Tag Archives: Declarations

February Meeting | DECLARATIONS

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Fakenham racecourse will have to survive a 7am inspection to go ahead with a planned six-race card tomorrow.

“With the overnight forecast of snow, which could produce up to 6 or 7 cms, but it is more likely to be 2 to 3 cms, I must call an early inspection. I would give the chances of racing at 50%,” said David Hunter, Fakenham’s Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course

Should the meeting survive, it may prove another spectacular day for Stratford-based trainer Olly Murphy. At the last meeting, he had four winners and he could go one better.

However, Murphy has no runner in the day’s feature, the 3.05pm Handicap Hurdle. Favourite is Red Indian, following his third in the Lanzarote Hurdle. The six-year-old gelding, trained by Ben Pauling, has the assistance of David Bass.

Bridget Andrews claims three pounds off Dan Skelton’s Applesandpierres, a Uttoxeter runner-up while James Bowen partners Nick Gifford’s Theo’s Charm, a Fontwell runner-up.

Murphy will be responsible for the favourite for the other five contests, including the opener, the 2pm maiden hurdle in which he runs Swaffham Bulbeck under champion jockey Richard Johnson. The four-year-old was runner-up on stable debut at Warwick. Sean Bowen rides Lord Napier, trained by his father Peter, and looks the main danger.

Norfolk-based Fergus Gregory partners Murphy’s More Than Luck in the Lycetts Chase at 2.30pm, the seven-year-old fourth on chase debut at the last meeting, having won at Fakenham over hurdles on New Year’s Day. Main rival is Talk of the South for Tom O’Brien and trainer Paul Henderson.

Bisoubisou is another Murphy winner from the last meeting and he tries to defy a 10lbs rise in the 3.35pm Toftrees Mares’ Hurdle. Goodgirlteresa tries to beat an 85-day absence for James Best and trainer Neil Mulholland.

Johnson and Murphy have Wood Pigeon, another Fakenham winner from the last meeting, in the 4.05pm Shereford Chase but the nine-year-old has to see off a three-pound rise.

Only four go in the 4.35pm finale, the Raynham Novices Hurdle but three have experience of winning at the north Norfolk course. Johnson and Murphy have Rio Quinto, a winner in December and runner-up last time while Stuart Edmunds runs Kalochi under Ciaran Gethings, the mare a Fakenham winner in November. Also with a shout is The Linksman, a Fakenham winner on New Year’s Day.

 

 

Terry Redhead’s Selection: 2pm Swaffham Bulbeck; 2.30pm Talk of the South; 3.05pm Red Indian; 3.35pm Goodgirlteresa; 4.05pm Wood Pigeon; 4.35pm Kalochi.

 

 

January Meeting | DECLARATIONS

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It’s almost 12 years since trainer Pam Sly, based at Thorney near Peterborough, enjoyed the greatest day of her racing career when Speciosa won the 1,000 Guineas.

Since that day in 2006, the trainer has been better known for success in National Hunt racing and she will be looking to score again this afternoon at Fakenham (Monday) when she runs the favourite, Popelys Gull, in the feature, the 2.25pm three-mile Wendling Handicap Chase.

Under Kielan Woods, the six-year-old gelding was runner-up at the north Norfolk course just before Christmas and now goes up in trip.

Holly Bush Henry under James Bowen for Aylesbury-based Phil Middleton, offers a real threat in the six-runner contest, the gelding a class two hurdle winner at Sandown in December while trainer Olly Murphy has David England on board More Than Luck, up eight pounds after his win at the course on New Year’s Day.

All eyes will be on hurdling debutant Dolphin Vista in the 2.55pm maiden hurdle. Trained in Newmarket by Martyn Meade, Dolphin Vista pulled off a 50/1 shock victory in the Cambridgeshire in September, a race worth £100,000 to the winner and much is anticipated on his debut over timber.

Champion jockey Richard Johnson partners Murphy’s Captiva Island, twice a recent runner-up while Lucy Wadham can never be ignored at Fakenham and legs up Leighton Aspell on Potters Midnight, third at the track on December 19.

The Taverham Handicap Hurdle opens the card at 1.25pm when 10 go, including Gin and Tonic, a previous Fakenham winner for trainer Michael Wigham. Johnson and Murphy have Hurricane Rita, the grey mare down in trip while Tom Dowling is on Yourholidayisover, who finished ahead of Gin and Tonic in December.

Six go in the novice hurdle at 1.55pm with Johnson and Murphy looking to Rio Quinto, a course winner in December. Oscar Star, a recent Southwell winner for trainer Jamie Snowden and jockey Gavin Sheehan, looks a danger.

The second chase, at 3.25pm., sees Johnson and Murphy hopeful of a big run from Wood Pigeon while Adam Pogson rides 11-year-old Mondo Cane for his father, trainer Charlie, the gelding a recent Southwell third.

The 3.55pm finale is the Longham Conditional Jockeys Hurdle, favourite for which is Neil King’s Little Windmill, a New Year’s Day winner at Fakenham.

Selections: 1.25, Yourholidayisover; 1.55, Oscar Star; 2.25, Popelys Gull; 2.55pm, Dolphin Vista; 3.25pm, Wish In A Well; 3.55pm, Bisoubisou.

Words by Terry Redhead 

Horse Steaming in the parade ring after races at Fakenham Racecourse.

