Our man at the course Graham Clark tells the story of the day from Tuesday's meeting at Fakenham.
Christmas arrived early for French jockey Maxime Tissier at Fakenham after he celebrated his first winner in England on Banjo Girl in the TBA Mares' Novices Hurdle.
The 27-year-old wasted no time in becoming acquainted with the winner's enclosure at the Norfolk track after making all of the running aboard the Lucy Wadham-trained 2-1 shot to take the two-mile contest by five lengths.
Tissier said: "She jumped really well. They didn't put the hood on and I was a bit scared but she was very relaxed. I've been here about 16 months in England. It is very good and it is very different. They go fast in England and go steady in France and finish quick."
The winning trainer added: "He rides with a good head on his shoulders. He is very good and does all the schooling with Leighton (Aspell). His 7lb claim could be useful."
Olly Murphy has big plans for Rio Quinto (7-1) after the four-year-old bolted up by 34 lengths from Potters Hedger in the concluding Independent Racecourses Ltd Maiden Hurdle.
He said: "He is a nice horse and I am delighted he has won as he let me down the other day at Cheltenham. I've half got it in the back of my mind to go to Warwick for the Grade Two (Leamington) on January 13."
Ben Pauling hopes Creep Desbois can continue to progress into a contender for the Cheltenham Festival after he dug deep to give the Bourton-on-the-Water handler his first winner at the track with a one-length success in the feature At The Races Handicap Chase.
Pauling said of the 6-5 favourite: "I put an entry in the race for him as it looked like a race that he could win. I didn't think the track would suit and I was not overly excited when they took the fences out but he has got the job done despite all that. I was hoping he might be able to creep into one of the novice handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival."
Mortens Leam (4-5 favourite) kept the Fakenham 2018 Annual Membership Novices' Handicap Chase in the family - 12 months after his half-sister Bonnet's Vino captured the race.
Winning trainer Pam Sly said of his 11-length success: "That was only his second run over fences and I can breathe now. He had been placed over hurdles but he has taken time to mature as there was not much of him as a three-year-old."
PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY
Rio Quinto may have cut little ice on his debut under rules at Cheltenham but he could be a nice staying prospect for Olly Murphy judging by his debut hurdles win.
RIDE OF THE DAY
Maxime Tissier cleverly dictated matters from the front aboard Banjo Girl to ensure he got a breather in before kicking again when it mattered most.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Paul Henderson was only too glad owner Ed Hawkings stuck by Minella Gathering, who took the extended two-mile-seven handicap hurdle.
He said: "He was off for two years with a tendon injury and Ed was in a syndicate but the rest dropped away and he stayed with him as he loved the horse and I am glad he kept him."
BIZARRE MOMENT OF THE DAY
Those thinking there were two number sixes running in the feature chase were right as Princeton Royale, number two on the card, carried the same number cloth as Royal Plaza. Trainer Neil King was fined £140 following the error.
