Fakenham 19/03/10

But, more important than anything else, IT did happen. IT is the annual ritual of someone going for a nice gamble at sometime in Cheltenham week, when attention is mostly elsewhere. IT has been a long time coming in 2010, but IT arrived, IT was landed, and maybe next year we will have the joy of IT happening twice, perhaps for two horses in the same race?

Going: Good (Good to Firm places, added after race 2)

Race 1: North Norfolk Radio Selling Handicap Hurdle [2m]

1: Bromhead     2: Montiyra     3: Anduril

Winner owned: Hall Farm Racing, trained: Kevin Morgan, ridden: James Reveley

Heart stopping action in the seller. Chiff Chaff leads Igneous, Lady Florence, Safe Investment (is not at all), Colemanstown, Bromhead and Anduril. Montiyra is hidden in midfield.

Selling handicaps have become an endangered species in the south, with the only sellers tending to be processional non-handicaps cropping up at Fontwell every now and then, so this was a welcome change - and there was even a case that should one of those at the top of the weights win, someone might be interested in bidding. In fact, the gamble landing winner came from nearer the foot of the weights, due to the four year olds allowance, but was impressive enough in success to move connections to buy him in for £6,000. The eventual margin was fifteen lengths, and whilst the first impression was that today was all that mattered for Bromhead, and nothing was left to chance, the close attention of a loose horse might have created a false impression that the pack were closer behind in the home straight. However it is looked at, the result was in no doubt for the last half mile after the only serious remaining danger, Lady Florence, made a bad error and unseated her rider. She has one or two bits of jumps promise, but her wins all came over seven or eight furlongs on firm ground at Brighton, a course-distance-going combo which is not a fertile breeding ground for hurdlers, so nobody can be certain that she would have lasted home the way Bromhead did.

A delighted Bromhead is fully aware of the importance of his achievement

Race 2: Robert Case Memorial Beginners' Chase [3m 0.5f]

1: Pheidias     2: Penn Da Benn     3: Colophony

Winner owned: GA Libson, DL Bayliss, G Taylor, PM Sly, trained: Pam Sly, ridden: David England

The race came with a health warning beforehand, and after some appalling rounds of jumping, it hardly looks one to have much future impact either. Despite endless errors, all six runners somehow completed, with the first pair well clear. Penn Da Benn  was a very disappointing 4/9 shot. He made several early errors, but when Pheidias' skill was collapsing, Penn Da Benn showed no great will to catch him and go past. Possibly the fast ground was a cause of discomfort, or is it only in his mind? Pheidias was the only horse in the race fluent early on, but after one small error on the far side he made a horrendous mess of three out. Dave England was thrown back, losing the reins, and Pheidias had his nose on the ground whilst still descending at a sixty degree angle. Somehow, the pilot managed to balance in line with his seat with his legs on the withers, and the horse's instinct for self preservation ensured that he ended up only with all four feet on the ground - watching the replay it was still not clear how he managed to do it. Even after that, they still had a couple of lengths on Penn Da Benn, and managed to avoid losing any momentum. Unsurprisingly not fluent at the last two, no opponents were in place to exploit that. Mooncoin Man won an Irish point, and does really look the part, but is yet to show any talent for galloping or jumping under Rules.

Overstrand leads from Feeling Peckish, Colophony, Phiedias (green, white & red) and Mooncoin Man in a picture that fails to convey the sense of impending chaos

Race 3: Tim Barclay Memorial Handicap Chase [2m 5.5f]

1: Bormo     2: Royal Wedding     3: Cool Roxy

Winner owned: M 2 C Racing Partnership, trained: Alan King, ridden: Wayne Hutchinson

After seeing a long odds-on shot turned over in the previous race, the King team had the ominous sight of Bormo being in the same position, and he has proven to us that winning is a low priority for him. With three-quarters of a circuit to go, it seemed to be business as usual, as Royal Wedding led, and the three remaining runners were being ridden along (Leopold having thrown in the towel a while back). Gradually, Bormo did inch into the lead, and an excellent jump (which, in fairness, is something that he does do with aplomb) three from home saw him go from a length down to three in front. Obviously that meant that instead of gloriously scooting clear, he had to give supporters a nervy moment as he idled in front, but Royal Wedding was merely plugging away without real spark. Teenaged course hero Cool Roxy is showing signs that he has had enough of this nonsense - an opinion which nobody should begrudge him.

Race 4: William Bulwer-Long Memorial Novice Hunter Chase [2m 5.5f]

1: Penny Doc     2: We're Confused     3: Star Double

Winner owned: Peter & Lisa Hall, trained & ridden: Phil York

With three memorial races cropping up on the card in a row, should the fifth race have been sponsored by an undertaker? The pointer for this result had happened a few minutes earlier at Cheltenham, as Penny Doc's Detling conqueror, Reach For The Top, had been third in the Foxhunters. Running to that level, and over a more suitable trip, this ought to have been a doddle. Without a superhuman effort from his rider, Penny Doc would not have responded to the endorsement. Not fluent early, he had reminders at the sixth, and required ever more effort from the saddle. He went second under sufferance at the fifth last, as High Skies cruised along in first class comfort. However, when Penny Doc was pushed up the inner to lead after two out, he was suddenly travelling better and High Skies was the one getting reminders. At the last the challenge ended when High Skies came down, and left Penny Doc clear. Star Double, recently an Open winner at Higham, made the running, but probably did so a bit to sharply for his own good and finished very tired.

