Author: Peter McNeile

Stratford Racecourse has been an excellent proving ground for future graded race winners in years gone by, even if the sharp track bears little relation to the big galloping tracks of Cheltenham, Ascot or Haydock.

Itchy Feet landed the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase having won a bumper at Stratford a year prior, while L’Eau Du Sud’s victory at our Halloween meeting in 2024 precipitated a run of three straight wins in graded company – including the top-tier Henry VIII Novices’ Chase last December.

So all eyes were on our final meeting of 2025… with a handful of notable runners perhaps franking their aspirations for a tilt at the Cheltenham Festival next year following a strong run.

Keep Aware

Anyone having a bet on horse racing online may have noticed that the ante post odds for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival are now available. The Arkle Chase is one of the open markets, with Stratford winner Be Aware already trimmed from 66/1 to 50/1 for that particular renewal.

Those tracking the latest racing results will be only too aware that Dan Skelton’s horse delivered a masterful performance at Stratford on October 30, marking his seasonal return – and chase debut – with a gritty four-length victory.

The striking seven-year-old grey jumped well, for the most part, and showcased an extra gear in the home straight to see off nearest challenger Cerendipity by four lengths.

🗣️ "We've trained him differently this year."

🗣️ "The only concern I do have is rain on Friday night into Saturday morning."@DSkeltonRacing on Be Aware & a look ahead to his weekend runners, headlined by Charlie Hall favourite Protektorat & Kateria who faces Golden Ace pic.twitter.com/2KCad9XmZB

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 30, 2025

It was a strong showing from Be Aware, who also saw off the likes of Grandeur Dame; a horse that went to the Cheltenham Festival this year for the Ultima Handicap Chase with a rating of 139.

Skelton, firmly established as one of the best National Hunt trainers around, clearly has a precocious talent on his hands. And a run to second place in last season’s Greatwood Hurdle at Prestbury Park suggests that the six-year-old has a fondness for the track, with that form franked by the fact that the winner – Burdett Road – went on to finish runner-up in the Champion Hurdle.

Could Be Aware add his name to the list of Stratford winners that go on to land a graded success?

A Bright Start

Elsewhere at our October 30 meeting, a couple of promising novice hurdlers won comfortably to confirm their class.

Both Division I and II of the EBF and Charlie Longsdon Racing National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle went to young horses with plenty of upside to come – they may well return to Stratford in 2026 having contested a graded race.

Wandering Ego, with champion jockey Sean Bowen on board, ran out a 14-length winner in Division I. He was handy throughout and, despite the odd jumping error, was still on the bridle down the home straight – often that’s an indicator of bigger and better things to come.

In Division II, Taurus Bay made a fine hurdling debut in an eight-length victory. The four-year-old was guided through the gears expertly by Ben Jones, before pulling away with consummate ease in the final furlongs.

Harry Redknapp's The Jukebox Man hit the target again in the @Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase @kemptonparkrace pic.twitter.com/aAAHUAbFTx

— PA Racing (@PAracing) December 26, 2024

He is owned by Harry Redknapp, the former football manager turned racehorse fancier whose stable features Kauto Star Novices’ Chase winner The Jukebox Man and Cheltenham Festival scorer Shakem Up’Arry.

Maybe Taurus Bay will join that company… from Stratford to superstardom!

By our own admission, our final fixture of the season is hardly the grand finale we might wish for. A drab Thursday in October, despite coinciding with half-term, is more for aficionados than for socialites. But as any racing fan will tell you, midweek racing often uncovers little gems so you can tell your friends, “I saw him win at Stratford”. Yesterday was one such day.

Be Aware, owned by Andrew Cohen, who enjoyed such horses as Hennessy winner Suny Bay back in the day, had been running in top handicap hurdles through last term, beaten 1/2l in the Greatwood at Cheltenham and third in the Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot mid-December. A switch to fences produced an immediate result, swerving a novice event to drop straight into handicap class. The two top weights, Grandeur d’Ame and Be Aware, had the race between them turning in, The Widowmaker and Cerendipity ranging upsides at the last. Alan King’s charge jumped the last in front, but keeled over on landing, allowing Harry Skelton to drive Be Aware out for a 4l advantage at the line. He looks likely to feature in some top flight novice events given his rating.

Another novice, this time making a debut under Rules, was Taurus Bay, bought for £155,000 by Ben Pauling on behalf of an ownership combo including Harry Redknapp after winning his maiden at Comea. Ben Jones had the 4 year old prominent throughout and despite some novicey jumping, he was a handsome winner over Precious Metal, a respectful 8 1/2l second in the second division of the “National Hunt” Novices Hurdle. Again, plenty to look forward to.

