Lunar Contact, a winner at the previous Fakenham meeting, repeated the dose when taking the finale on the six-race Fakenham Residents’ Raceday on Tuesday.
Callum Pritchard gave the locally-owned Lunar Contact, the 6/4 favourite, a fine ride as the winner picked off long-time leader Dindin to land the Weatherby and Birdie Calendars Chase by more than five lengths.
“He jumped really well. This was his goal after winning here last time and he did it so well and was well ridden by Callum,” said trainer Tom Ellis, as owner Keith Loads led the congratulations in the winner’s enclosure.
Laser Focus, a winner at Huntingdon last week, cruised to a facile victory in the Fakenham Proudly Supports British Farming Families Hurdle. Ridden by Ben Bromley and trained by James Owen, Laser Focus scored by 15 lengths without coming off the bridle, to the delight of the 2/7 favourite backers.
Owen, in top form with great successes at Cheltenham at the weekend in the Triumph Hurdle Trial and the Greatwood Hurdle, went on to complete a double with 8/13 favourite Secret De Dieux winning the Anglia Car Auctions Hurdle under Sean Bowen. The victory allowed Owen to collect the Fakenham Double Up Bonus.
Secret De Dieux looked to race too freely early on, but Bowen cajoled the gelding, who won by more than seven lengths from Gordon Grey.
Micronormous made a winning chase debut when landing the £50,000 Queen Boudicca Series Qualifier Mares’ Chase under Jack Tudor for trainer David Pipe.
Sent off 5/4 favourite, Micronormous and Caitlin’s Court pulled well clear of their two rivals to fight it out. Caitlin’s Court was not helped by jumping right at her fences and that allowed Micronormous to leap clear at the last and win by five lengths.
Regular Fakenham winning trainer Stuart Edmunds was on the scoresheet in the opening Weatherbys Hamilton Hurdle won by Bluegrass under Fergus Gillard.
Bluegrass, a well-bred son of Galileo formerly trained on the flat by Aidan O’Brien, was a course and distance winner in March and returned to win by a length from For Pleasure, at 7/2.
For Pleasure, under Bowen, made a serious error at the second last and only a fine recovery by the jockey, kept the partnership intact.
Three fillies contested the EBF Fillies Junior NH Hurdle which went to debutant Madame Luna, the 6/5 favourite under Paul O’Brien for Newbury-based trainer Harry Derham. Madame Luna responded well to O’Brien’s urgings and took it up before the final flight to run score easily.
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