David Kemp justified pre-race predictions to land a front-running treble at the West Norfolk Point-To-Point at Fakenham on Sunday.
Kemp, from Kilverstone, near Thetford, looked to have a strong book of rides for Norfolk’s only annual Point. And so it proved, an easy initial success in the Hunt Race aboard Zagmeister being followed by a Mens Open victory on Master Workman and a comfortable score on Hill Of Gold in the closing Open Maiden.
Kemp adopted front-running tactics in all three races and the only triumph that was truly in doubt in the closing stages was Master Workman’s. He was briefly headed by Ocean Fou, trained at Sutton near Ely by Martin Ward, jumping the second last and had to buckle down to score by six lengths.
In contrast to Master Workman, who the bookies expected to struggle at the hands of the eventual fourth, Macklin, Zagmeister was sent off a red hot favourite and he won as he liked, passing the winning post 15 lengths clear of Longitude.
Hill Of Gold, although at the head of the betting market, was expected to be given a tough fight by the well-regarded newcomer, It Is I. However, It Is I whipped round as the starter’s flag was dropped and unshipped his pilot, Richard Spencer.
Hill Of Gold took full advantage to beat Jock Wilkinson, trained at Wymondham by Simon Stearn and ridden by his son, Rupert, by a comprehensive ten lengths.
Ward gained compensation for Ocean Fou’s narrow defeat when Banksandditches, ridden by Dickie Collinson and owned by Ely’s Tony Winchester, hit the front four fences from home in the Restricted Race and drew away to beat Bubbles Classic by four lengths.
Bubbles Classic was ridden by Bridget Andrews, the current leader in the National Lady Riders Championship, and she suffered another near miss at the hands of her older sister, Gina, who partnered the Club Members Race winner, Can Mestret.
This was undoubtedly the race of the afternoon as Gina and Bridget, astride See You Jack, fought out a titanic battle from the penultimate fence with a crucial last fence blunder by See You Jack contributing to Gina scoring by a head.
But Bridget did not leave Fakenham empty-handed, as she registered the 22nd victory of a fabulous season when steering Saveiro, trained by Wymondham’s Sandra Fryer, to a two length win in the Ladies Open.
Results
GOING: GOOD
Hunts Members
1st Zagmeister (David Kemp) 1/5f
2nd Longitude (Ed Kendall)
3rd Saddlers Blaze (Ruby Knights)
Time 6 mins 26 secs Dists:15L,12L 3 ran
PPORA Club Members
1st Can Mestret (Gina Andrews) 4/1
2nd See You Jack (Bridget Andrews)
3rd Bally Wall (Archie Wright)
Time 6-18 Dists: Hd, 12L 7 ran Uber Alles Evs F (4th)
Restricted
1st Banksandditches (Dicky Collinson) 7/4
2nd Bubbles Classic (Bridget Andrews) 5/4f
3rd Shuilegoric (Jack Bloom)
Time 6-28 Dists: 4L, Dist 4 ran
Mens Open
1st Master Workman (David Kemp) 5/2
2nd Ocean Fou (Dicky Collinson)
3rd Laganbank (Rupert Stearn)
Time 6-29 5L, 2L Dists: 6 ran Macklin 4/6f (4th)
Ladies Open
1st Saviero (Bridget Andrews) 1/3f
2nd Stage Acclaim (Lottie Ingleton)
3rd Sa Kaldoun (Rosie Thorogood)
Time 6-27 Dists: 2L, 8L 6 ran
Open Maiden
1st Hill Of Gold (David Kemp) Evs f
2nd Jock Wilkinson (Rupert Stearn)
Time 6-32 Dists: 10L 5 ran 2 finished
