Adam Wedge bags a Fakenham treble
Adam Wedge was the jockey to follow at Fakenham with three wins from his five rides, including the feature race of the day, after staff at the course did exceptionally well to ensure the meeting went ahead.
There was still some snow on the course three days before the latest offering at the track, where the Tim Barclay Memorial Chase over two miles and mile furlongs, offering prize money close to £10,000, attracted a strong field of ten runners.
Sir Jack Yeats, a previous winner at Fakenham, led the way under a strong drive from James Bowen but was easily passed along the back straight by Admiral Barratry and favourite Fire Away, ridden by Wedge.
These two battled it out around the home turn with Fire Away making the most of his light weight to win by just under a length.
This brought up a double for the jockey who had won the previous race, the British EBF Novices Hurdle over two miles and four furlongs, riding Shang Tang for trainer Emma Lavelle.
They beat warm favourite Captain Morgs ridden by Nico de Boinville by a decisive five lengths.
The treble was achieved in the final Fakenham Maiden Open National Hunt Flat race over two miles, run in gathering gloom.
Wedge triumphed on Dom Perry, tracking the early leaders before making his move to take charge over Exmoor Express by just over three lengths.
The opening Helhoughton Novices Hurdle over two miles and seven furlongs went to Moroder, ridden by claiming jockey Kevin Jones for Seamus Mullins.
They saw off their only challenger, Winds of Fire, by two lengths with only three horses managing to finish the race.
The Holt Selling Hurdle over two miles went to Kingston Mimosa, ridden by Charlie Todd for Caroline Fryer. They scattered the field of five to scoot home by a distance.
There was no bid for the winner at auction.
A similar margin of victory went to hot favourite Kap Auteuil in the Sculthorpe Novices Chase, also over two miles.
Jockey Tom Cannon was able to ease down on the run in, way ahead of second placed Khanisari.
The three-mile William Bulwer Long Memorial Hunters Chase was won by the well-fancied Dubai Quest under a canny ride from Bridget Andrews.
Rocklander had threatened to take control but unseated Kielan Woods with a mile to go.
Stalking the field with patience, Dubai Quest worked his way to the front to race well ahead from the final turn and win by a distance from Getting Closer.
Only four horses completed the race.
The next meeting at Fakenham is scheduled for Cheltenham Gold Cup day on Friday, March 19.
