Raceday LIVE – Cave Article
Fakenham,
Wed 30 Oct 2024 12:50
Related horse(s):
Cave Article
Cave Article makes his handicap debut this afternoon at Fakenham in the Class 5 Handicap Hurdle (12:50) over 2m4f.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Rockstar Icon's lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Cave Article was set to make his seasonal reappearance just over a week go at the same track as today, but due to safety concerns after reports of horses slipping in the opening race that day, the meeting was abandoned.
Straight after that happened, trainer Christian Williams took no time at all to state he'd still be keen to come back to Fakenham as he believes it's a 'great track' for our five-year-old's first run of the campaign.
Having been out of action since earning his opening handicap mark of 78 at the end of March, today's race will be the first time that the Club's son of Court Cave faces handicap company following efforts in two maidens and one novice contest earlier in the year.
Cave Article's first run, which was on soft ground, didn't quite go to plan, as he was far too keen in the early stages of the race, which lead to him burning out and eventually being pulled up with three hurdles left to jump. He struggled to settle in his next two runs as well, but was given the freedom to head off in front by jockeys Jack Tudor and Nick Scholfield in his second and third contests respectively to see how he would perform as a front runner.
Despite him struggling to sustain his efforts from the front in both those performances (finished 6th and 10th), it will have given him vital race experience which will put him in good stead going forward.
WATCH: Race Reflections following Cave Article's third run at Taunton
Christian has decided to step Cave Article back up in trip today to 2m4f following two efforts over two miles, and given he was second in his final point-to-point race in Ireland at Ballycrystal over three miles, this longer distance should benefit him more than anything.
Brian Hughes is booked to take the hot seat onboard our gelding this afternoon, which could be the first of two rides for him with the Coral Racing Club this week as he's also set to partner Lady Mendoza as she returns to Newcastle on Thursday.
The going is currently set to be Good, as it was when Cave Article ran at Fakenham on his second start, so the conditions should be fine for our five-year-old gelding.
Raceday message from Christian Williams
"Cave Article heads back to Fakenham today for his opening run of the season. It was frustrating what happened on his last trip to the Norfolk venue, but I am a big fan of the racecourse, so we are heading back there as I believe this is a great track for our horse to have his first outing of the campaign.
I’ve got two runners in the race, and I’ve booked former Champion Jockey Brian Hughes to partner Cave Article. He is a rider who has ridden for the Coral Racing Club before, and there aren’t any better in the saddle than the Northern Irishman.
In terms of what I am looking for from Cave Article, I’d like to just see him prove competitive from his opening handicap mark. He will be receiving weight from all but one rival in this race. Hopefully, that will work out in his favour, particularly at the back end of the race.
Whatever happens this afternoon, the plan is to still go chasing this season, but it would be fantastic if we did that with a victory behind us."
Christian with Cave Article at his yard in Ogmore-by-Sea
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
Christian Williams has been in quiet form recently, having not had a winner for 24 days. He has however come close on a couple of occasions in the last two weeks, with three second place finishers and a further two coming home in third. He's running at a 10% strike-rate for the season, with 13 winners from 124 runners and a further 20 horses coming home in the places. The Welsh trainer does however has an excellent record at Fakenham, with 21 winners from 84 runners at the track in his career (25%).
Brian Hughes is in relatively solid form at the moment with four winners and 10 further top three finishes from his 38 runners in the past two weeks. Fakenham isn't a course that the former three-time Champion Jumps Jockey has frequented, having only had 84 rides at the course in his career, however, those rides have resulted in 17 winners (20%). Brian isn't a jockey that Christian Williams often turns to, with the jockey only ever taking four rides for the trainer in his career, resulting in one second place finish. Today will also mark the first time this trainer and jockey have combined this season.
Cave Article's 10 Owners for the Day
As winners of the recent Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Cave Article's run at Fakenham this afternoon.
Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Fakenham Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Cave Article and the Christian Williams team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Cave Article.
Prize Money
Today's Class 5 Handicap contest is worth £7,500 in total, with the winner set to scoop £3,960 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £1,822 | 3rd: £911 | 4th: £456 | 5th: £227
Chris Dixon, Racing TV Analyst, previews Cave Article's chances this afternoon, and the key opposition in the race.
Cave Article hasn’t shown much in his three runs under rules so far but Christian Williams often aims horses towards improving in handicaps and there has to be a chance he progresses here. He’s ultimately likely to prove better over fences but off a mark of 78 he clearly has some upside and a step back up in trip following a break should really suit while the booking of Brian Hughes is eye-catching so there’s every chance of Cave Article showing much improved form.
Laser Focus has been in good form on the flat and this mark should be within range over hurdles so he’s of interest at a track that could suit, while Footloose Man also appeals as a danger given his consistency of late and I felt like he found things too much of a test over further on slow ground last time. The return to a shorter trip on better ground looks a plus for him. Of the others Hiero Sport strikes as a potentially well handicapped horse given the level he showed in bumpers and as such he has to be considered following a break in just his second handicap start.
