Hughes rides a Fakenham treble

A big holiday crowd packed into Fakenham race track for its Easter Monday meeting, sunny weather being a bonus after some weeks of damp days.Champion jockey Brian Hughes, now a distant third in the current race for the title, rode a treble to remind everyone of his quality.After scoring on Camarrate by two lengths in the opening Juvenile Maiden Hurdle over two miles for his regular trainer Donald McCain, he soon grabbed a double by taking the Aldiss Selling Chase over two miles and five furlongs on Ingennio.This was by a huge margin over second-placed Shortcross Storm under Bryan Carver.The treble came in the final race of the afternoon, the Mares Open Maiden Flat Race on Star Walking for trainer Harry Fry. This odds-on favourite had to work hard for his victory in a tightly bunched field with Briery Bee, ridden by Gavin Sheehan, breathing down his neck from the last.Local trainer Caroline Fryer, from Wymondham, also had cause to celebrate when her horse Cloudy Wednesday confirmed his liking for Fakenham by taking the fifth race of the meeting, the Bruce Towers and Sons Chase over three miles, in emphatic fashion. With Lewis Stones on board the pairing swept ahead of a packing field to beat Via Dante by eleven lengths.Trainer Andrew Martin and claiming jockey James Martin combined to win the second race, the Cecil and Sheila Buttifant Memorial Mares Hurdle with a dominant performance on Glance At Me ahead of the weakening Billams Legacy ridden by Mr Tom Broughton. The fourth race of the day, the Aldiss Hurdle over two miles and four furlongs went to Eclair De Beaufeu, ridden by James Best and trained by Sarah Humphrey.The margin of one length over evens favourite Up For Parol provided the crowd with the best finish of the day. The next National Hunt meeting at Fakenham is on Tuesday, May 7 which will include the Norfolk National.There is also a Point-to-Point at the track on Sunday, April 21.