Mark Pointer Starluck put in the performance of the day at Fakenham this afternoon, as the three-year-old gelding looked a different class in the SIS Juvenile Novices Hurdle.

Mark Pointer

Starluck put in the performance of the day at Fakenham this afternoon, as the three-year-old gelding looked a different class in the SIS Juvenile Novices Hurdle.

The Alan Fleming trained gelding followed up his recent Huntingdon success with an impressive victory by 18 lengths.

Taking up the running three flights out, Starluck soon quickened clear for Grand National winning jockey, Timmy Murphy, and ran out a game winner.

His overjoyed trainer said afterwards: “He is a smart horse with a good attitude and will now step up in class. The plan is to go to Kempton on Boxing Day, but he would want better ground.”

Starluck received a 16-1 quote for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next March.

The afternoon got underway at 1pm with the Wensum Valley Handicap Selling Hurdle, in which trainer Tim Vaughan landed another gamble for the second meeting running when Little Shilling won on his first start for the trainer.

Back in from 4-1 to 11-8 favourite, Little Shilling in the hands of Lee Stephens was never in trouble, running out to a 14-length success.

Another gamble was landed in the following race, the Weatherbys Bank Conditional Jockeys Handicap Chase (1.30pm), when Silvo was backed from 33-1 into 10-1 just before the off and duly obliged by seven lengths.

Up with the pace throughout, Silvo took up the running after the second last and ran away under a peach of a ride by young Ryan Mania, from Galashiels.

The winning trainer David Thompson said afterwards “He is a quirky horse and today everything dropped into place - he loved the ground and jumped well.”

The combination of Lucy Wadham and Dominic Elsworth maintained their 100pc record at Fakenham when Backboard won the feature race of the day, the At The Races Novices Chase.

Backboard, the 11-4 shot making his chasing debut, warmed to his task during the race and took up the running after jumping the second last - quickening clear to win by eight lengths.

“After the first circuit he picked up his game and jumped well throughout,” siad the trainer's husband, Justin Wadham.

He will improve for this run but wants good ground.”

The 7-1 shot Jackella put in a gutsy performance to land the Racing At Fakenham on New Years Day Handicap Chase.

Always in the front rank this seven year old gelding jumped well throughout under a positive ride by Christian Williams and held on gamely from Leopold and Ticket To Ride to win by two and three quarter lengths.

In the finale the Prince of Wales Stand Novices Handicap Hurdle the 12-1 shot, Circus Rose gave Peterborough trainer, Pam Sly, another Fakenham success.

This mare gained compensation for her fall at Huntingdon earlier this month and under an inspired ride by David England, Circus Rose cruised past Topjeu and Tony McCoy around the home turn to win comfortably by 14 lengths.

Next meeting at Fakenham is on Monday, December 1, first race off at 12.50pm.