Ladies Day brings the curtain down on Fakenham season
The ladies took centre stage as Fakenham Racecourse staged its final national hunt meeting of the season on Sunday.
The opening Pedlars Hall Cafe Double Bubble Breakfast Hurdle over two miles and seven furlongs set the tone with a thrilling finish.
Long-distance traveller Fifty Shades, sent off the 10/11 favourite under James Bowen, held on well to get the better of West To Crossgales, ridden by Adam Pogson.
Both horses were together at the last but the winner just got his head in front on the line.
A bold front running display by Princeton Royale in the feature race, the Ladies Day Chase over three miles, was enough to see off his four rivals.
Claiming jockey Jack Andrews took the nine-year-old straight into the lead and was never challenged to win by five lengths.
Champion jockey Richard Johnson made his one ride of the day count on the Olly Murphy-trained Yensir to take the Britbet Coming Soon Hurdle over two miles.
The five-year-old was always handily placed before taking up the running, leaving favourite Artful Artist trailing by seven lengths.
The result provided Murphy with a remarkable total of 16 winners at Fakenham since last October, prompting the course to present him with two bottles of champagne.
Johnson also picked up the David Turner trophy for topping the list of winning riders at the track.
Only four horses contested the Wordingham Plant Hire Limited Chase, also over two miles, but there was little between them until favourite Le Precieux fell in front of the stands when pressing for the lead.
Master Of Finance under Maxime Tissier kept up the pressure with second-placed Gin And Tonic ridden by Jack Quinlan unable to reel him in.
This was the Frenchman’s third win at the track after joining trainer Lucy Wadham’s Newmarket yard.
A remarkable ride by Page Fuller landed her mount Havisham with a cracking win in the Aylsham Show Hurdle for Lady Amateur Riders over two miles and four furlongs.
The pairing dashed into a 20 length lead and maintained it for the best part of two miles.
When the field started to catch up, led by Dizzey Heights ridden by Becky Smith, her plan looked vulnerable but coming round the home turn Havisham found more and won readily by four lengths.
The last race was a triumph for Wymondham-based trainer Caroline Fryer and young jockey Bryony Frost.
Riding Midnight Bliss in the 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards Chase over three miles the partnership led from first to last in a faultless round of jumping.
When Youngoconnor fell along the back straight there was only ever going to be one winner with Midnight Bliss seeing things out by 11 lengths from Golans Choice.
Jumps racing will resume at Fakenham on Friday, October 19.