Henrietta Knight, back in harness after a retirement break, was frustrated a second time after Precious Metal’s defeat, this time in the 0-100 Handicap Hurdle, in which her Motazzen found Soldier’s Leap a length too good at the line. The Dubawi gelding (how high are the mighty fallen?) was staying on at the close, so might benefit from a longer trip. Take nothing away from the winner, however, a ninth winner for Tom Ellis, who is already on track to surpass last season’s first foray into Rules racing. Jack Andrews was in the plate.

Diana Whateley has enjoyed some top flight horses in her time, and looks to have another exciting prospect in Wandering Ego, who scored a maiden victory over hurdles, having won his bumper in good fashion at Wetherby in May. An odds-on favourite, he won as a jolly should, with a handsome 14l margin over Park Talk for Harry Derham in the first division of the “National Hunt” Novices Hurdle. Like Taurus Bay, he looks one to follow.

Another favourite to content punters was five year old mare A Path To Ronda who made steady headway from the rear to take up the running and win with something in hand in the Mares Maiden Hurdle for Gavin Sheehan and Charlie Longsden. Evens never made a gambler rich, but a winner’s a winner, all the same.

The day had begun with a class of race now limited to two jumps venues: Stratford and Leicester. The seller is a rarity nowadays, a sale after even rarer still. Daisy Hitchins has an excllent record at Stratford from her small yard in Devon, and struck again with Sea Thrift under 7lb claimer Robbie David, taking down the favourite by 2 1/2l. Robert Bellamy, trying his hand at the auction gavel for the first time, was unsuccessful in raising a bid for the six year old.

The Rowe family has owned Stratford Racecourse for several generations, Michael the latest incumbent to chair the company. His father John is remembered in the closing handicap chase of the season, inappropriately a class 5 handicap over 2m 5f for such a splendid supporter of racing. He would have seen great irony in Another Folly, 1 3/4l winner for Ceiran Gethings and Jane Williams, an altogether suitable name for the curiosity that is racecourse ownership.

As the weak light faded, the season was played out by a bumper, a textbook ride by Tom Bellamy for boss Alan King on Galaxy Star, denying Jane Williams a quickfire double with Graceful Glance, who will surely be winning soon too.

It’s five months until Stratford is graced by racing again, but the early onset of autumn has offered the chance of plenty of stars of the future to grace the Stratford turf since September. Keep your eyes peeled and remember where you saw them first.

As one of the oldest forms of competition still enjoyed all over the world today, horse racing involves a considerable amount of tradition. This is most often the case for the fans, who take their place in the stands as they watch their picks chase the gold. Given the age of racing, it was only relatively recently that radio, TV, and the internet started to change the way we watch, reshaping what had once been standard practice for more than a thousand years. The generation who can remember races without commentary is only now disappearing, remarkably.

With all this modern rapid evolution, it’s natural to wonder what will come next. Looking at some examples from the world of technology, we can make some educated guesses about what to expect in the years to come. None of these are guaranteed, but we’d be shocked if at least a few of them didn’t become standard.

Improved availability of viewing

The most widespread and inevitable change we can expect from the landscape of horse racing is a simple improvement in access to different courses and races. This is a reflection of constantly lowering barriers to recording and streaming, which once required tracks and businesses to leap over considerable technological hurdles. Today, live-streaming high-quality video and audio from all over the world is easier than ever, providing fans increasingly streamlined ways to drop in and out of races no matter where they find themselves.

A revolution in AR & VR

Most likely to stand as the complete game changers for how we engage with watching horse racing are augmented and virtual reality systems. These have shown immense potential in other sports, and while not fully embraced in any form of media, have demonstrated too many advantages to be ignored.

The simplest way this could be implemented is through better browser support on both AR and VR systems. Since you have control over the viewable area with this tech, it’s easy to reshape and resize anything available in a browser to a way you prefer. Many players already use this in cases like casino UK games. Here, titles like Fire Tale and Vampy Party can be extended to look the size of virtual movie screens, and the same could be true for horse racing streams. Since systems like these are equally available on computers and mobiles, they’d be the easiest way to engage with headset tech.

Virtual reality could take racing a step further by letting you stream as if you were seated directly in a front-row seat to the action. Meta has explored this technology in NBA, and Apple is furthering what’s possible with more investments yet to come.

