THE WEST NORFOLK and NORTH NORFOLK – FAKENHAM
Sunday April 21st 2024
2.00 Conditions (Veteran and Novice Riders) – 10 entries
This is the final meeting of the 2023/24 East Anglian Area season and it’s arguably been one of the best in recent years, certainly post pandemic. We have had decent fields, and the racing has been competitive. We have also managed to escape the worst of the wet weather that plagued other parts of the UK. This heat has garnered 10 entries for a race confined to novice riders, those who have ridden 5 or less winners and veteran riders. Those who are over 40 years old. A few jockeys in here tick both boxes. Killinkere won a Conditions race at Higham on Good Friday when ridden by Ellie Holder, beating Shentri by 6L. He’s due to be ridden today by Molly Legg who has yet to ride a winner but did finish 2nd on this horse at Higham in February. Red Maple won the Novice Riders race at Ampton in January when beating Jonjoella by 6 L. He’s been placed 2nd on his 3 subsequent starts, most recently at High Easter last month when going down by ¾L to Pym. Cian Murphy who won on him at Ampton is back in the saddle. Bonamargy won at Kingston Blount two weeks ago when beating For Rita by 7L under Ben Durrell who’s one of the most experienced jockeys in the race with 6 wins. Sum It Up was well behind in this race in 5th place. Take To Heart represents the Turner yard. He’s pulled up on both starts this season but runners from the yard usually need a run or two. No jockey was booked to ride so difficult to assess in this sort of race. Mr Mafia is due to be ridden by Freddie Keighley who has 1 win from only 4 rides in this his debut season. Mr Mafia was 5th on his most recent start at Larkhill last month when finishing 17L adrift of All Loved Up but was 20L ahead of possible rival Right Of Reply who was 7th this day. Red Maple has multiple entries over the weekend so not being sure where he’s going to run we will select Bonamargy as our choice with Killinkere as our alternative.
Selection: Bonamargy Alternative: Killinkere
2.35 Conditions (Level 3) – 9 entries
Two horses who won at the Essex and Suffolk meeting at Higham on Good Friday look the pair to concentrate on here. Good Source took the Members race on that card very comfortably, with Josh the Plod (likely to come on for the run) well held in third and Chapelier pulling up at the last. Back It Up overcame a mistake at the last to get up close home to win over 3m4f on the same card. He landed his Maiden over the regulation trip at Higham last season, in fact his only defeat since joining David Kemp was when encountering soft ground on his seasonal debut at Garthorpe. Josh the Plod likes decent ground but has a bit to find with the aforementioned pair. Goleiriham is from a yard in fine form and has won three of his six starts in Points. His most recent of those in a match with a stablemate in the Members at Kimble on Easter Saturday, he has alternatives though. Happy Victory had a subsequent dual Hunter Chase winner back in third when winning at Chaddesley Corbett before Christmas, that level of form would mean he would need serious consideration, but he hasn’t matched that level in three outings since. The Yellow Mini ran out of stamina and was pulled up in the race that Back It Up won at Higham on Good Friday. Runner up on her two previous outings at Higham and Charing she has a bit to find with the leading contenders here.
Selection: Back It Up Alternative: Good Source
3.10 Restricted – 12 entries
12 entries but none rated over 100 but competitive nonetheless. First run this season for 8yr. Gamalou D’Alene who ran and pu on his only run last season so really no form to go so probably one to just watch. Goleiriham from the Hill yard was an easy winner in the March short Restricted at Cothelstone and followed up with a win at Kimble in the 2 runner Hunt Members but no real opposition in either race so perhaps only a place here is possible and a 5lb penalty does not help. Largy Pearl from the Peters yard was driven out to take the 12 runner Horseheath Maiden in Feb but then weakened quickly to finish 30l 5th in the March Kimble Restricted so may again struggle in this higher grade. In the same race Lunar Contact from the Ellis yard finished a weakening 3rd but a pu and a distant weakening 3rd in previous Restricted races this season does not inspire confidence. Mare Penniless from the Padfield yard has a 2lb. advantage and ran 2nd in the Feb. Brockelsby Park Restricted 8l ahead of Goleiriham and followed up with a 15l 2nd to the progressive Douglas Longbottom in the 12 runner April short Restricted at Lockinge so solid form in this grade. 7yr. Shanes Passion from the Pennock yard won the Higham Maiden in March making all and ridden out well, up in grade but place prospects. 5th Restricted run this season for Well P from the Ball yard with rather one paced seconds in the last 2 but in this company a place is feasible.
