Race type - Jump
Fakenham
Course details
This pretty area of Norfolk has always been popular with local hunts but it wasn't until 1905 that the present site was used as a racecourse. The course is more square-shaped than circular and that creates four sharp bends which combined with the undulations makes for a very unique test for horse and jockey.
Fakenham is truly unique amongst British racecourses with its tight circuit ensuring you are never too far away from the action.
GUIDE - For Racecourse
Left-handed, very tight, undulating circuit of 1m.
This pretty area of Norfolk has always been popular with local hunts but it wasn't until 1905 that the present site was used as a racecourse. Only one meeting every year was staged back then and even in the modern day the course is hardly what you'd call busy with just eight meetings scheduled 2012. Still, it's always well attended by racegoers, even on bleak winter days, and all would agree that Fakenham is truly unique amongst British racecourses with its tight circuit ensuring you are never too far away from the action. All in all, it's a good place to have a day out in the countryside enjoying the locally-produced food and backing a few winners, hopefully.
Principal Races
For a small track, prize money is very good with the most valuable contest (£7k in 2011) being the Fakenham Silver Cup, a handicap hurdle sponsored by Totesport. The Countryside Alliance Handicap Chase also carried prize money in excess of £7k and winning connections were handed the 'The Prince Carlton Challenge Cup', which is named in honour of the prolific winning course specialist.
Course Characteristics
Some people have unkindly likened Fakenham to a greyhound track on account of the fact the horses are seemingly just going round in circles. They have a point as the runners have to complete at least two circuits of the track, unlike most other tracks, and it seems some jockeys have trouble keeping count with at least one incident every season of a jockey riding a finish too early! Besides, the course is more square-shaped than circular and that creates four sharp bends which combined with the undulations makes for a very unique test for horse and jockey. Some horses take to it better than others and previous course winners are always worth following on their return, while confirmed front runners are also worth a second look, although some jockeys tend to go off far too fast and then have nothing left for the finish. At the same time, you don't want to get too far behind here as it's almost impossible to make up lost ground, and you need to have made your move well before the final fence (located at the bottom section of the home straight) as the run-in is very short.
Top Trainers
It's unusual for the top trainers to have runners here but one notable exception is Nicky Henderson, whose 18 winners over the past five seasons have come at an excellent strike rate of over 40%. Admittedly, his runners tend to be overbet but you would still have made a small profit backing all of them. It's a fair trek from Wales but that hasn't stopped a couple of Welshman in Tim Vaughan and Evan Williams mopping up here in recent seasons. With one in three strike rates since 2007, it's clear that anything they run has to be given maximum respect. One smaller trainer worth following is Lucy Wadham.
Top Jockeys
The big-name jockeys are normally in action elsewhere but when they do make the trip it's worth sitting up and taking notice. The current champ Tony McCoy is a good case in point with his 19 winners since 2007 being achieved at an excellent strike rate of 39% and while most of these are well-backed, you would have made a small level stakes profit backing all his rides. Richard Johnson, the perennial runner-up to McCoy in the jockey's championship, is not that far behind with 17 winners from 47 rides (36%). Also worthy of a mention are Paul Moloney and Sam Thomas with nine winners apiece, with the latter's 41% strike rate really catching the eye.