06 April 2011 Preview: West Norfolk - Fakenham
by James Crispe
Camel racing returns to an East Anglian Point-to-Point on Sunday April 10 when Fakenham stages the West Norfolk Foxhounds fixture. There will be the usual six steeplechase races, starting at 2.00pm, and the jumping action is preceded by two children's pony races (which come under orders at 1.15pm) and followed by two four-runner camel races, which go off at 4.45pm.
The format for the camels is much the same as last year's successful inaugural staging with each runner representing a local pub and ridden by a pub employee or regular customer who is raising money for charity.
A total of 65 horses have been entered for the chases, starting with nine in an opening Members Race including the first three from the 2010 renewal - Made Welcome, Rockfield and Toe To Hand.
Trainer Joe Turner and rider Louise Allan have teamed up to win the last three Ladies Opens at East Anglian meetings and they will try to extend their sequence with either Assassino, who won this race last year, or Parrain, who won the West Norfolk Mens Open 12 months ago.
Gina Andrews, who is the runaway leader in the national lady riders championship with 15 wins, is the regular partner of the two horses among the eight potential opponents most likely to end the Turner/Allan monopoly.
They are Finnish Melody, the winner of all three of her starts this season but stepping up in class here, and Scotland Yard, who beat Assassino in this race in 2009 but trailed home in last place when hot favourite for his latest start, a fortnight ago.
The Mens Open has attracted nine entries including Caveman, winner of his last two starts but beaten in all three of his visits to this, his home course, most recently when runner-up in this very race three years ago. His conqueror that day, Star Double, is again among his possible rivals while the powerful Turner yard could be represented by either Basic Fact or the course and distance hunter chase winner, Kadount.
Fakenham Racecourse is located two miles west of the town in North Norfolk at post code NR21 7NY. It is well signposted as it is a proper National Hunt course - portable Pointing fences are placed on the outside of the usual obstacles.
Admission will be charged at £10 per head with under 17s admitted free.