Augmented reality could take a different tack, letting you digitally project a racetrack into an open space like a coffee table. Here’s you’d get a birds-eye view of the action, letting you focus on exactly what you wanted, and maybe pick up some patterns with the horses that you might miss otherwise.

As advanced as some of these ideas are, every one has existing precedents in some kind of sports. Their more complex integration into other sports like horse racing is just a matter of when, not if. The only questions are of how the audience will accept these new leaps forward, and what implications they might have for racing as a whole. If you’re interested, keep an eye out, and by 2030 you could be exploring the sport we all love in ways not conceivable just a few short decades ago.

Stratford played second fiddle to Champions Day At Ascot yesterday, but on a day to showcase the best the Flat can offer, there was plenty to get your teeth into at our penultimate fixture of 2025.

Ground conditions at home are holding back a flush of runners, with small fields occurring regularly even at well-watered summer courses. The long hot summer we’ve all enjoyed has its own repercussions for the sport, but this didn’t prevent Alistair Ralph from capitalizing on the opportunity to raise his seasonal total to 11 winners, courtesy of a double.

In stark contrast to the card at Auteuil, host to another double-up trainer in Dominic Bressou, Ralph’s take-home was a meagre £8,940, Bressou’s a splendid £79,941, but you work with the talent you have. In 11 year old Mix of Clover, he has a game and deserving winner of the 2m 5f Mid-Warwickshire Cleaning Supplies Handicap Chase, a 5 runner field that put the gelding back in the winners’ enclosure a year from his last visit there. No small success meantime though; Mix of Clover won twice last year, had been beaten a neck here by Kaproyale in May ’24, and has been running up to his rating all summer. Tom Broughton was in the plate to guide the winner home from Juggernaut, taking it up two out and making the best of his way home to score by 3 3/4l.

An overdue win after two runner-up berths for Prince de Juillet in the concluding 2m6f handicap hurdle ended the day satisfactorily for Ralph, Toby McCain Mitchell riding the winner to a 4l margin over Lady Henrietta.

The day began with one of those quirky races for which Stratford must be commended for innovation in race planning: a handicap hurdle for lady amateur riders, in which seven of the 11 runners were mounted by amateurs – an entertaining 60th birthday present for race sponsor Nigel Reeve, surrounded by a gaggle of aspirant lady jockeys.

Fergal O’Brien ran two in the race, and it was his less-fancied runner, Zenato, ridden by daughter Fern, who prevailed, after a titanic struggle with runner-up and arch-rival across the Withington valley where they eye each other’s gallops, Kim Bailey and Mat Nichol’s Gerard Mentor, who went down by a neck in the closest finish of the afternoon. It was just a 26th winner of the summer for O’Brien, who has a higher quality of animal nowadays after making his reputation with summer horses a few years back. Not so Fern O’Brien, this her sixth winner from just 20 rides, a noteworthy 30% strike rate.

O’Brien can consider himself unlucky not to have enjoyed a double after Absolutely Doyen hacked up for Paul Nicholls and Freddie Gingell in the Diesel Technic 10 Year Anniversary ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle. The Irish pointer has been knocking on the door recently, but was switched to Ditcheat 10 days ago. Nicholls plays a prominent role in the new Champions: Full Gallop docuseries, which launched earlier on the week.

7lb claimer Chad Bament rode a clever race in the 2m mares handicap hurdle on Getmetothemoon to give Anthony Honeyball some compensation for his second-placed finish with Juggernaut to Mix of Clover 30 minutes earlier. Racing handily, he jumped his way into contention over leader and favourite Seeyouinmydreams to deny Nicholls a second winner, the distance 2 1/4l.

Basilette made it fifth time lucky at Stratford when finally getting her head in front in the 2m Jaxon Daiquiri’s First Year Handicap Hurdle. Form figures reading 4232 in previous runs here had spelt a summer of frustration for trainer Seamus Mullins, but persistence will out. 3lb claimer Daniel Samson made no mistake this time around to win by 2 1/4l.

Tedwin Hills put a series of changes of stable behind him to win for the first time in two years in the second chase of the day, a handicap over 2m6f. The winner was prominent from the off, led after the third, and never troubled favourite backers thereafter, 8 1/2l to the good at the line for James Bowen and Warren Greatrex.

Stratford-upon-Avon has long been a cherished venue for National Hunt racing, drawing crowds who enjoy the rush of live races over fences, the picturesque Warwickshire countryside, the sound of hooves on turf, and a fiendishly good day out. But with the accelerating shift in how people engage with sport and betting, Stratford and similar racecourses, which host some of the biggest races in the calendar, are facing new challenges and opportunities from the digital side of the industry.

