Tag Archives: Terry Redhead

ollie Murphy Racing at Fakenham Racecourse

Murphy Bags a Four-timer While Middleton Bashes the Bookies

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Trainer Phil Middleton expected his bank balance to be boosted by around £50,000 after his Holly Bush Henry won Fakenham’s feature, the Wendling Chase.

Aylesbury-based Middleton, who arrived via helicopter 30 minutes before racing, had an accumulator on Saturday which resulted in three winners. He had those winners in a separate accumulator with Holly Bush Henry which meant a huge £8,000 stake was riding on the gelding, a 5/2 winner.

Middleton was suitably delighted when 16-year-old James Bowen got the gelding home after a super display of jumping.

“He had a lot of weight but was the best horse in the race,” said Bowen.

“It’s fantastic. It all fell in place on Saturday and to see Henry win here was great,” said Middleton, gleefully clutching his betting slip.

While Middleton was the richer, fellow trainer Olly Murphy was in great form and pulled off a remarkable 1,228/1 four-timer.

Champion jockey Richard Johnson conjured up a terrific last leap from grey mare Hurricane Rita to clinch the opener.

The eight-year-old, Murphy’s ninth winner at the course this season, launched herself over the final flight to win at 7/2.

“It was hard work, very sticky, but she’s done it well,” said Johnson. “It’s another for Olly who is having a great start as a trainer,” he added.

Johnson was beaten in the novice hurdle on odds-on Rio Quinto but that failed to stop the Murphy bandwagon as stablemate Piri Massini took the honours thanks to a pulsating final flourish under Norfolk-based Fergus Gregory.

Returned at 20/1 for Murphy, Piri Massini is owned by the stable’s sponsors and was having his first run since November 2015 following injury.

“No-one expected that. Richard said the leader got lonely in front and my horse kept staying on and surprised us all,” said Gregory, from Thompson near Watton.

Johnson went on to complete a double and Murphy’s treble when Wood Pigeon won a dramatic chase in which only three finished. Returned at 9/4, Wood Pigeon thwarted Scottish raider Achill Road Boy.

“It’s been a great day, a magic day,” said Murphy who then saw it get even better when Gregory completed his own double and Murphy’s four-timer when getting 3/1 chance Bisoubisou home in the finale.

Cambridgeshire winner Dolphin Vista, a 50/1 shock scorer at Newmarket in September, put up a brave hurdling debut but could not catch maiden hurdle winner Potters Midnight, returned at 11/4 under Leighton Aspell for trainer Lucy Wadham.

 

Words by Terry Redhead 

Racegoers with Dogs at Fakenham Racecourse. Norfolk

January Meeting | ENTRY REPORT

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Rookie trainer Olly Murphy has entered a host of runners for Fakenham’s six-race card on Monday (January 22) in a bid to add to his already impressive eight winners from 26 runners in north Norfolk this National Hunt season.

Murphy, who began training at the start of 2017 from his base at Warren Chase in Stratford in Warwickshire, has been an immediate success, with 35 winners from 173 runners to date. Before going solo, Murphy spent four years in Ireland as assistant at the very successful stables of Gordon Elliott.

In the opening 1.25pm Taverham Handicap Hurdle, Murphy has five entries at the five-day stage, including grey mare Hurricane Rita, who pulled up at Ffos Las in December after previously running second at Towcester.

Two previous Fakenham winners are entered by Murphy in the 1.55pm three-mile novice hurdle with champion jockey Richard Johnson booked to partner Rio Quinto, a scorer at the pre Christmas meeting. Murphy has also entered More Than Luck, the seven-year-old gelding a winner at Fakenham on New Year’s Day.

The feature race is the three-mile Wendling Handicap Chase at 2.25pm which sees Popelys Gull and Princeton Royale likely to clash again. They were second and third respectively at Fakenham’s December meeting, both stepping up from 21 furlongs on that occasion.

Kielan Woods is booked to ride Peterborough trainer Pam Sly’s Popelys Gull while Princeton Royale, from Neil King’s yard, looks to be a pound better off at the weights since that December contest.

Murphy has nine entered in the 2.55pm maiden hurdle over two miles with Johnson booked to ride Weebill, a twice raced six-year-old gelding fourth on debut in a Southwell bumper before finishing third on hurdling debut at Market Rasen on Boxing Day.

The second chase is the 3.25pm two mile five furlong contest in which Johnson and Murphy look set to be represented by Wood Pigeon. An interesting entry is the Micky Hammond trained Knocknamona. Adrian Cawley is booked to ride the gelding which has notched up a hat-trick of wins at Uttoxeter, Leicester and most recently at Bangor.

Conditional jockeys get their chance to shine in the 3.55pm finale, the Longham Hurdle in which King looks set to send out Little Windmill under Harry Teal, the horse having scored over course and distance on New Year’s Day.

 

{Words by Terry Redhead}

Maxime Tissier and Artifice Sivola

Repeat success for Maxime Tissier and Artifice Sivola

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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 

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.

