Tag Archives: Fakenham Racecourse

Easter Monday Raceday | ENTRY REPORT

Recent winner of Sandown’s Grand Military Gold Cup, Baden, is one of 17 entries for the feature event on Fakenham’s seven-race Easter Monday card.

Trained by Nicky Henderson and due to be ridden by Nico De Boinville, the seven-year-old grey gelding triumphed on March 9, and if taking his chance, is likely to start a short-priced favourite.

However, there are several other interesting looking entries for the race, the three-mile David Keith Memorial Handicap Chase, worth more than £11,000 to the winner.

Potters Legend, trained by Lucy Wadham, looked the likely winner of the Prince Carlton Chase at Fakenham’s last meeting before crashing out at the final fence over course and distance, in the race won by Morney Wing. Last time out winner Goohar, due to be ridden by Andrew Tinkler and trained by Henry Daly, a scorer at Ludlow in February, is also among the entries.

David Pipe has Dell Arca entered, the nine-year-old last winning at Newbury in November, taking the Pertemps Network Hurdle and now returning to chasing.

Dan Skelton’s Sam Red is in the original entries, the seven-year-old having won over course and distance back in October.

The card, which gets under way at 2.15pm, also features two Hunter Chase contests, the first the 2.50pm Robert Hoare Hunter Chase over 21 furlongs and the second, the Queen’s Cup Open Hunter Chase at 5.10pm over three miles.

In the former, there are 21 entries including hat-trick seeking In A Blue Dust, due to be ridden by Archie Wright for his father, trainer Nick.

The Queen’s Cup has a dozen entries at the five-day stage including a mount for Tim Gredley on the grey gelding Midnight Cowboy, whose last win was at Stratford in August when trained by Alan King.

Ascendant, winner at the last Fakenham meeting, and successful in five of his six last starts, has been entered in the 2.15pm opening selling hurdle while Michael Wigham’s regular Fakenham visitor Gin and Tonic is among the entries for the 3.25pm Cecil and Sheila Buttifant Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

Henderson has Taunton winner Comely in the 4.35pm handicap hurdle while Peter Bowen may run Cougar’s Gold.

In the finale, the National Hunt flat race, Pipe is likely to run Mechelen, runner-up on debut in a similar event at Taunton on March 12.


Words by Terry Redhead 

DATE OF NEXT RACE MEETING: EASTER MONDAY, 2ND APRIL 2018

FIRST RACE TIME: 2.15 PM

Post Racing Report | Totepool Silver Cup Day

It may have been a long way from the Gold Cup at Cheltenham but celebrations were equally as enthusiastic when 8/1 chance Potters Midnight grabbed the Silver Cup at Fakenham yesterday.

Breeder and owner Jane May greeted winning jockey Jack Quinlan with a massive hug after he had dismounted from the mare, whose well-timed run guided her home by a length.

It could have been closer but for a jumping error at the final hurdle by eventual runner-up All My Love.

“She’s a tough little mare who jumped great and travelled well. It may have been closer had the other horse not hit the last, but mine was staying on,” said Quinlan.

“I’m so pleased for Mrs May, she’s so enthusiastic and bred this one,” he added.

Mrs May could not complete a double after a dramatic climax to the Prince Carlton Chase. Her Potters Legend was closing in on long-time leader Minella On Line but both fell at the final fence to leave outsider Morney Wing  to triumph, having been 35 lengths adrift when the leading pair crashed out.

Trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Josh Moore, it was a lucky success for 9/1 chance Morney Wing, who held off What Happens Now.

Jockey Harrison Beswick managed a near all-the-way success when steering home Enjoy Responsibly, owned by his father John, in the Easter Monday Racing at Fakenham Chase.

The 5/2 chance, trained by Oliver Sherwood, took it up after the second fence and never saw a rival, producing a superb display of jumping to win from Morton’s Leam.

Winning machine Ascendant notched his sixth victory in seven starts this season when landing the selling hurdle under Patrick Cowley for trainer Johnny Farrelly. Sent off 4/11 favourite, 12-year-old Ascendant swept to the front before the final bend to run clear from Saucysioux.

Trainer Ollie Murphy continued his excellent success rate at the course when favourite Weebill had a facile win under James Nixon in the Robert Case Memorial Hurdle, returned a prohibitive 1/4.