From live races to remote wagers

Traditionally, racegoers at Stratford place bets on the course, soak up the atmosphere, and settle into the excitement of race day. Now, many more fans are following races from their phones, tablets, or streaming platforms, and placing wagers online long before they ever arrive at the track. You only have to see the gradual withering away of the traditional betting ring to know change is already here.

These shifts have been driven by technology, convenience, and broader changes in regulation and access. The betting industry’s recent debates over harmonising remote betting taxes, including proposals to raise the tax on horse racing to the same rate that applies to many online gaming operators, illustrate how intertwined live racing and online betting have become. Change, however, as always, is both a threat and an opportunity.

What online trends suggest

Online betting platforms have brought many innovations: instant odds updates, live streaming, user interfaces tailored for mobile use, and even cross-promotion with other forms of digital gaming. For example, some bettors who enjoy sports betting also look for entertainment in more casino-style games.

In this landscape, roulette online gaming often stands out. Though different in its core mechanics, roulette’s appeal, from the spinning wheel to fluctuating odds, echoes some of what gamblers find in horse racing betting. For racecourses like Stratford, observing how casino and roulette online gaming platforms engage customers can offer useful insights into user experience, marketing, and retention.

Some in racing consider online games an aberration, and would gladly see an increase in taxation on this form of gambling. But as the US model shows, in states where slots have been heavily taxed, the implications for racing are not favourable.

Challenges for live racing

That said, the traditions of live racing bring unique challenges. Racecourses have overhead costs: maintaining track quality, hosting facilities, and providing live racing staff. When more betting and audience attention shift online, the revenue models for live tracks can be under pressure, especially if regulatory changes (like increased duties on remote betting) cut into margins. Stratford, with its smaller scale compared to big metropolitan courses, needs to be nimble in adapting to these shifts.

Opportunities at Stratford

Still, there are positive angles. Stratford can build on its strong local identity and live experience to offer hybrid engagement: live streaming of races, partnerships with betting platforms that allow remote punters to feel connected, or even creating exclusive digital content (e.g. behind-the-scenes video, race previews, a look at some of the fastest race horses to have appeared on the track) that complements the live action.

Observing how online roulette gaming operators craft immersive visuals, courtesy features, or loyalty mechanics can help live racing tracks think of ways to enhance the spectator and betting experience beyond just the physical race.

Racecourses like Stratford must stay informed, adaptive, and innovative. Live racing still offers something that online and casino-style platforms can’t replicate: the atmosphere, the community, and the visceral thrill. But to thrive, live tracks must integrate the best of online engagement without losing what makes them special.

Monday at Stratford celebrated the return of two riders out of the limelight since April. Nico de Boinville picked up a single ride for the Twiston-Davies yard, whilst Jonjo O’Neill rode for his father.

Injury is the bane of every Jump jockey’s life, abruptly shutting down your monthly income, and surrendering your rides to others keen to capitalize on the vacant slot. De Boinville, first jockey to Nicky Henderson at Seven Barrows, has been out of action since a fall at Plumpton on Easter Monday which injured his spine and neck. It’s been a tortuous rehabilitation process, made easier by the prospect of plum rides like Constitution Hill, who will likely make his return in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle at the end of November. This soft return aboard a chance ride for Willy & Nigel Twiston-Davies’ The Expensive One, was an ideal comeback, a pillar to post victory in the Dragonbet Born from the Betting Ring Novices’ Handicap Hurdle, 2 1/2l ahead of Sarah Humphrey’s Fourtowns. Whilst there’s nothing to follow through on at Ludlow on Wednesday, Chepstow’s Season Opener is sure to offer some choicier titbits to blow away the cobwebs.

A dream return didn’t quite happen for Jonjo O’Neill Jnr, off for a similar timeframe since the bet365 Gold Cup that concluded the season in late April. Aggravation to a back injury that had first occurred in 2018 has meant a summer of rehab and body building rather than picking up the regular rides from Jackdaws Castle over the summer months. The J P McManus-owned Trapista hadn’t read the script, and wasn’t able to quicken from the last, a full 3f out following the omission of the final hurdle in the straight, and finished third to Jonathan Burke on the Fergal O’Brien-trained Sleeping Satellite, breaking his maiden chase tag for his new-ish trainer at the seventh attempt.