Selection: Penniless Alternative: Shanes Passion
3.45 Mixed Open – 12 entries
The winner of last year’s renewal, Clara Sorrento, features amongst the entries for the Mixed Open race. Unlike last year when he had three prior outings, Clara Sorrento has only made one appearance this season in which he was beaten 2 ¼ lengths in a match race at Garthorpe against Jetaway Joey, but will have derived a great benefit having had the run. Tullys Touch was held up for a late challenge in the Ladies Open race at High Easter last week, quickening from the last to defeat No Hassle Hoff and Shentri. This was the second win this year for Tullys Touch who has progressed through the season, but in his encounters with Captain Biggles he has finished behind each time they have met. At Ampton in January, Captain Biggles won the Ladies Open race, beating Tullys Touch by 3 lengths, with Precious Bounty ½ length behind in 3rd and I K Brunel further back in 4th. Tullys Touch and Captain Biggles next encounter was at High Easter in March when they finished 2nd and 3rd behind Law Of Gold, Tullys Touch getting to within ¾ length. I K Brunel and Precious Bounty have also shown improved form, both having won differing versions of a Mixed Open race at Higham on Good Friday. Deise Aba has won three of five races he has run in this season, but has been pulled up the the other two. His most recent victory was on Easter Monday, at Lockinge, where he beat What A Glance by 2 lengths. Castle Trump has not been seen since finishing 3rd at Higham in February, is best judged on his seasonal reappearance when he got the better of Go Go Geronimo at Ampton.
Selection: Captain Biggles Alternative: I K Brunel
4.20 Veteran Horse Conditions – 9 entries
It’s hard to look past Peacocks Secret who has a decent record at the Fakenham course in hunter ‘chases but has never lined up in a point at the Norfolk track. His 2nd to I K Brunel at Higham on Good Friday will put him in fine fettle for this contest and if there is a nominated challenger, then Killinkere fits the bill, if declared here and not in the opening race. Ellie Holder partnered Killinkere to a convincing 6 length win over Shentri at Higham, also on Good Friday defeating the previously unbeaten Mount Pleasant in the process. Josh the Plod has other alternatives, on the card, but will be at home on the prevailing ground conditions while Chapelier and Back Bar could struggle against the more consistent form opposition. Ajay’s Ways and Tiger’s Song have both missed plenty of racing over the last few seasons and might find the pace to hot.
Selection: Peacocks Secret Alternative: Killinkere
4.55 Maiden – 13 entries
A competitive looking Maiden drawing the East Anglia Point to Point season to a close. Destination Mahler finished third on his first start for Dale Peters but that was back in January, if he is ready after his short break he holds every chance. Vango Vick has been placed six times from his eight starts in Point to Points. He is starting to look exposed, but you can guarantee he will run to form and holds every chance. Killard Point put in an improved performance last time out to finish second. That was on very heavy ground, (his mother had form on better ground) so hopefully he will improve for the quicker surface. Graveside Lad is an interesting contender if he takes his chance. His form figures are nothing to be inspired by as he is yet to complete in Points. In the races he has contested all have been won by regarded horses. He enjoys a quicker surface, and the sharp nature of Fakenham will bring the best out of him. Taymount is an interesting well-bred debutant and gets a fourteen pound weight allowance, this could be good enough to win this on debut.
Selection: Graveside Lad Alternative: Taymount
Overview
Race 1: Bonamargy / Killinkere
Race 2: Back It Up / Good Source
Race 3: Penniless / Shanes Passion
Race 4: Captain Biggles / I K Brunel
Race 5: Peacocks Secret / Killinkere
Race 6: Graveside Lad / Taymount
