Drum Roll for …… Tom Tom!

Templier (aka Tom) won his seasonal debut on 21 November. Tom, running in the colours of Yen Hall Farm Racing and ridden by James Best, won the 2 mile handicap steeplechase at Fakenham. He was sent off almost last in the betting at 17/2 and 5 pounds higher in the weights than his last winning mark, despite now being a 10 year old rising 11. As planned, James was content to settle him in 3rd or 4th place and to bide his time. He travelled and jumped very well and came through to lead at the second last fence, steadying before jumping the last and then running on nicely to win comfortably. As the Racing Post noted, he has now won three of his last four runs, quite some achievement, particularly given his age and after a break of 237 days!

Earlier on the card, Le Tueur (aka Terry) also ran for Yen Hall Farm Racing and was a very creditable third in the 3 mile conditional jockeys’ handicap chase. The trip was really too short for Terry and, although he has won at Fakenham before, the sharp track is not ideal for him. Jack’s Touch (aka Jet) who had won only 24 hours earlier at Leicester, ran another excellent race, also finishing third with another superb round of jumping despite carrying a penalty for her win at Leicester, putting her weight up to 12 stone 7 pounds.

On a busy day of racing for the team, Redbridge Rosie also ran at Fakenham and finished an impressive second in the novice handicap hurdle race over just less than 3 miles. She set a scorching pace and jumped with accuracy and fluency and it was a shame that she was overhauled in the closing stages by the well-fancied favourite. Rosie will win very soon!