Henry Oliver celebrated the turn of the month with a 616/1 double in the Dragonbet-sponsored juvenile hurdle and the bumper. Africa Charm, fresh from Richard Hannon’s Wiltshire yard, appreciated the longer trip of 2 miles and some hurdles, and showed good speed to pick off the free-running James Owen-trained Stardrop, yet another Gredley family horse sure to make his mark in Jump circles following the news that Derby second Ambiente Friendly is to go hurdling. Lee Edwards made the most of the opportunity to land his fifth winner of the term.

Kielan Woods was the man in the plate for the second leg of the Oliver double, a comfortable 7 1/2l stroll in the bumper that smacks of running up a sequence.

Newmarket trainer Jack Jones is enjoying a hot streak presently under both codes, and availed himself of the champion jockey’s availability to make it 4 winners from 6 Jumps runners this term in the 2m novice hurdle. The five year old Mr McLoughlan looks like he could defy a penalty to land a hattrick next time out, whilst Bowen is showing rivals a clean pair of heels, this his 98th winner from 351 rides already since the start of May.

Ben Pauling is another who looks to have turned the taps on from the start of the month. In perhaps not the most competitive of handicap chases, his Just Chasing May under Ben Jones sauntered away to a 7l victory in the 2m 6f chase, making form figures for October of 1-2-3-1 for Pauling.

The day had begun with a boys’ race where Pauling’s betty’s Tiara had to give best to Donald McCain’s Serious Chat under Charlie Maggs, now riding out his last 3lb. The 6 year old may not be the highest rated horse you’ll see, but he lacks nothing in gameness, this his fourth victory since joining McCain 13 months ago.

The segment of British gambling that’s taking place in the digital space and over digital devices continues to grow. According to the UK Gambling Commission, per their most recent findings, the total gross gambling yield (GGY) for remote casino, betting, and bingo continues to grow.

Compared to the previous report, there was a 6.9 per cent increase, landing the sector on £6.9 billion. That’s 60 per cent of the industry’s total GGY over the same reporting window. People are increasingly accustomed to turning to screens for their gambling.

So, perhaps it won’t come as a surprise that gambling hubs are looking to expand their digital options to become more appealing to punters and even newcomers. Perhaps it’s this angle that’s seen the classic view of bookies calling odds and taking bets at the track now include automatic betting terminals.

Ascot brings in digital betting terminals

Without a shadow of the doubt, Ascot is the most iconic racecourse in the country, hosting a colossus of an annual festival that never fails to draw in punters and viewers. Royal Ascot transcends the sport, holding a traditional place on the calendar that welcomes people far beyond those in the know about horse form and such.

So, perhaps it’s fitting that the meet would be among the first of the major ones to roll out new self-service electronic terminals. Rolled out in June 2025 during Royal Ascot, the terminals were described as being akin to the ordering systems you now see at many fast-food restaurants.

Clearly angled at increasing the accessibility of betting at the event, the betting ranges were relatively tight. The maximum wager permitted was £100, while the range of bets on offer was much smaller than those that could be placed at a traditional bookie or at the pools.

For many, particularly with betting and viewing available online, handing bets over to an in-person bookie after finding your preferred odds and then, maybe, taking back some cash later is a highlight of the experience. Still, the terminals do take away the experience that can come with queuing and then placing bets with a person.

Following digital evolution

As noted at the top of the page, the remote or digital segment of gambling in the UK now makes up well over half of the gross gambling yield and continues to grow. Of the £6.9 billion total, £2.4 billion came by way of remote sports betting, with football in the lead at £1.1 billion and then horse racing at £771.1 million.

It shows how much the audience has gravitated to digital platforms for betting, but as those figures show, there’s more interest in remote casino play. This may be down to the advancements made to the experience compared to the physical format. Across the huge collection of video slots available online, you can see there’s now a vast range of options available. 

Where once there were fruit machines primarily leaning into the classic theme, triple sevens, and whatnot, online video slots now span all kinds of themes and have developed a massive range of different features and mechanics. The likes of multi-million progressive jackpots and Megaways couldn’t get to their current scale in machines.

It’s this angle that has more people looking to digital devices for betting. The sheer range of options based on any and all statistical outcomes is vast online. With an in-person bookmaker at sports like football, you can see where there’d be limitations in this regard. So, that just adds to the digital betting appeal.

Ascot’s move to bring in a digital betting terminal may defy the traditional experience, but it certainly follows the trend of the industry, and will prove useful to more nascent bettors.

