Jockey and trainer team up for a Fakenham double

A good crowd turned out for the traditional Easter Monday race meeting at Fakenham despite heavy rain in the morning.

Spectators were able to enjoy the seven-race card as the weather improved on what was pronounced as ‘good to soft going’ at the track.

The combination of jockey Ciaran Gethings and trainer Stuart Edmunds had plenty to celebrate with a convincing double on the day.

Riding Swaffham Bulbeck in the Easter Monday Seniors Hurdle over two miles and four furlongs, Gethings bided his time with the leading pack before easing well clear up the home straight.

Despite crashing through the final hurdle, the winner crossed the line 14 lengths clear of Small Bad Bob under Aaron Anderson.

The double was completed in the final race of the afternoon, the Racing TV Mares Maiden National Hunt Flat over two miles.

This was more competitive on the stable’s four-year-old Birdhouse who just got the better of runner-up Floating Line by a length in a fighting finish.

Punters could have been forgiven for keeping their money in the opening Fisher Electrical Juvenile Maiden Hurdle over two miles and four furlongs with just two runners in the field.

With the favourite Havaila at odds of 1-8 on there was only going to be one winner after the first mile as jockey Mitchell Bastyan extended his lead over sole rival Overstate to run home by a distance.

Drama surrounded the second race, the Bruce Towers and Sons Selling Chase over two miles and five furlongs, with three fallers in the field of four.

Favourite Sopran Thor, ridden by Tom Cannon for Gary Moore, jumped a clear round to win in good style.

A field of nine runners took part in the Cecil and Sheila Buttifant Memorial Mares Hurdle over two miles.

In a closely-run race, bottom weight Luna Dora ridden by Ben Poste emerged from the pack around the home straight.

Luna Dora pushed ahead to win by eight lengths from joint favourite Glance At Me.

The Aldiss Stores Veterans Chase over three miles produced the tightest finish of the afternoon.

Boldmere under Harry Bannister just pipped it by a neck from the fast-finishing Fidux under Tom Cannon.

The Queen’s Cup Open Hunters Chase, also over three miles, looked to have easily been in the pocket of leader Rebel Dawn Rising, ridden by Alex Chadwick, approaching the last.

But his fall left the way open for Janika under Rupert Stearn to take full advantage and coast home well ahead of Firak, ridden by Sean O’Connor.

The next meeting at Fakenham is on Tuesday, May 9.