Leading trainers take the spoils at Fakenham

The going at Fakenham Races for its Christmas Meeting was declared to be good to soft for its seven-race card.A fair crowd gathered for the annual event with Fakenham Town Band adding festive attraction by playing a selection of carols.Newmarket trainer James Owen took the opening Sky Bet Acca Freeze Hurdle over three miles, his horse Star Legend putting in a fine performance under claiming jockey Alex Chadwick.The same horse had previously won at the track in November and despite close attention from Hardy Buck under Tom Broughton up the home straight, pulled ahead strongly to win by two lengths.Only five runners were entered for the Sky Bet Mares Hurdle over two miles but there was little between them throughout.Favourite Brave Jen, carrying top weight under Jack Andrews had Ironed Out ridden by Isabel Williams alongside at the last with the favourite just holding on to win by a neck on the line.The £50,000 Queen Boudicca Series Qualifier Mares Chase produced another tight finish with Ede’Iffs Rock ridden by Jack Tudor for trainer David Pipe winning by a short head from favourite Kosasiempre under Charlie Hammond. There was no doubt about the winner of the fourth race of the day. Top trainer Paul Nichols and jockey Harry Cobden joined forces with the impressive Go West to win the two miles and four furlongs Supersized Maiden Hurdle by 12 lengths from favourite Miss Cynthia from the Newmarket Yard of Lucy Wadham.The field of six was closely bunched for much of the race but the winner broke away up the home straight to storm home.The Sky Bet Club Stayers Chase, at three miles and five furlongs the longest race of the day, was narrowly won by Samouri One ridden by Tom Cannon. Two horses battled together from the last with the winner getting the verdict over Fern Hill under Jack Quinlan by a short head.In contrast, the Sky Bet For The Fans Hurdle over two miles was convincingly taken by favourite Zhang Fei ridden by Fern O’Brien for her father Fergal O’Brien, stretching ahead of the trailing Bigz Belief over the final three furlongs. The meeting closed with the Female Jockeys Chase over two miles and 5 furlongs, won well by Frere D’Armes under Miss Heidi Palin for trainer Dan Skelton.The margin of victory was seven lengths over Scene One ridden by Alice Stevens for trainer Lucy Wadham.The next meeting at Fakenham is on New Year’s Day 2025.