If it’s happening at Ascot, you can be sure others will follow their lead. How long before this arrives in rural Warwickshire? Sooner than you might imagine, I suspect.

Have horses, will travel. This bastardisation of a well-known phrase barely covers the appetite for winners of Newmarket’s James Owen, who capped last week’s $3.5m Nashville Derby win with Wimbledon Hawkeye at Kentucky Downs with a short-priced double at Stratford on Saturday.

The globe-trotting trainer is chalking up winners at every level of the sport, and the stable’s strength allows him to draw on the best riders too: Frankie Dettori for Kentucky, and Sean Bowen here for his jumpers.

Sad to say, his Stratford achievement did not set ripples in the news, hardly helped by the marginalisation of the fixture to a teatime start, another innovation to extend the betting cycle over more hours. One wonders sometimes where this will end: hopefully not in tears, as proved the case with afternoon greyhound racing. Stratford’s racing regrettably rarely registers in media beyond Racing TV.

Enough of politics for one paragraph however. A thriving yard can turn over horses readily enough if they don’t make the cut. Hence, the master of Green Ridge Stables in Newmarket despatched two runners in the opening conditionals’ seller, and it was the more fancied of the two, Chillhi, who landed the odds with a comfortable 17l win, Nathan Howie in the plate, over favourite Gavin, trained by Sean’s elder brother Mickey Bowen. The stable’s second runner, Laser Focus, did his sire’s reputation (Sea the Stars) no good in finishing a distant 38l fourth. Both returned home as there was no bid for the winner.

Hamlet’s Night looks the right type of horse for the town where the Famous Bard lived, and the four year old maiden, recently switched from Daniel and Claire Kubler, evidently thought so too, following up in good style in the Genair Maiden Hurdle under champion rider Sean Bowen to capitalize on some promise shown at Cartmel a fortnight ago. the 8l margin over second placed Test The Market suggests he can win again in orthodox novice company.

Bowen was back in the winner’s berth an hour later with the David Rees – trained Radharc Na Slaine, who is both a commentator’s challenge to pronounce, and a ride that needs the sort of forcefulness that earned Bowen his reputation. Still only third before the final fence in the Genair Handicap Chase, he was driven to lead just before the line, winning by a neck from Kielan Woods on Gone In Sixty. Winning trainer, Welshman David Rees has a small stable rarely making the news; this was an opening winner fro the term.

The same description can’t be applied to Alistair Ralph, regularly among the winners at Stratford, and again on Saturday in the feature Wynchwood Handicap Chase with 7/2 shot In The Air, ridden by Ciaran Gethings. Three of the stable’s 8 winners this term have been at Stratford, and this latest continued to frustrate Alan King, who has placed Finest View to win three times this summer, including here in July, before a bout of seconditis, this time by 3 1/4l. They say weight stops a train, although top weight Finest View might be flattered by the comparison. He may need the handicapper to show some leniency or re-route through conditions races which are sparing at this level in the UK at least.

Ralph was back in the frame an hour later when Barely Famous proved a distant third to the Ben Case – trained Belles Benefit in the now standard issue Mares Handicap Hurdle. Harry Bannister was allowed a bloodless victory, 10l clear of second placed Mother Ship, one of several runners sent over by Shark Hanlon, who is priming Hewick for another tilt at Far Hills in October. These Stratford forays have been a useful grounding for son Paddy.

Another struggling to find the winning thread is Seamus Mullins’ Basillette, who came off second best again in the closing 2m handicap hurdle, this time to Hill Station, kept handy throughout by claimer Luke Scott, to pick off this Class 5 hurdle, and in so doing, break his maiden at the 15th attempt for Richard Newland and Jamie Insole, a 7th winner of the nascent Jumps season for them, and a reminder their emphasis is more and more directed toward the flat.

Horse racing in the United Kingdom and Europe follows a rhythm that incorporates heritage, athleticism, and spectacle. The year moves in cycles, beginning with the roar of the spring jumps season and closing with the elegance of autumn’s flat racing finale.

Each month brings fresh excitement, from the drama of steeplechases that test courage and stamina to the flat contests that showcase speed and breeding excellence.

For fans who follow the sport across borders, the annual calendar is more than a series of events. It is a living tradition that provides continuity, community, and anticipation year after year.

The Drama of the Jumps: the Cheltenham Festival

The Cheltenham Festival, held every March in Gloucestershire, is the crown jewel of the jumps season in the UK and across all jumping jurisdictions. Over four days, the atmosphere builds as fans crowd the famous grandstands, culminating in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Horses and jockeys who succeed at Cheltenham earn legendary status, joining a roll of honour that stretches back generations. The 2025 edition concluded in March, but memories of the epic duels on the track still resonate with fans who were lucky enough to witness them.