12:50 FAKENHAM – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 12:50 to watch Cave Article's next run for the Club live on the Coral Sports app.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Rockstar Icon's lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Cave Article was set to make his seasonal reappearance just over a week go at the same track as today, but due to safety concerns after reports of horses slipping in the opening race that day, the meeting was abandoned.
Straight after that happened, trainer Christian Williams took no time at all to state he'd still be keen to come back to Fakenham as he believes it's a 'great track' for our five-year-old's first run of the campaign.
Having been out of action since earning his opening handicap mark of 78 at the end of March, today's race will be the first time that the Club's son of Court Cave faces handicap company following efforts in two maidens and one novice contest earlier in the year.
Cave Article's first run, which was on soft ground, didn't quite go to plan, as he was far too keen in the early stages of the race, which lead to him burning out and eventually being pulled up with three hurdles left to jump. He struggled to settle in his next two runs as well, but was given the freedom to head off in front by jockeys Jack Tudor and Nick Scholfield in his second and third contests respectively to see how he would perform as a front runner.
Despite him struggling to sustain his efforts from the front in both those performances (finished 6th and 10th), it will have given him vital race experience which will put him in good stead going forward.
WATCH: Race Reflections following Cave Article's third run at Taunton
Christian has decided to step Cave Article back up in trip today to 2m4f following two efforts over two miles, and given he was second in his final point-to-point race in Ireland at Ballycrystal over three miles, this longer distance should benefit him more than anything.
Brian Hughes is booked to take the hot seat onboard our gelding this afternoon, which could be the first of two rides for him with the Coral Racing Club this week as he's also set to partner Lady Mendoza as she returns to Newcastle on Thursday.
The going is currently set to be Good, as it was when Cave Article ran at Fakenham on his second start, so the conditions should be fine for our five-year-old gelding.
Raceday message from Christian Williams
"Cave Article heads back to Fakenham today for his opening run of the season. It was frustrating what happened on his last trip to the Norfolk venue, but I am a big fan of the racecourse, so we are heading back there as I believe this is a great track for our horse to have his first outing of the campaign.
I’ve got two runners in the race, and I’ve booked former Champion Jockey Brian Hughes to partner Cave Article. He is a rider who has ridden for the Coral Racing Club before, and there aren’t any better in the saddle than the Northern Irishman.
In terms of what I am looking for from Cave Article, I’d like to just see him prove competitive from his opening handicap mark. He will be receiving weight from all but one rival in this race. Hopefully, that will work out in his favour, particularly at the back end of the race.
Whatever happens this afternoon, the plan is to still go chasing this season, but it would be fantastic if we did that with a victory behind us."
Christian with Cave Article at his yard in Ogmore-by-Sea
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
Christian Williams has been in quiet form recently, having not had a winner for 24 days. He has however come close on a couple of occasions in the last two weeks, with three second place finishers and a further two coming home in third. He's running at a 10% strike-rate for the season, with 13 winners from 124 runners and a further 20 horses coming home in the places. The Welsh trainer does however has an excellent record at Fakenham, with 21 winners from 84 runners at the track in his career (25%).
Brian Hughes is in relatively solid form at the moment with four winners and 10 further top three finishes from his 38 runners in the past two weeks. Fakenham isn't a course that the former three-time Champion Jumps Jockey has frequented, having only had 84 rides at the course in his career, however, those rides have resulted in 17 winners (20%). Brian isn't a jockey that Christian Williams often turns to, with the jockey only ever taking four rides for the trainer in his career, resulting in one second place finish. Today will also mark the first time this trainer and jockey have combined this season.
Cave Article's 10 Owners for the Day
As winners of the recent Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Cave Article's run at Fakenham this afternoon.
Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Fakenham Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Cave Article and the Christian Williams team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Cave Article.
Prize Money
Today's Class 5 Handicap contest is worth £7,500 in total, with the winner set to scoop £3,960 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £1,822 | 3rd: £911 | 4th: £456 | 5th: £227
Chris Dixon, Racing TV Analyst, previews Cave Article's chances this afternoon, and the key opposition in the race.
Cave Article hasn’t shown much in his three runs under rules so far but Christian Williams often aims horses towards improving in handicaps and there has to be a chance he progresses here. He’s ultimately likely to prove better over fences but off a mark of 78 he clearly has some upside and a step back up in trip following a break should really suit while the booking of Brian Hughes is eye-catching so there’s every chance of Cave Article showing much improved form.
Laser Focus has been in good form on the flat and this mark should be within range over hurdles so he’s of interest at a track that could suit, while Footloose Man also appeals as a danger given his consistency of late and I felt like he found things too much of a test over further on slow ground last time. The return to a shorter trip on better ground looks a plus for him. Of the others Hiero Sport strikes as a potentially well handicapped horse given the level he showed in bumpers and as such he has to be considered following a break in just his second handicap start.
12:50 FAKENHAM – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 12:50 to watch Cave Article's next run for the Club live on the Coral Sports app.
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