Tag Archives: Terry Redhead

Easter Monday Raceday - Fakenham Racecourse

Easter Monday Raceday | DECLARATIONS

Harry Teal and Tom Gredley, two riders still able to claim weight allowances, have top chances of landing doubles at Fakenham’s Easter Monday seven-race meeting.

Teal teams up with trainer Neil King and has outstanding hopes on Holbrook Park and Sackett.

Holbrook Park was fourth at Fontwell on March 7, following a victory at Plumpton over a shorter trip and could go well off the same mark in the 4pm feature race, the David Keith Memorial Chase over three miles..

Main rival in the four-runner contest, Sam Red, a winner at the course in October, is the favourite for Harry and Dan Skelton for a contest worth £11,000 to the winner.

Sam Red was last seen at Southwell where he was fifth and in a tight contest could also see a challenge from the Olly Murphy trained After Aspen under David England, the eight-year-old third at the course at the last meeting.

Teal rides Sackett in the 4.35pm handicap hurdle, again for King. Sackett, a seven-year-old, won at Hereford last Tuesday and carries a six-pound penalty, but he could defy that in a five-runner field in which Shinooki looks danger for Kieland Woods and trainer Alex Hales, the 11-year-old a Fakenham winner more than a year ago.

Gredley will be going for a Hunter Chase double. In the 2.50pm Robert Hoare Novice Hunter Chase, he partners Dan Skelton’s Right of Reply, the gelding having his second run since undergoing a wind operation. Main rival is Foxcub under Emma Yardley, the duo successful in February.

In the 5.10pm Queen’s Cup over three miles, Gredley rides top weight Midnight Cowboy, formerly with Alan King. The dangers in the six-runner contest are Argot for Rory Bevin, a recent Leicester scorer, and In A Blue Dust, under Archie Wright for his father, trainer Nick.

The seven-race card opens at 2.15pm with the selling hurdle in which Ascendant, winner of five of his last six starts, including at Fakenham at the last meeting and in January, will start favourite for Patrick Cowley and trainer Johnny Farrelly.

Old favourite Gin and Tonic goes under Jack Quinlan for Michael Wigham in the 3.25pm Cecil and Sheila Buttifant Memorial Hurdle and looks to have most to fear from the James Bowen partnered Ardmayle for Ali Stronge.

The finale, the mares’ flat race at 5.40pm sees seven go and Murphy has favourite It’s O Kay, a Wetherby runner-up, ridden by Norfolk-based claimer Fergus Gregory and Foxtrot Juliet, under David England although Lucy Wadham could spring a surprise with appropriately-named debutant Easter Gold.


Selections: 2.15pm Ascendant; 2.50pm Right of Reply; 3.25pm Ardmayle; 4pm Holbrook Park; 4.35pm Sackett; 5.10pm Midnight Cowboy; 5.40pm Easter Gold.


NB: There is a precautionary inspection planned for 7am on Monday.

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 | DECLARATIONS

While the racing world goes for gold at Cheltenham this afternoon, it’s Silver Cup Day at Fakenham where there is a six-race card.

Fans can watch the Cheltenham action unfold on a giant screen as well as taking in the live action, the feature being the 4pm Fakenham Silver Cup Handicap Hurdle.

North Yorkshire trainer Brian Ellison looks to have planned a Norfolk raid, having the favourite for both the feature and the 4.40pm Prince Carlton Chase.

In the Silver Cup, Ellison runs Smart Talk under Henry Brooke, the mare third at Newcastle in February. Main rivals in the eight-runner field are Beyeh, a winner at Fakenham at the last meeting, ridden by Jack Sherwood for Newark trainer Mick Appleby, and Shining Romeo. Six-year-old Dennis Quinn trained gelding Shining Romeo, has Aidan Coleman on board, trying to follow up a recent Huntingdon success.

