GALE FORCE SUCCESS AS ‘SILVER BULLET’ LANDS FAKENHAM SILVER CUP
Elizabeth Gale claimed the eighth success of her career when landing the Fakenham Silver Cup at the north Norfolk course’s Woodfordes Raceday.
She scored on a real ‘silver bullet’ in the shape of grey gelding Tapley, trained by Suzi Best and returned at 7/2.
Gale took it up before the last flight and the seven-year-old held on to win from Ip Up.
“I hit the front too soon but thankfully he held on. I’m so delighted for the horse and the owners. I love the horse and feel I’m getting to know him now,” said Gale.
Fakenham’s ‘Double up’ bonus scheme was won when trainer Stuart Edmunds completed a short-priced double.
Favourite backers got off to a flying start when Bluegrass won the opening Robert Case Memorial Maiden Hurdle under Charlie Hammond for the Leighton Buzzard-based trainer.
The 5/6 chance had to be shaken up on the penultimate circuit but cruised home by seven lengths from Rumoursareflying.
Then it was the turn of Birdhouse, also under Hammond, to complete Edmunds’ double by taking the Try Woodfordes New Volt IPA Mares’ Hurdle at 15/8.
Birdhouse sped away from his rivals to win by nine lengths to complete the double which meant both winning owners, as well as Edmunds, collected an extra £1,000 bonus.
Brendan Powell executed a last-to-first success in the Racing TV Hurdle for the Walter Wales Cup on 5/1 chance Double Powerful.
Dropped out early on, Double Powerful began to move through his rivals on the final circuit. By the last flight, the Neil Mulholland trained gelding was level with odds-on favourite Fever Dream and stretched ahead to prevail in a tight finish.
It must have been lonely for Jack Tudor and Ballyrashane when they led from start to finish in the three miles and five furlongs Revel Music Festival Chase.
The 4/6 favourite set the pace and once two of the quartet had pulled up, he was left to collect a first chase success by holding off Fakenham Race Club gelding Conceroe. Trainer Christian Williams’ eight-year-old was never troubled, having been backed from 10/1 the previous evening.
Ballylinch won his first chase in October and under a driving ride by champion jockey Brian Hughes, doubled that tally by landing the Woodfordes Wherry Novice Chase.
Returned at 10/3, Ballylinch, trained by Micky Hammond, was in the driving seat throughout and held on to win decisively.
The closing Queens Cup Open Hunters’ Chase was a thriller with 3/1 chance Rebel Dawn Rising, pulled up in the race last year, beating Knight in Dubai and Firak to earn a fine victory for Dale Peters and Thetford-based trainer David Kemp.
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