After the thrill of winning the Champion Hurdle with Istabraq at the Cheltenham Festival, owner and fearless punter J P McManus found that little fish were sweet at humble Fakenham yesterday.
Assailable, the first horse McManus has had in training with Neville Callaghan, opened his account over hurdles in decisive fashion in the EDP Conditional Jockey's Maiden Hurdle, completing a double for jockey Michael Brennan, earlier successful aboard Antiguan Flyer.
The latter, locally trained by George Prodromou, had been off the course for over five months but won the EDP Champion For Sport Handicap Hurdle decisively.
Prodromou was in bullish mood afterwards, saying he had done a "demolition job" with the bookies, having scooped the available 8 to 1 early in the morning, and investing no less than £5,000.
Pam Sly reached a milestone when breaking her own record for winners in a season after she sent out her eighth victor in Bassenhally..