Brooke and Ellison have Bordeaux Bill going for a hat-trick in the Prince Carlton Chase following victories at Southwell and Wetherby. Among his six rivals are What Happens Now, under Will Kennedy for Donald McCain, third at Doncaster in December, and Potters Legend, under Coleman for Newmarket trainer Lucy Wadham.

Trainer Ollie Murphy has dominated at Fakenham this season and has outstanding chances in the other four contests.

The opening selling hurdle at 2pm, sees Murphy leg up David England on Saucysioux, a course winner in December. However, Ascendant, under Patrick Cowley for Johnny Farrelly looks the one to beat. The 12-year-old scored at Fakenham in January and has won five of his last six races.

At 2.40pm four go in the Easter Monday Racing At Fakenham Chase with Murphy having Coleman on board favourite After Aspen. The gelding had his first run for Murphy at Lingfield last month and won well.

Twenty Eight Guns, winner of Fakenham’s Tim Barclay Chase at the last meeting, goes under Ben Poste for Michael Scudamore while Pam Sly sends out December course winner Mortens Leam.

Murphy has odds-on favourite Weebill in the 3.20pm Robert Case Memorial Maiden Hurdle under James Nixon, the gelding a recent Warwick runner-up.

In the 5.15pm finale, the Walter Wales Memorial Novice Chase, Coleman and Murphy team up with Wood Pigeon, a January Fakenham winner who has since unseated his rider, pulled up, and finished second.

Words by Terry Redhead 

 


FIRST RACE TIME: 2 PM

LAST RACE TIME: 5.15 PM

GATES OPEN: 11 AM

GOING: THE GROUND ON 13/3/18 IS SOFT, HEAVY IN THE TWO DIPS. GOING STICK READING 5.3

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.

 

 

February Meeting | ENTRY REPORT

Fakenham’s feature race at its meeting on Wednesday (February 7) looks set to be a cracking three-mile hurdle contest at 3.05pm.

There are 14 entries at the five-day stage for the Download the ATR App Handicap Hurdle including Harry Whittington’s eight-year-old gelding Octagon. After winning at Southwell in November, Octagon went on to complete a hat-trick with further victories at Leicester, and then at Sedgefield on Boxing Day.

There may be a royal runner in opposition in the shape of six-year-old gelding Take To Heart. Owned by the Queen and trained by Nicky Henderson, the gelding won twice in June before finishing down the field in November at Ascot.

Prolific Fakenham scorer Olly Murphy trained four winners at the last Fakenham meeting, taking his tally for the season to 12 at the course, and most have entries again.

Bisoubisou and Flow With Eve, first and second last time, and Hurricane Rita, also a Fakenham winner at the last meeting, are all entered in the 3.35pm Toftrees Mares Handicap Hurdle.

Murphy has six entries in the opener, the Sculthorpe Maiden Hurdle at 2 pm including Swaffham Bulbeck, a four-year-old gelding second at Warwick a fortnight ago on stable debut.

Provided he makes the long trip from northern trainer Donald McCain’s yard, Nefyn Bay looks interesting if taking his chance in the 2.30pm Lycetts Handicap Chase over three miles, the horse markedly up in trip after winning at Musselburgh in Scotland last month.

The second chase is the 4.05pm Shereford Handicap Chase in which Murphy has entered Wood Pigeon, a scorer under champion jockey Richard Johnson at the last Fakenham meeting. Johnson is the leading rider at Fakenham this season, with seven victories in the bag, making him the clear leader in the race for the course’s David Turner Trophy.

Southern trainer, Gary Moore has entered Stoical Patient, the nine-year-old mare a Plumpton faller when bidding for a hat-trick after victories at that course, and neighbouring Fontwell, earlier in the season.

The finale is the 4.35pm Raynham Novice Hurdle in which Stuart Edmunds may run six-year-old Kalochi, very impressive when scoring for the first time in her career at the north Norfolk course back in November. Since then the mare has won again, at Leicester, after previously finishing third at Huntingdon on Boxing Day.


Words by Terry Redhead