making her debut in the four-runner contest, the Lucy Wadham trained filly benefited when Auditoria unseated Aidan Coleman four out. From the back, 5/1 chance Terresita made up ground to get home by a length.
“She was a bit spooked when Auditoria came down. She had a target in front and got home despite having to make up a lot of ground,” said Frost.
Frost and Wadham completed their own double when Sorbet won the mares’ hurdle in style at 3/1.
“She’s awesome. She is so professional and tough. I love riding her,” said a delighted Frost.
Feature race, the Weatherbys Hamilton Chase, went to 6/1 shot Major Dundee for trainer Alan King. The Tom Cannon ridden gelding and The Golden Rebel were in the driving seat but it was Major Dundee, on chasing debut, who stormed clear to win.
Trainer Evan Williams’ near 500-mile round trip from Llancarfan in Wales proved worthwhile when 2/1 favourite Sabbathical went one better than his Ffos Las second to take the Weatherbys Stallions Chase under Adam Wedge.
The result was never in doubt once Sabbathical went ahead at the open ditch after picking up the early pacesetters who went off at a blistering pace.
The closing flat race went to the Warren Greatrex trained Gallopade under claimer Caoilin Quinn who beat six fellow debutants in an impressive performance, returned at the biggest winning price of the day, 10/1.