Race 5: totepool Fakenham Silver Cup Handicap Hurdle [2m]

1: Sonning Star     2: Benedict Spirit     3: Bedizen

Winner owned: Mrs CL Kyle, trained: Nick Gifford, ridden: Jay Pemberton

Sporting a stylishly retro Josh Gifford rug, Sonning Star caught the eye in the paddock and put up a brave display of front running (all but 100 metres between the last two sets of hurdles) to last home by three-quarters of a length and a neck. First time blinkers helped, as did a friendly handicap mark - he had beaten Harry Tricker in a novice hurdle, only to then miss a season and need a couple of comeback runs. He was a bit lucky, as Benedict Spirit was finishing like the proverbial train when he misjudged the last, nearly fell, and still regained most of the momentum lost. The error decided the race, the other side of the coin being that heart got it's due reward. Bedizen, who was second in this last year, went one worse, but the 2010 version looks a stronger heat and he was much closer to success, plus he also seemed ill at ease on the tight bends, rallying as strongly as Benedict Spirit once they were going in a straight line. Cheshire Prince had been fifth in the Imperial Cup carrying a feather weight, and that resulted in him being favourite. Giving weight all round here was a different bucket of slops, and he was beaten when making mistakes at the last two flights.

Race 6: SPC Holdings conditional jockeys' Maiden Hurdle [2m]

1: Conquisto     2: Kinsya     3: Emirates World

Winner owned: PJ Martin, trained: Steve Gollings, ridden: Andrew Glassonbury

Hurdle form, flat form, betting market. They all said that this should be easy for Conquisto, and it was. If there is any reason to nit pick, he did possibly bowl along a bit freely in front, but with his various superiorities, maybe that was the safest plan. Kinsya, a five time flat winner, was a clear second best, but comfortably enough beaten to prevent excess interest in that achievement. Emirates World also ran a fair bit better, with the very same caveat. Far more interesting on the day was the fun enjoyed by We're Delighted. On his best form, he was an each-way possible, but consistency is not a strong suit and his day went like this: Arrive at track. Stand in strange stable. Get a bit sweaty in the paddock even though it is not warm. Go to post. Settle at back of the field. Fail to notice the fifth hurdle and blunder. Do nothing unless jockey demands it. Tease jockey and crowd by making minor progress under strong pressure on lap two. Also fail to notice three out and dislodge saddle in the act of walking through it. Let jockey think he is going to cling on around neck safely until pulling up when the others do. Follow others heading for last hurdle, so jockey is forced to abandon ship. Have drink. Feel pleased with self. Go home.

Plus Points

Montiyra (race 1): His yard has been well in the doldrums for quite a while, but he is showing the ability to win a small handicap when the team mojo returns.

Overstrand (race 2): All ten wins have come right handed, so his inability to compete seriously in chases was not going to be corrected here. Success has become a rare visitor to his list of attributes since 2006, but if it does return, it will be over hurdles.

Royal Wedding (race 3): Looked promising when winning a Kempton chase, but has had a horrible season, going UUP before completing badly tailed off at Sandown last weekend. That was a positive step, and this was another. 

Leopold (race 3): Has a Fakenham record before this of 212512, but all of his wins have come with a recent run (3, 8, 11  and 17 day breaks) so the seven month break here was a far bigger influence than the course aptitude. His yard is another out of form, which will not have helped one iota.

Benedict Spirit (race 5): Got handicapped at 107 after just three hurdle runs, but there was a good case for saying that something in the mid-90s was enough. Clearly, the handicapper's view was more like it and it was a tight enough finish to avoid a major jump up the weights. His preferences were a matter of conjecture, but two miles on quickish ground seemed spot on.

Bedizen (race 5): A couple of iffy recent runs were in chases, and although not well handicapped, he seems to have retained his enthusiasm for hurdling.

Down Arrows

Bromhead (race 1): Clearly failed to stay two and a half miles in one qualifying run, but a big leap up the weights will come from this, and it is not clear whether he is up to defying it if there are limited other options than two mile handicap hurdles.

Chiff Chaff (race 1): Has failed to land a tickle herself in the past, and the presence of Jamie Moore to ride on such a day caught the eye, also with blinkers added for the first time. All was fine for her, except some pretty mediocre hurdling and being not very keen to exert herself in the last quarter of a mile. Which is enough to be put off when trying easier ground and/or a longer trip.

Pheidias (race 2): Nearly threw the race away, and he was 0 wins, 4 seconds in nine tries over hurdles.

Penn Da Benn (race 2): A valid excuse may emerge, but if Pheidias' enthusiasm is historically open to question, Penn Da Benn's was here and now.

Pre race rituals, and whilst Colophony (pink striped sleeves) looks inquisitive, Penn Da Benn (yellow) looks for excuses. Phiedias between them is about to stalk a crow in the adjacent field.

Bormo (race 3): Could get away with it in a slightly better race by getting a lead for longer, but the betting market is likely to over rate his chances of being bothered.

High Skies (race 4): The ground had come right for him, but in Ireland he had no form over further than two and a quarter miles, which explains why Penny Doc suddenly worried him into submission and also indicates that hunter chases openings are going to be limited.

Motarjm (race 6): Nosed ahead on the inside after two out and still led into the wings of the last. He stopped quickly and ended up fourth. Considering his diabolical recent all-weather form, it looked initially to be a good run, but with consideration, the suddenness of the effort ending was a bit ominous.

UK-Jumping Selections

Lindy Lou (race 5): Was indifferent, to say the least, staying on when it was far too late to get involved.