But there was no double for Murphy when his gelding Wood Pigeon, sent off favourite, was beaten in the Walter Wales Memorial Chase, by 2/1 chance Heresmynumber, Adam Wedge’s only ride of the day, the winner trained by Ali Stronge.

Words by Terry Redhead


 

DATE OF NEXT RACE MEETING: Easter Monday, 2nd April 2018

FIRST RACE TIME: 2.15 PM

 

Totepool Silver Cup Day | ENTRY REPORT

All eyes will be on the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday and there is the chance to watch National Hunt racing’s blue riband event on a giant screen while still taking in live action at Fakenham’s meeting the same afternoon.

The six-race card at the north Norfolk course starts at 2pm with its races spaced strategically between contests at the Cheltenham Festival, all broadcast live for punters to enjoy.

Fakenham’s feature is the 4pm Fakenham Silver Cup and Lucy Wadham, the Newmarket-based trainer who frequently visits the winner’s enclosure, has two runners among the 20 entries in Iconic Sky and Potters Midnight. The former won at Market Rasen last month while Potters Midnight was third at Uttoxeter after having scored over course and distance in January.

Michael Appleby’s Beyeh, with Jack Sherwood booked to ride, won at Fakenham’s last meeting a month ago while Dennis Quinn has entered another last time out winner, Shining Romeo, a Huntingdon victor.

Two horses chasing hat-tricks of wins are among entries for the 4.40pm Prince Carlton Chase. Brian Ellison’s Bordeaux Bill won three-runner contests at Southwell a fortnight ago and at Wetherby at Christmas while Christian Williams has Hedgeinator, who won twice in January at Sedgefield and Ludlow.

Unusually, the finale is a chase. At 5.15pm the Walter Wales Memorial Chase could feature two from the stable of Olly Murphy, who has dominated the season at the north Norfolk course. Entered for Murphy are Wood Pigeon and Bisoubisou, both of whom have already won at Fakenham this campaign.

Such is Murphy’s liking for the track, he has nine of the 22 entries for the 3.20pm Robert Case Memorial Maiden Hurdle although some also have entries in the opening selling hurdle at 2pm. Murphy is most likely to run Saucysioux, a Fakenham winner in December in that opener. However, if taking his chance, the Johnny Farrelly trained Ascendant, winner of five of his last six outings, could take all the beating.

Twenty Eight Guns, winner of the Tim Barclay Chase at the last meeting, is set to return in the 2.40pm chase and trainer Michael Scudamore has jockey Robert Dunne booked. Brian Hughes is another jockey already booked, with Donald McCain lining him up to take on Twenty Eight Guns with hat-trick seeking Nefyn Bay.

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Lycetts Raceday 16th February 2018

Post Racing Report | Lycetts Raceday

What an exciting sunny day for the Lycetts Raceday!

Rather Be, for champion trainer Nicky Henderson, is set for the Cheltenham Festival after a facile but impressive victory in the Lycetts Chase at Fakenham.

Sent off 2/7 favourite in a five-runner contest, Rather Be, under Jeremiah McGrath led from the start to win by 17 lengths.

“I didn’t want to go too steady. I wanted to teach him to jump at speed. He is talented. His next races will probably be at Cheltenham and Aintree so he will have to jump well. He’s still a big baby and lightly-raced, but the stable thinks a lot of him,” said McGrath.

The feature race was a triumph for brothers Tom and Michael Scudamore with 4/1 chance Twenty Eight Guns. Very promising last campaign, the mare seemed to have lost her way but she returned to form to beat Princeton Royale in an exciting Tim Barclay Memorial Handicap Chase.

“It’s always nice to have a winner but when your brother is the trainer it’s even better,” said Tom, adding that Michael had driven him to the course from their Herefordshire base.

The opener went to Beyeh under Jack Sherwood for Mick Appleby. She came in for good support from 10/1 to 9/2 and was game in holding off Hollywood All Star and favourite Hurricane Rita.

“She went over further last time but this two-mile trip was more suitable. She was gutsy, stuck her neck out and deserved her win,” said Sherwood.

Trainer Olly Murphy made it lucky 13 at the course this season when 10/11 chance Whiskey in the Jar cruised home in the novices’ hurdle. The winner, ridden by Norfolk-based claimer Fergus Gregory, eased down in front to score by nine lengths.

