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Williams looking to promising Tudor to rule in amateur event at Fakenham

Fakenham has adapted to the modern demands but retains a country feel, says John Oakes
Fakenham: has just 28 runners on the six-race cardCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Whatever the results at Fakenham on Tuesday, the shrewd Christian Williams is certain to appear on the post-race podium as his racing club is the main sponsor of the Christian Williams Racing Club Mares' Handicap Hurdle (3.30).

Despite his patronage, that is not the race on the card that Williams most wants to win as it is the amateur riders' contest (2.00) he really has his eye on.

Following Williams in amateur riders events could be a system to follow this season as the former jockey, who has made a promising start to his new career, explained: "I've a young boy in the yard who's an exceptional rider and I'm trying to find runners for as many amateur races as I can to give him experience."

Christian Williams: set the pace on the 2009 Gold Cup on Kauto Star's stablemate Neptune Collonges
Christian Williams: set the pace on the 2009 Gold Cup on Kauto Star's stablemate Neptune CollongesCredit: David Dew

The young rider in question is the 16-year-old Jack Tudor, whose father Jonathan used to ride and whose cousin, James Tudor, won the Kim Muir aboard High Chimes at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival, before retiring in 2016

On the clear potential of his young apprentice, Williams said: "He's 16 and had his first ever ride four weeks ago on Uno Mas and finished fourth.

"He was beaten three-quarters of a length at Cheltenham a few days later on his second ever ride aboard Fifty Shades. This will be his fourth ride under rules, his birthday was right at the end of the pointing season so I think he rode at only about three or four meetings – but he had about seven winners from something like 15 rides."

Tudor will again ride Uno Mas at Fakenham on Tuesday and Williams clearly fancies the pair's chances.

"He's in good form," he said. "I hope the track should suit him and he'd probably be my strongest chance tomorrow. Jack's a very good young rider so claiming the full 7lb is a big help."

Williams saddles Robbina against four rivals in the race he sponsors and added: "It's a track we like to have runners at, we had a few winners there last year and it's a place we like to support as the prize-money's always very good."

Ahern makes the long trek to Norfolk

There is a rare Irish runner at Fakenham in the shape of Sweet Destination who is going for her second successive victory on English soil following her 46-length victory at Plumpton this month.

County Cork trainer Garrett Ahern is having just the third British runner of his career with the six-year-old, who looks to have a good chance in the three-runner Weatherbys Racing Bank Foreign Exchange Mares Handicap Chase over 3m (1.30).

The contest is part of the Challenger Mares Staying Series and Sweet Destination could well be back for next year's final at Haydock if she can follow up her recent impressive win.

That day she halted a losing run that had stretched back to her win in a point-to-point over a year ago, but has 10lb more to carry on Tuesday as a result.

Ahern will match his current domestic tally of two winners if Sweet Destination can account for her two rivals of whom penalised Newcastle winner Dawnieriver looks the most dangerous.

Dawaam looks pick of Kitten's Joy pair

Kitten's Joy, sire of Cartier horse of the year Roaring Lion, has two representatives in Hamdan Al Maktoum's colours in the Ladbrokes-sponsored Novice Stakes (3.10) over a mile at Lingfield.

The owner's retained jockey Jim Crowley has elected to ride the Owen Burrows-trained Dawaam over the sheikh's other representative Khuzaam, trained by Roger Varian.

An entry for next year's Investec Derby, Dawaam cost a hefty $450,000 at the Keeneland September Sales in 2017 and, being related to a winner on dirt in the US, he is bred to go on to succeed on the all-weather.

In contrast, counterpart Khuzaam, the mount of Jack Mitchell, is a Shadwell Stud homebred out of the mare Afraah – who Varian trained to win two races on the Polytrack at Wolverhampton in 2012.

Also entered in next year's Derby, Khuzaam has been showing up well in his work on the artificial surfaces in Newmarket, but is expected to improve for the experience.

Sheikh Hamdan's racing manager Angus Gold said: "I know they've always liked Dawaam. He had a bit of a setback early but Owen seems very happy with him again now.

"Khuzaam is just ready to run now. He's a big, immature horse so I think it's a question of getting a run into him as he's bred to be a three-year-old.

"I think they'll both make up into nice horses, but I'd expect Owen's horse to run better tomorrow. But it's first time out for both so I might be very wrong."


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David MilnesNewmarket correspondent

Published on 19 November 2018inPreviews

Last updated 20:34, 19 November 2018

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