November Race Meeting | ENTRY REPORT

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Amateur riders get their chance to shine on Tuesday when Fakenham racecourse stages it’s third meeting of the National Hunt season, with a six-race card.

 

The 1.50pm East Rudham Amateur Riders’ Novice Hurdle has attracted a field of 11 at the first declaration stage and features a course and distance winner in the shape of the Amy Murphy trained six-year-old gelding Mercian King.

Third, at the last Fakenham meeting following a previous success at Worcester, Mercian King won the corresponding race last season.

Also among those declared are two from Tim Vaughan’s stable in Wales. Despite the lengthy 500-mile round trip, Vaughan regularly sends his horses to the north Norfolk venue and is a frequent winner.

He has declared two last time out winners in Timely Gift, successful at Ffos Las in Wales on Sunday, and grey gelding Dusky Ranger, a Uttoxeter winner in early October.

Fakenham’s leading trainer to date this season, Dan Skelton, has named Royal Beekeeper, a Stratford winner earlier this month, although the handler has also declared the four-year-old for the opening contest.

The six-race card starts at 12.50pm with the Racing Partnership Selling Handicap Hurdle for which 14 have been initially named for the two and a half mile trip, including Royal Beekeeper.

Cliffside Park, a winner at Fakenham’s opening meeting of the season on October 20 may also take his chance, having recently been runner-up at Southwell, while Occasionally Yours, a Huntingdon winner for local trainer Alan Blackmore has also been nominated to run.

The 13-year-old veteran was recording his ninth win in 78 careers starts at Huntingdon on Tuesday and last scored at Fakenham, where he has been a regular visitor, in May 2015.

Neil King, on form with a double at the last Fakenham meeting, has declared the former Philip Hobbs’ trained six-year-old gelding Mister Big, ninth on his seasonal re-appearance at Wetherby a fortnight ago.

The card also features the 1.20pm Weatherbys Bank Foreign Exchange Mares’ three-mile chase, the feature race of the day, the 2.20pm Weatherbys Racing Bank Beginners’ Chase over three miles, the 2.50pm Ftc Hire and Sales Mares’ Hurdle and the finale, the 3.20pm Weatherbys Racing Bank Handicap Chase over two miles. Those four contests have all been re-offered after initial declarations.

THE FIRST RACE IS AT 12.50 PM AND THE LAST OF THE SIX RACES STARTS AT 3.20PM. GATES OPEN AT 11AM AND TICKETS, WHICH ARE PRICED FROM £10 UPWARDS, CAN BE BOUGHT ON THE DAY ( CASH ONLY).

{Words: Terry Redhead}

Fakenham Races

Excellent Days Racing at The Greene King Raceday

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What a day at the first Greene King Raceday at Fakenham.

Trainer Neil King and stable jockey Trevor Whelan stole the honours with a dramatic double at Fakenham’s second meeting of the jump racing season.

Dizzey Heights, a five-year-old mare, produced a terrific late burst to win the handicap hurdle at 20/1.

Bottom weight Hallingham, at 12/1, looked like pulling off a shock of his own before Whelan got a real rattle out of Dizzey Heights, who leapt ahead at the final flight and ran on to win.

“She got on a late roll. I didn’t want to pull her wide so had to wait, and in the end, she has done it well,” said Whelan.

King and Whelan then won the fillies’ juvenile hurdle with Cubswin, formerly trained by Roger Charlton, who reeled in Really Super and held on to score at 6/1 to complete a 146/1 double.

“Her flat form was bombproof. She won a four-runner race at Bath and the other three have all won since,” said King.

Brian Hughes had a winning ride when Deauville Dancer tasted victory for the fourth time this season, landing the feature Greene King IPA Chase.

Returned at 10/1, the David Dennis trained gelding jumped superbly to score from Baby Jake.

“He stays and jumps well. I gave him a flick at the last just to keep his mind on it and he has won well,” said Hughes.

The Skeltons, trainer Dan and his brother, jockey Harry, got the day off to a good start when Free Range, racing under National Hunt rules for the first time, scooted away with the maiden hurdle, at 5/1.

The Skeltons had two winners at the first meeting of the season and Free Range, a pointing winner in Ireland, always looked like scoring from Atlantic Grey and favourite, Royal Ruby.

Easiest winner of the day was Enjoy Responsibly under Harrison Beswick on his first run for Oliver Sherwood. The 15-length winner of the Tapping House Hospice Chase was returned at 6/1.

Sam Twiston-Davies deputised for Noel Fehily on the Neil Mulholland trained The Way You Dance who duly landed the three-mile hurdle at 7/1. Fast-finishing Moidore was second but never troubled the winner.

The finale was a National Hunt flat race and went to the Stuart Edmunds trained Kalochi, a very genuine 9/1 winner under Ciaran Gethings, who battled back to win after being headed in the final straight by debutant Fairway Freddie.

 

NEXT MEETING: TUESDAY, 21ST NOVEMBER 2017

FIRST RACE TIME: 12.50PM

LAST RACE TIME: 3.20PM

GATES OPEN: 11.00AM

BOOK BADGES ONLINE 

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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