New Year’s Day Races | DECLARATIONS

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A highly competitive six-runner North Norfolk Handicap Hurdle is the feature of the New Year’s Day six-race action at Fakenham this afternoon.

Two recent Fakenham scorers tackle last year’s winner of the contest in the 20-furlong 1.55pm event in the heavy ground following recent rain.

Last year’s winner, Artifice Sivola from Lucy Wadham’s Newmarket stable, has a first run over hurdles since scoring a year ago. After that win the grey gelding went chasing, finishing runner-up three times in five outings. French jockey Maxime Tissier, who had his first success in England at Fakenham’s last meeting, is in the saddle.

Likely favourite is trainer Neil King’s Mamoo, under Trevor Whelan. The five-year-old was seventh at the course’s pre-Christmas meeting having scored over course and distance on December 4.

Fixed Rate, trained by Charlie Mann, is also worth considering having won over course and distance in October. The five-year-old gelding was sixth last time out, at Doncaster three weeks ago.

The action starts at 12.45pm when six go in the Daisy Mason Selling Hurdle, odds-on favourite for which is Ascendant under Patrick Cowley for trainer Johnny Farrelly. Third at Ludlow just before Christmas, the 12-year-old had won his three previous outings at Huntingdon, Kempton and Worcester.

Amateur riders get a chance to shine at 1.20pm in the first of two chases on the card. Neil King’s Little Windmill under Jack Andrews will be favourite while Oakidoaki, second at the course at the last meeting, and Touch Screen, a previous Lingfield winner, look the main threats.

Another former Fakenham winner, Minella Gathering, looks to strike again in the 2.30pm Happy New Year Handicap Hurdle for trainer Paul Henderson. Jack Sherwood rides the nine-year-old with opposition from five rivals including More Than Luck, a previous Taunton winner.

Only two go in the second chase, the 3.05pm Independent Racecourses Novice Chase. Huntingdon’s Boxing Day winner Norse Light under Whelan for trainer David Dennis has to defy a seven-pound penalty for that success when he meets Olly Murphy’s Mullaghboy under Charlie Poste. That gelding fell on chase debut at Fakenham’s last meeting having earlier won a hurdle contest in Norfolk.

The seven-runner maiden hurdle is the 3.40pm finale with Murphy fielding Fresh New Dawn, recently third at Ffos Las. Blue Sire and Rajapur are interesting, both making returns to hurdling after long absences.

 

Terry Redhead’s Selections: 12.45pm, Ascendant; 1.20pm, Touch Screen; 1.55pm, Artifice Sivola; 2.30pm, Minella Gathering; 3.05pm, Norse Light; 3.40pm, Rajapur.

Fakenham Races 2017

69 Runners Declared for The Greene King Raceday

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Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, who grabbed a terrific hat-trick at Cheltenham on Saturday, has an early chance of a double when Fakenham stages its second meeting of the new season this afternoon (Wednesday, November 1).

The seven-race card, beginning at 1.10pm., has attracted a bumper entry of 69 runners.

In the opening maiden hurdle, Twiston-Davies has son Sam in the saddle on Atlantic Grey, a grey gelding, third at Wetherby two weeks ago and dropping in trip.

The main rival looks to be the Nicky Henderson trained Royal Ruby under Jeremiah McGrath. A gelding out of Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats, he was a winner in a Southwell bumper and makes his hurdling debut.

A former gelding on the flat with Sir Michael Stoute, Sir George Somers goes for the Twiston-Davies yard in the 1.40pm handicap hurdle, having been third at Ffos Las in May.

Chief rival in a 14-runner field is Alexander The Grey under Kielan Woods for trainer Graeme McPherson, the gelding a Worcester runner-up in September.

Smallest field sees six go in the juvenile hurdle at 2.10pm. All six make hurdling debuts and it could be between Really Super for Amy Murphy, her filly formerly with Ralph Beckett on the flat, and Tom Symonds’ Mirzam, an ex Mick Channon trained filly.

 

The feature race is the 2.40pm Greene King IPA Chase over two miles for which nine go. Caroline Bailey eyes the near £8,000 prize with McCabe Creek, a Huntingdon winner on October 5 now eight pounds higher in the weights.

 

Last time out winners Mercian King, successful at Worcester, and Deauville Dancer for Brian Hughes and trainer David Dennis, a recent Huntingdon winner, look key threats in a competitive contest.

Trainer Lawney Hill has the favourite for the 3.10pm handicap hurdle in the shape of Miss Mayfair. The 10-year-old mare, under Aidan Coleman, was a Sedgefield runner-up in September.

Former Fakenham winner That’s The Deal, now 13, runs for John Cornwall in the 3.40pm Tapping House Hospice Chase, the main rivals being Oliver Sherwood’s Enjoy Responsibly and Dennis and Hughes again with Wade Harper although at a bigger price, another former Fakenham winner, D’Nailor, looks interesting.

The finale at 4.10pm features a dozen tackling a two-mile bumper, headed by Myplaceatmidnight, a Market Rasen winner in April, representing Nick King and claimer Harry Teal.

 

 

Terry Redhead’s Selections: 1.10pm Atlantic Gray, 1.40pm Alexander The Grey, 2.10pm Mirzam, 2.40pm Artifice Sivola, 3.10pm Miss Mayfair, 3.40pm D’Nailor, 4.10pm Kaloci.

 

 

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