Eyes are already turning toward March 2026, when the Festival will once again mark the true arrival of spring racing. At this stage of a nascent Jumps season, the aspiration of every trainer is for one or more horses good enough to take their place at Cheltenham.

Aintree Grand National: racing’s most famous test

April brings the Grand National at Aintree, one of the most iconic sporting spectacles in the world. The fences of this race, from Becher’s Brook to The Chair, have defined careers and created legends.

Every running of the National captures the imagination of millions, many of whom may not watch another horse race all year. The 2025 renewal delivered the familiar drama and unpredictability, as underdogs and favourites alike tested their luck over four and a half miles. There are races as long as the National, but none so competitive.

With the 2026 edition set for early April, anticipation is already building for another thrilling contest that will dominate global headlines and make one rider a household name.

Opening the Flat Season: Newmarket Guineas Weekend

As spring matures, the flat season opens with the QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket. Known as the “Home of Racing,” Newmarket’s Rowley Mile plays host to the first two Classics of the season, the 2000 Guineas and the 1000 Guineas.

These races shape the narrative of the flat season, introducing three-year-olds with the potential to become champions. The 2025 Guineas crowned new stars in early May and set the stage for an exciting summer on the turf.

For fans who track these young thoroughbreds as they progress from Newmarket to Epsom and beyond, platforms that allow them to bet on horse racing provide a natural extension of their passion. These platforms provide another layer of excitement to proceedings and offer a seamless way to remain engaged with the season’s unfolding story.

The Epsom Derby: the crown jewel for three year old colts

The Betfred Derby Festival at Epsom Downs remains one of the most prestigious events in the world, despite a plethora of copycat Derbies across the globe. The Derby Stakes, run over the undulating course in early June, tests not only speed and stamina but also balance and temperament.

Generations of racing enthusiasts have placed the Derby at the pinnacle of the sport, regarding it as the ultimate challenge for three-year-old colts. The 2025 edition offered another thrilling chapter, as crowds filled Epsom’s hillsides to watch history unfold.

Looking ahead, the 2026 Derby will once again attract international attention and continue its role as the benchmark for greatness, where a winning colt can secure his position to dominate a bloodline for a generation.

Royal Ascot: pomp and pageantry on racing’s grandest stage

No sporting occasion combines elegance and competition quite like Royal Ascot. Held every June, the five-day festival is a celebration of fashion, society, and racing excellence.

The 2025 meeting brought together elite horses from across the globe to compete for prestige in races such as the Gold Cup, the King’s Stand Stakes, and the St James’s Palace Stakes. Americans and Australians, used to running for larger stakes, still find the allure of Ascot undeniable.

Attendance topped hundreds of thousands, with the Royal Family maintaining their traditional presence. Royal Ascot has already concluded this year, but its highlights remain vivid in the memory. The 2026 edition promises another chapter of glamour and high-class sport. It’s five days no self-respecting racing fan can ignore.

Summer spectacles: Goodwood, York & Doncaster

The summer months deliver a trio of outstanding racing festivals that define the heart of the flat season. Goodwood, often called “Glorious Goodwood,” dazzled in late July and early August with its stunning Sussex Downs backdrop and the prestigious Sussex Stakes.

The Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York closed only days ago in late August, thrilling fans with its famous handicap and Group I action. Both festivals highlighted the blend of tradition and innovation that keeps racing fresh for new generations.

The season now shifts its focus to Doncaster, where the Betfred St Leger Festival will open in mid-September. The St Leger, the oldest of the Classics, remains a historic test of stamina and class, marking the final chapter in the series of five British Classics. Enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting its return in just a few weeks.

Europe’s Showpiece: the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

Autumn belongs to Paris and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Longchamp Racecourse hosts this Group I contest that is widely regarded as the most prestigious turf race in the world. Scheduled for early October, the 2025 Arc looms as the climax of the European season.

It draws the very best horses, trainers, and jockeys from across the globe, competing over 2,400 metres for one of the richest purses in racing. Beyond the competition, the Arc weekend is a festival of culture and fashion, with fans from every continent gathering to witness history.

Victory in the Arc elevates a horse to immortality, guarantees a lucrative career at stud, and the 2025 edition promises to be no exception.