Murphy completed a double when Calipso Collonges won the Lycetts novice hurdle under Johnson, the gelding following up his victory on Saturday at Uttoxeter by beating two rivals by 23 lengths, returned the 1/14 favourite.

Emma Yardley claimed her first winner under rules when 11/4 shot Foxcub won the William Bulwer Long Hunters’ Chase for trainer Ryan Potter. The complexion of the race changed when Pride of Parish fell and brought down favourite Premier Portrait to decimate the five-runner field.

Johnson completes a double in the finale with his 146th win of the season when he got 5/6 favourite Melekov home for trainer Philip Hobbs, beating Arch My Boy by a head.


 

DATE OF NEXT RACE MEETING: FRIDAY, 16TH MARCH 2018

FIRST RACE TIME: 2 PM

LAST RACE TIME: 5.15 PM

GATES OPEN: 11.00AM

 

Lycetts Raceday | DECLARATIONS

We are very excited for tomorrow’s Lycetts Raceday – especially after the abandoned meeting last week. Read more about the Declarations for tomorrows meet by Terry Redhead.

 

 

Trainer Seamus Mullins sends seven-year-old gelding Jarlath to Fakenham as he bids to land the feature on Friday’s  seven-race card, the 3.20pm Tim Barclay Memorial Handicap Chase.

Jarlath finished runner-up in both of his last two starts but aims to land the big prize in the two mile five furlong chase which will prove a test in the heavy conditions.

Kevin Jones claims a useful five pounds off the back of Jarlath, second at Fontwell twice, on one occasion behind another of today’s rivals, Cody Wyoming, under Harry Bannister for Charlie Mann.

That 12-year-old won at the north Norfolk course in December while another regular Fakenham visitor, Princeton Royale, is in with a shout for Jack Andrews and trainer Neil King.

 

Two of the day’s top races are sponsored by Lycetts Insurance Established in North Norfolk since the early 1990s, the Lycetts Norfolk office provides farm and estate and private client insurance services, as well as animal trades insurance services.

The Lycetts Farm and Estate Insurance Brokers Novice Chase at 2.10pm sees five tackle the two-mile course headed by Nicky Henderson’s Rather Be, whose last outing resulting in him unseating jockey Jeremiah McGrath.

Positively Dylan for Welsh trainer Evan Williams, and Colin Tizzard’s Ivor’s Queen look the main threats.

There are only four in the 3.50pm Lycetts Bloodstock Insurance Brokers Novice Handicap Hurdle and Calipso Collonges will be odds on for champion jockey Richard Johnson and trainer Olly Murphy. Murphy had a four-timer at the last Fakenham meeting and Calipso Collonges won on stable debut on Saturday at Uttoxeter, so has to defy a seven-pound penalty.

It could be another great day for Murphy. He and Johnson have Hurricane Rita in the 1.40pm opener, the grey mare having won at Fakenham in January although Akula and Yasir could prove dangers.

At 2.45pm Norfolk-based jockey Fergus Gregory rides Murphy’s Whiskey in the Jar, favourite for the novice hurdle having won last time at Uttoxeter.

At 4.25pm it’s the annual William Bulwer Long Memorial Hunter Chase, favourite for which will be Foxcub under Emma Yardley while the card closes with the 4.55pm NH flat race in which five make debuts. Market leader will be Johnson’s mount Melekhov, trained by Philip Hobbs and trying to better his second-placed debut mid January at Ludlow.

 


 

Terry’s Selections: Selections: 1.40pm Hurricane Rita; 2.10pm Rather Be; 2.45pm Dashing Perk; 3.20pm Princeton Royale; 3.50pm Calipso Collonges; 4.25pm Pride of Parish; 4.55pm Melekhov. 

 

Lycetts Raceday | ENTRY REPORT

Leading National Hunt trainers Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls and Jonjo O’Neill have all named entries for the British EBF National Hunt Novice Hurdle over two and a half miles, one of the leading contests on a seven-race card at Fakenham Lycetts Raceday on Friday (February 16).

The 2.45pm race sees a quartet entered from Henderson’s yard, Du Destin, Duke Debarry, Settie Hill and Rebel Commander, the latter twice runner-up in National Hunt flat races and now making a hurdling debut.

