Noble Legend returns to winning ways at Fakenham

A review of Sunday's action at Fakenham where Noble Legend showed the benefit of a switch to better ground.

A recent trip out hunting combined with a switch to a sounder surface appeared to work wonders for Noble Legend after he gained a first victory in almost two years with a bold front-running success in the At The Races Handicap Chase at Fakenham.

After failing to act on the bottomless ground at Lingfield last time out, the eight-year-old bounced back to form in style with an eased-down 11-length success in the two-mile-five-furlong prize to claim his first win since Boxing Day 2013.

Bailey said of her Harry Skelton-ridden 5/1 winner: "This win makes the journey back home in the lorry much sweeter. He is back on song and loved that better ground, while he went out hunting yesterday just to sharpen him up.

"He has been a lovely old horse and he had a good 2012/13 season, but because he was so consistent the handicapper never really gave him a chance.

"He had three or four moderate runs of late and he was dropped a bit (by the handicapper). You have to grab these chances with both hands.

"Everything was perfect for him today, for whatever reason he lost his way at the end of last year but I felt I had him right today."

Shaky Gift (7/1) maintained her unbeaten record at the track when coming with a perfectly-timed late run to take the Christmas Handicap Hurdle.

Held up early on in the extended two-mile-seven-furlong contest the Neil Mulholland-trained six-year-old hit the front up the run-in before going on to oblige by three-quarters of a length and follow up her course and distance victory last month.

The win provided the first leg of a 25/1 double for winning rider Noel Fehily, who was also successful aboard the Colin Tizzard-trained Bears Rails (9/4 favourite) in the Fakenham 2016 Annual Membership Novices' Handicap Chase.

Mulholland was not present but said: "To be fair she likes it around there. She had to work hard but she travelled well and Noel said she likes the track, so I am sure we will try to probably bring her back there again - it's just a pity it's so far away.

"She has had two runs and two wins around there and although life will get tougher she always tries hard."

Lucy Wadham continued her hot streak of form after Mystic Sky (15/8) posted victory in the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Mares' Novices' Hurdle.

Operating at just over a 30 per cent strike-rate in the past 14 days the Newmarket handler saw another winner come here way after the four-year-old opened her account over hurdles with a seven-length triumph.

Wadham said: "It was great. She won her bumper here and she is a home-bred and the owners are very local to the track, so we are delighted.

"I think she will get further in time as she is by Midnight Legend, but I think she was just a bit classier in the end today."

There was a turn up in the concluding Independent Racecourses Ltd Maiden Hurdle after odds-on favourite What A Moment could only manage second behind the James Evans-trained Prince Of Steal (16/1).

The Racing At Fakenham New Year's Day Handicap Hurdle fell the way of Neworld (9/2) from the yard of Richard Hobson.