The heartbeat of the Racing Calendar

The 2025 racing year has already provided unforgettable moments, from the roars of Cheltenham in March to the pageantry of Royal Ascot in June. The season’s narrative continues with the St Leger in September and will crescendo with the Arc in October.

These events are more than fixtures on a calendar. They are milestones that connect fans across borders, linking tradition with anticipation. Every racecourse, from Cheltenham’s hills to Longchamp’s Parisian elegance, adds its unique rhythm to a symphony that defines the sport.

For racing enthusiasts, following this calendar is not only about witnessing competition but also about celebrating heritage, culture, and the enduring bond between horse and human.

£25,000 races aren’t two a penny in Stratford’s calendar, particularly for higher rated horses. But even weight stops a train, and so it turned out on Monday when favourite and top weight Arclight, successful here is a similar contest a month ago, had to play second fiddle to a horse rated 26lbs his junior at the bottom of the handicap.

The Brian & Sheila Vaughan Memorial Handicap Chase was the race for seven year old Magistrato, fit as a flea and keen as mustard for trainer Deborah Cole and rider Ben Jones, who made his intent very clear from the off, setting off keenly in front and staying there throughout, to win by 11l.

Magistrato may be a cast-off from the Paul Nicholls stable, but he’s proved great value for owners the D & s Partnership, this being his third chase win in 15 outings, just three of which he’s failed to reach the frame. He may not be an improving type, but rated 108, there are more races to win with his attitude and with clever placing.

Sadly, however, he was one of just 43 runners spread across 7 races on Monday’s card. Just two races made full each way betting.

That won’t have worried Shark Hanlon, who made the 350 mile journey from Carlow for the opening 3 runner D & H Novices Limited Handicap Chase with Topgun Simmy. Ridden by son Paddy, the six year old wasn’t foot perfect, but tracked the field in rear until 3 out, when making his move. The opposition, which included Ballintubber Boy, a winner of 7 of his 16 hurdle starts but yet to score over fences, was spent, allowing Hanlon jnr a comfortable 3 1/4l win to get punters off to a good start.

A paltry 4 runners faced the starter for the 2m 6f Novices hurdle, especially for the 1,000 or so Racing TV club members who were able to take advantage of free entry. Favouritism vied between Southwell winner Don Virginia and Jamie Snowden’s Knights Affair, and it was the latter who prevailed after an extended tussle, a nose separating them at the line. Neither won marks for jumping fluency however, which might find them out in a larger field with a faster pace.

A somewhat easier task fell to Varinia, 7l winner of the George & Dragon Handicap Hurdle that followed. A pile-up at the first conspired to reduce the 8 runner field by 2 when the Kim Bailey – trained Faerie Cutlass tried to refuse at the first, hampering three others, including the winner and Miz Klimt, who unseated Sean Grantham.

Varinia evidently appreciates a sharp track, her best previous form at Fakenham. She was a second winner from just 14 runners for Stuart Edmunds, who is normally well stocked for summer jumpers.

Sean Bowen rode the first of two winners in the next, the National Racehorse Week August 23 – 31 Handicap Hurdle. in 2024, 100 stables opened their doors for over 200 separate events, and this year is proving just as popular. Readers long in the tooth will recall the popularity of David Nicholson’s annual open day at Condicote then Jackdaws Castle. This modern day brainchild of trainer Richard Phillips is a hugely popular alternative details of which can be found here.

Winning trainer James Owen is not among those participating, but given the frequency of winners emanating from his yard, this is not such a big thing. Jet Patrol, opening his account on a first run following a transfer from Sandy Johnson, provided the Newmarket yard’s 34th jumps winner of this latest term, to which you should add a further 70+ flat winners. This is a machine, and it’s only a matter of time before Owen is knocking on the door of the Jumps Championship.

Jet Patrol saw off 10 other rivals, including Turpin Gold, whose rider Stan Sheppard might be forgiven for thinking he had the race in the bag with a clear lead around the final bend, only to see Bowen reeling him in half a furlong out, and winning going away.

Bowen showed why he is the leading rider in the final contest, a poorly filled bumper, in which he rode 2/7 favourite Way Maker for brother Mickey. In the vanguard throughout, he was headed by Neil King’s Victors Spirit, but fought back to win by a neck on the line.

Eight year old point-to-Point winner My Girl Katie has showed good promise on her promotion to Rules racing, with two wins and a second in four outings to date for Grace Harris. She never gave favourite backers cause for concern in the 3m 3f handicap chase, making her move from the rear as they approached the last, and accelerating away to win by 9 1/2l under Conor Ring.