Wednesday 2 January
A nice start to 2013 with a winner, a second and a fifth in Fakenham! A pleasant change to be racing and not getting wet, and we had a good turn out of club members and owners, although a few didn't get there due to sore heads and other afflictions! Tannerman got the ball rolling in the first - dropped to selling company for the first time he ran well to finish second. Ted has breathing issues that were certainly helped by a tongue tie, but not cured completely, and he was unfortunately collared on the run in. He was the moral victor though, as the winning jockey received a ban for his use of the whip, and we stayed within the rules! Ted showed enough to continue with him, and he will be out again in 3-4 weeks. Colebrooke was next up in a very competitive handicap hurdle. He was upped in trip again, and once again failed to give his best running - which we can only put down to not acting on the course. C had been in great form at home, and we expected a better run - Josh did say that he would have been third but for a mistake 4 out which put him behind a wall of horses. There will be another day for Ben and Jays little man! Smart Exit closed the day, and ran a blinder to win! Ridden for the first time by Josh Moore he travelled away in behind a moderate pace which allowed him to get his confidence, and despite our fears about him not handling the track he got round the bends well. Going out for the final circuit the pace really lifted and SE was caught flat footed, but he is nothing if not game, and battled on well to get into second approaching the final flight. A spectacular low and quick leap there (see the photo) was enough to get him up on the line for a fantastic win. Josh feels he can win again over hurdles, and we will look at a 3m 2f handicap in Huntingdon early next month. Although only one of the horses managed to get their head in front they did all win the Best Turned Out awards. Congratulations to Alice and Trish who teamed up to land the treble and did it in style!! They looked amazing! All three are sound this morning, although Smart Exit does have a little filling above the joint which the vet will look at when he goes in this morning. New Years Day also saw me make my At The Races debut - sorry about that! I am sure that seeing me on the screen when you are suffering the effects of a good new years eve was the last thing you needed!! Thanks to Roger Harris for the photos from yesterday. Please go to his website www.photoaction.co.uk to view the gallery of yesterdays runners - anyone that wants a print can order through his site.
