Outsiders enjoy the limelight at Fakenham meeting
Surprise wins by two rank outsiders highlighted a good day’s racing at Fakenham on Tuesday afternoon.
The veteran 13 year-old Red Inca showed he retained plenty of his old enthusiasm when he overcame his four more fancied rivals to take the Snelling Norfolk National Raceday May 4 Conditional Jockeys Chase over two miles.
Sent off at odds of 22/1 with Fergus Gregory in the saddle, he stayed with the pace before tackling the favourite Court Jurado round the home turn.
Showing plenty of dash he got home by over a length from the fast-finishing Khanisari under Conor Ring.
In similar style but with a much tighter finish, Glimpse of Gold at 18/1 took the Cecil and Sheila Buttifant Memorial Hurdle, also over two miles.
Cannily ridden by Alexander Thorne he just got his head in front on the line to beat warm favourite Reverend Jacobs under Charlie Hammond.
In weather more suited to mid-summer than the end of March, the meeting behind closed doors kicked off with the Bruce Towers and Sons Novices Hurdle over two miles and four furlongs.
Odds- on favourite Torn and Frayed, ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies for his father Nigel was an all-over winner, taking a grip on the race from first to last.
Stretching ahead over the final half mile he won by a distance from Take Your Time under Harry Cobden.
The result of the Aldiss Stores Hurdle over the same distance could have gone either way.
After a terrific duel up the home straight, favourite Mr Jack in the hands of Niall Houlihan just got the better of Voodoo Doll under Isabel Williams riding for her father Evan. A photo showed a neck between them.
Potters Legend who often does well at Fakenham came out on top to take the David Keith Memorial Veterans Chase over three miles.
The 10/11 favourite had plenty in the tank when Jack Quinlan made for home with 17 lengths separating them from Antony in second place under Jamie Moore.
Two horses attracted support in the Queen’s Cup Hunters Chase, also over three miles, but the fancied Monsieur Gibraltar under champion amateur jockey David Maxwell failed to maintain his excellent winning streak.
It was Peacocks Secret with Dale Peters on board who won the day, winning by eight lengths from 40/1 outsider Right of Reply ridden by Alex Chadwick.
The final race of the afternoon, the Fisher Electrical Contractor Mares Flat race over two miles was easily won by Heartbreaker under Harry Cobden for trainer Michael Bell.
Sent off favourite they got much the better of main rival Dancing Doris under Sam Twiston-Davies, the margin of victory at four lengths.
The next meeting at Fakenham is scheduled for Tuesday, May 4, and includes the popular Snelling Norfolk National.
