Author: Peter McNeile

The 65th running of the Stratford Foxhunter, sponsored by Pertemps Network, produced a result worthy of the point-to-point community it supports, when What A Glance produced a good turn of foot at the last to win for Shropshire owner Ann Taylor and her grandson Tom Britten, who trains the nine year old. Ridden by Murray Dodds, a second winner in as many days for him, the gelding was produced between horses at the last, having been handy throughout.

The three circuits of Stratford gave plenty of opportunity for jumping errors, but this experienced field included winners of some of the sport’s best known hunters’ events, including Premier Magic, winner of the 2023 Cheltenham Foxhunter, and Law of Gold, winner of this event in 2021, and runner-up to stablemate Vaucelet the following year. The Mullins – trained Annamix was well fancied, not least as stablemate Onlyamatteroftime had won in a hack canter at Warwick 24 hours earlier.

Five out, Dale Peters made the best of his way home, sending Law of Gold into a 2l advantage over favourite Fairly Famous, with the winner and Lift Me Up close behind. Go On Chez blundered at the third last but recovered to rejoin the back of the main group at the turn, the rest spent.

Britten will look forward to Cheltenham 2025 after benchmarking his horse against Premier Magic and Annamix.

Thirty minutes earlier, it had been the moment for one of Pointing’s staunchest supporters, Diana Williams, to step forward and receive the John Corbett Cup for the success of previous course winner Forest Chimes in the pointtopoint.co.uk Novices Champion Hunters Chase. Recent Cheltenham winner Iskander Pecos was sent off favourite, but found Stratford’s bends and faster ground a bit too sharp. Forest Chimes, under Darren Andrews, was able to take up the lead at the last in the back straight, and always had enough in hand to keep Iskander Pecos at bay. Philip Rowley has a notable record in the hunter chase division.

Only 5 went to post for the Ladies Open Hunters’ Final, in what looked a face-off between 2023 Aintree Foxhunter winner Famous Clermont and young pretender Imperial Esprit, recent winner at Edgcote. Famous Clermont has stuck to point-to-points until this race this season, but evidently lost none of his zest for racing. Taking a keen hold, he was prominent from flagfall, taking it up at the 6th of the 17 fences., and he always had the measure of the younger Imperial Esprit. It would be doing newly crowned lady point-to-point champion rider Izzie Marshall a disservice to say she was run away with, but it turned into something of an armchair ride, albeit rather an active armchair!

Marshall had already visited the winner’s enclosure to start the evening in the Jumping For Fun Restricted Hunters event on Alan Hill’s Learntalot, although it required the judge to decide the winner in a blistering finish involving Well P and the fast-finishing Padjoes Legacy. It transpired Learnalot had held on by a head, Well P a further 3/4l behind in third. Another stride would have produced a different result.

Peter Wright has been a force for good in leading the sport’s amateur division over the past 6 years, including the small matter of a pandemic and the wettest winter on record. His achievement ws recorded in the Peter Wright Over & Out Hunters Chase, the only handicap in the sport. David Kemp is always a force to be reckoned with at this fixture, and his Rebel Dawn Rising was sent off 100/30 favourite but came off a length worse to Envious Editor, whose last visit here had been a remote 5th in the Ladies Final in ’23. His outings have been sparse this winter, limited to a single winning run at Hexham, but that freshness showed in a race where he picked off the favourite at the last and made every pound of the 12lb he was receiving count. The 1l distance at the line was comfortable enough for young rider Henry Crow and his mother Caroline, and he should continue to visit the winner’s enclosure at this level for a year or two yet.

Shortest race of the evening, the White Swan Hotel Stratford Hunters over 2m, saw Fier Jaguen bounce out of the gate to make the running for Freddie Mitchell, substituting for the suspended Bradley Gibbs, surviving a dramatic blunder at the water. Four out, no more than 4l would have covered all bar one of the runners, as they all lined up to take on the leader.

Last year’s winner Kaproyale looked to have it all to do as they straightened up, Mix of Clover, Missed Tee and Cat Tiger having stolen a length or two. Charlie Case drove Kaproyale between horses to win in another judge-confirmed finish, over Cat Tiger and Mix of Clover, with distance of a nose and a neck. Phew.

 A fascinating evening awaits pointing fans as Stratford sees out this most interrupted of Point-to-Point seasons on Friday evening, with a whole card dedicated to the amateur cadre. 

The feature Pertemps Network Stratford Foxhunter Chase is graced by the presence of Aintree Foxhunter third Annamix, bidding to maintain the momentum of Willie Mullins in the British Trainers’ Championship. Annamix is rated just 2lb ahead of other runners, 2023 Cheltenham Foxhunter winner Premier Magic and Gina Ellis trained Fairly Famous, who downed the former at the Cheltenham Hunters’ evening at the start of the month. 

Unbeaten this Spring is Kelso and Ludlow winner Go On Chez, trained by former riders, now turned training partnership, Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, on the face of it with a little to find. However, both his starts this Spring have been untroubled victories, so he has yet to be tested and might spring a surprise.

Also unexposed is What A Glance, trained by Tom Britten, but he has a little to find on Stratford form on a softer surface in late April. 

The field is completed by Lift Me Up, well beaten by Fairly Famous at Cheltenham, and Law of Gold,  second in this race in 2022, but pulled up last year. Whilst he is twice a winner  at High Easter this spring, his star may be on the wane. 

This time last year, