Oktoberfest Season Finale in partnership with Protos Networks & Cisco

As the curtain came down on yet another exciting season at Chester Racecourse, the final chapter in the career of Roodee specialist Franny Norton also came to an end. A local rider with over 150 winners at the track, Norton made the Oktoberfest Season Finale a day to remember, winning three of the seven races on a day where ground conditions remained Good To Soft throughout.

Race 1 – Protos Networks Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 4, 3yo+, 1m 2 ½f)

Providing top South African jockey Greg Cheyne with a first winner of the season, Marama (5/2) ran out a very impressive victor in Race 1 of the Season Finale, extending away by 7 lengths to score for trainer William Haggas. Racing in fourth place, Marama was kept quiet by Cheyne for the majority of the contest, market leader Burrito (4/5F) spearheading a well-bunched field as they passed halfway. Switched out wide on the approach to the home straight, Marama soon looked to be travelling best of all with a quarter mile left to negotiate, Burrito now under pressure to maintain the lead. Readily stealing a length out of the long-time leader, Marama swiftly put the race to bed in the final furlong, careering away in the closing stages to record a very taking victory. No stranger to the big stage, jockey Greg Cheyne has also been successful in four Grade 1 contests back in his native South Africa!

Race 2 – Halliwell Jones Nursery Handicap (Class 5, 2yo, 7f)

Improving a good deal for his nursery handicap debut, Stapleford Park (6/1) toughed it out quite nicely in the second race of the day, coming home a ¾ length winner for Kieran Shoemark and Charlie Fellowes. Settling towards the outside of mid-division, Stapleford Park bided his time under Shoemark through the early stages of Race 2, keeping company with Marry The Night (11/2) as the well-backed Groundsman (9/4F) quickly led the field towards the home turn. Stalking the leaders but still trapped out wide, Shoemark delivered his challenge aboard Stapleford Park as Groundsman led the way into the straight, the field now beginning to cluster up in behind. Staying on powerfully down the centre of the track, Stapleford Park soon had matters in head passing the furlong pole, running on stoutly in the closing stages to record his first victory under rules. Another Roodee winner for Paul Wildes, the winning owner has also struck here four times previously with Sir Maximilian!

Race 3 – EBF “Confined” Fillies’ Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 4, 2yo, 6f)

Keen to go out on a high, Franny Norton took full advantage of a straightforward ride in Race 3, guiding home market leader Raneenn (1/3F) to a 1 ¾ length victory and providing William Haggas with a double. Booting his mount into the lead, Norton set a good gallop out in front aboard Raneenn through the opening half mile of the contest, always around a length in front of second-favourite Radio Star (9/2), with Connie’s Way (9/1) and Miss Pocket Rocket (25/1) completing the quartet. Travelling easily around the home turn, Raneenn and Radio Star soon looked to be in a two-horse race, their rivals rapidly falling behind with just over a furlong to race. However, responding nicely for increased pressure, Raneenn readily settled the score in the final furlong, coming clear half a furlong out and running on impressively towards the line. Another winner for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, the winning owner also took the Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes (Group 2) last week with Nakheel!

Race 4 – Boodles Handicap (Class 4, 3yo+, 5 ½f)

For the second time this season, Count d’Orsay (11/2) proved that age was just a number when once again victorious on the Roodee, taking the fourth race by a very gallant neck to score for Sean Kirrane and Tim Easterby. Forced to race out wide through the first couple of furlongs, Count d’Orsay eventually settled in midfield alongside hat-trick seeking Smooth Silesie (25/1), the lead occupied by South Parade (9/4F) as the field made their way towards the two-furlong marker. Rounding the home turn behind a wall of horses, Count d’Orsay looked to have a lot of work to do despite travelling nicely on the bridle, struggling to weave his way through as South Parade kicked for home. However, finding a nice seam between horses as Thankuappreciate (9/2) made his bid along the fair rail, Count d’Orsay battled on resolutely in the final furlong to hold off his rivals in the shadows of the post. A solid season in the saddle, this victory marked Kirrane’s fifth Chester winner of the year!

Race 5 – Protos Networks & Cisco Handicap (Class 3, 3yo+, 5f)

Successful here last season, Vintage Clarets (7/2) repeated the feat in determined style to take the feature race, staying on gamely to defy a pair of Roodee regulars by a neck under Jack Garritty for trainer Richard Fahey. A habitual slow-starter, Vintage Clarets once again raced towards the back of the pack under Jack Garritty, settling just behind Roodee legends Roman Dragon (7/2), Copper Knight (11/2) and Hyperfocus (22/1) as Secret Mistral (9/1) set a good pace at the head of affairs. Still in rear division as the ten runners concertinaed around the home turn, Garritty switched Vintage Clarets out widest of all upon entering the straight, Secret Mistral now struggling to hold onto the lead. Making ground with every stride and gamely sticking his neck out where it mattered, Vintage Clarets was brave in the final furlong, readily pulling out more in the closing stages to hold off Hyperfocus in second place. A winning combination on many occasions at Chester, Fahey and Garritty also took the 2015 Queensferry Stakes (Listed) here with classy sprinter Eastern Impact!

Race 6 – Camden Hells Handicap (Class 5, 3yo+, 1m 6 ½f)

Rewarding strong market support, Small Fry (11/10F) scored for the second time in a row when scooting home comfortably to land a 1 ¼ length victory in Race 6, providing Franny Norton with a double on his final day in the saddle. Quickly away and into a prominent position, Small Fry raced in second place through the opening mile of the contest, moving nicely alongside multiple course winner Dreams Adozen (7/1) as the field in behind stayed well-bunched. Heading towards the home turn, Small Fry appeared to be the only challenger still on the bridle with a couple of furlongs to go, edging into a narrow lead as Tailorman (9/1) made a bid down the outside. Now in the ascendency and rapidly coming clear, victory was never in doubt for Small Fry in the home straight, comfortably seeing off his rivals in the final furlong to score in style. A solid first season under a shared licence, Gary & Josh Moore have amassed over £300,000 in prize money in 2024, with 27 winners to boot!

Race 7 – Abacus Securities Farewell To Franny Norton Handicap (Class 4, 3yo+, 1m 2 ½f)

Bowing out in style, Franny Norton crossed the winning line in front for one final time in the last race of the day, booting his mount Qitaal (2/1F) clear by 8 lengths to record an impressive victory for trainer Charlie Johnston. Swiftly out on terms and pushed forward to maintain his position, Qitaal sat in second place for much of the finale, the lead occupied by Chase The Dollar (40/1), who set a steady tempo through the opening mile of rain-soaked ground. Sent to the front just under three furlongs from home, Qitaal moved with ease under Franny as the field circled the home turn for the

final time, breezing along as He’s A Gentleman (20/1) gave chase in behind. Seemingly the only one able to cope with the heavy surface, Qitaal gradually came further and further clear once sent for home, stretching clear from the pack with just over a furlong to go and careering away to provide Franny Norton with the perfect send-off. With this his 157th and final winner at Chester Racecourse, Franny leaves behind a legacy and win tally unlikely to ever be matched on the Roodee; what a hero!

Race report by Adam Perkins