O’Neill has Huntingdon winner Django Django among the 23 entries while Nicholls has Captain Cattistock entered, the five-year-old bidding for a hat-trick after twice winning at Wincanton, in November and earlier this month.

Olly Murphy, already with 12 winners at Fakenham this season, has Market Rasen winner Ballingslea Bridge in the provisional line-up as well as Piri Massini, a winner at the course at the last meeting.

Murphy, having a superb first full season as a trainer with close to 40 winners, has two former Fakenham scorers entered in the opener, the selling handicap hurdle at 1.40pm., in the shape of Bisoubisou and grey mare Hurricane Rita.

Feature race is the 3.20pm Tim Barclay Memorial Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs for which 15 have been entered including Murphy’s former course winner Wood Pigeon, who may be turned out again quickly having unseated the rider when running at Towcester last week.

Former course winner Cody Wyoming has been entered by Charlie Mann while last time out winners Rear Admiral, representing Mick Easterby, a Newcastle winner, and Until Winning, from Tom George’s stable, a Market Rasen January winner, are also in the provisional line-up.

George also has an interesting potential contender in the finale, the 4.55pm Maiden Open NH Flat Race in Stop The World. The five-year-old gelding has a first run for George since joining from Sean Doyle’s Irish stable where he was runner-up in a point-to-point at Quakerstown last April.

The predicted going for Friday’s meeting is heavy and other contests on the card are the 2.10pm Lycetts Farm and Estate Insurance Brokers Novice Chase over two miles, the 3.50pm Lycetts Bloodstock Insurance Brokers Novices’ Handicap Hurdle over three miles and the 4.25pm William Bulwer Long Memorial Hunters’ Chase over three miles


Words by Terry Redhead 

February Meeting | DECLARATIONS

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.

 

 

Maxime Tissier and Artifice Sivola

Repeat success for Maxime Tissier and Artifice Sivola

When French jockey Maxime Tissier continued his winning ways at Fakenham on New Year’s Day it left a small group of racing reporters in the press box recalling its ‘O’ and ‘A’ level French!

I had managed to have a chat with 27-year-old Maxime when he won on the Lucy Wadham trained Banjo Girl in only his second ride in England, at the course’s pre-Christmas meeting on Tuesday, December 19.

“I have been in the country for 16 months and I am learning the business and the language,” said Maxime, who managed 14 victories in France before joining Mrs Wadham in Newmarket.

Clearly Maxime is learning the business for on New Year’s Day he teamed up with grey gelding Artifice Sivola to land the feature race on the six-race card, the North Norfolk Handicap Hurdle.

Again, as with his ride on Banjo Girl, Tissier set off up with the pace and never saw another rival, this time Artifice Sivola pulling off a superb victory to win the contest he won exactly 12 months earlier.

Since winning on January 1, 2017, Artifice Sivola has contested five chases, finishing second three times but in his last chase, suffering a fall at Fakenham.

“That win should boost his confidence and I think we will go back to chasing with him, possibly in the Classic Chase at Warwick on Saturday, January 13,” said a delighted winning trainer.

Last year’s Classic Chase was won by the Lucinda Russell trained and Derek Fox ridden One For Arthur who, of course, went on to win the Grand National over Aintree’s famous fences in April.

“One or two wanted to take me on early but my horse was very good,” said Tissier, as I walked back with him to the weighing room.

I joked he might want to think about moving to Fakenham, clearly surroundings that were proving very successful for him.

“Bonne Annee,” he replied with a broad smile … and even my ‘rusty’ French enabled me to return Happy New Year greetings to a likeable and clearly talented visitor.


 

 

Maxime Tissier after Winning New Years Day chase at Fakenam
Photo by Roger Harris

Words by Terry Redhead 

New Year's Day Races at Fakenham Racecourse. Owners presented with a prize in the rain.

New Year’s Day | ENTRY REPORT

Long anticipated, one of the biggest race meetings of the Year on New Year’s Day is fast approaching. While it is looking to be a damp one, read on for some notes from Terry Redhead.

Artifice Sivola has been entered by Newmarket-based trainer Lucy Wadham for a bid at defending his crown in the feature race, the North Norfolk Hurdle on New Year’s Day at Fakenham.

On January 1, 2017, the eight-year-old grey gelding produced a fine display under jockey Jack Sherwood to land the £15,000 contest by eight lengths.

Since then the gelding has been chasing rather than hurdling and has been second three times before falling at Fakenham on November 1.

Now Wadham is set to return the gelding to the smaller obstacles for a race which has attracted 18 entries, including two recent Fakenham winners in the shape of Charlie Mann’s Fixed Rate and Neil King’s Mamoo.

Also likely to take up the entry is the Caroline Bailey trained recent Southwell scorer Early Retirement in what could be the most competitive race on the Bank Holiday meeting’s six-race card. The action gets under way at 12.45pm., the feature, the third race of the day, at 1.55pm.

Two other Fakenham scorers this current National Hunt season, Dizzey Heights and Cliffside Park, representing Neil King and Olly Murphy, have been entered for the opener, the Daisy Mason Selling Hurdle which may also feature Johnny Farrelly’s Ascendant, third a fortnight ago after running up a hat-trick of victories.

The amateur riders have their chance in the spotlight at 1.20pm for the Fakenham Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs.

If taking up their entries watch out for Bollin Lane, going up in trip after winning for trainer Lucinda Egerton at Catterick on December 19, and Oakidoaki, trained by Brendan Powell and a runner-up at Fakenham at the pre-Christmas meeting.

The 2.30pm Happy New Year Handicap Hurdle is the longest race of the day over almost three miles at 2.30pm while at 3.05pm the second of the day’s chases is the Independent Racecourses Ltd Novices Chase.

The finale at 3.40pm is the Fakenham Racecourse Annual Members Maiden Hurdle in which Murphy holds five entries, including recent Sedgefield runner-up Captiva Island, while Je Suis Charlie is interesting for trainer John Quinn after finishing third on debut at Doncaster a fortnight ago.

{Words by Terry Redhead}

Fakenham Races,National Jump Racing in Norfolk

December Race Meeting | ENTRY REPORT

A colt out of the mighty and unbeaten Frankel is set to make his hurdling debut at Fakenham’s fourth meeting of the National Hunt season scheduled for Monday (December 4).

In the final contest on the six-race card, trainer Dan Skelton has Solo Saxophone among the 19 declarations for the contest at the five-day stage.

The race, the Racing Partnership Juvenile Hurdle over two miles, will see Solo Saxophone try his luck over the timber in his first run for Skelton since joining his yard from Dermot Weld’s stable in Ireland. For Weld, the colt ran five times on the flat, twice finishing runner-up and twice third.

A total of 92 runners have been initially declared for the meeting at the north Norfolk track, which gets underway at 1pm with the Visit Palace House This Christmas Handicap Hurdle. Youngster James Bowen has been receiving rave reviews as this season’s leading conditional rider and he partners Zoe Davison’s The Game Is A Foot who bids for a hat-trick after wins at Lingfield and Plumpton in November.

The richest prize of the day is the near £6,000 on offer for the 1.30pm Injured Jockeys Fund For Christmas Presents Handicap Chase.

Trainer Neil King loves sending his runners to Fakenham and has declared Little Windmill, runner-up at the course on November 1. The horse third that day, D’Nailor, has also been provisionally declared by trainer Jennie Candish.

David Bass and Kim Bailey hope to run Dandy Dan in the 2pm West Street North Creake Novice Hurdle, the four-year-old gelding a winner at Ludlow a fortnight ago having also won at that Shropshire track back in May.

The 2.30pm Simon Bell Memorial Hurdle has attracted an initial field of 13 which includes Saucysioux. Olly Murphy’s mare won at Ludlow earlier this week having scored at Fakenham at the last meeting on November 21.

The second chase on the card is the 3pm EPDS Racing Welfare BTO Series Handicap. Among the early declarations is Rhythm of Sound trained by Micky Hammond. The seven-year-old gelding won at Sedgefield earlier this week, following up a victory at Leicester the previous week.


 

NEXT MEETING – Monday, 4th December 2017

THE FIRST RACE IS AT 12.50 PM

LAST RACE AT 3.20PM

GATES OPEN AT 11AM 

TICKETS, PRICED FROM £10 UPWARDS, CAN BE BOUGHT ON THE DAY ( CASH ONLY).

The going at Fakenham is currently SOFT ( correct as of Friday 1st December)


{Words: Terry Redhead}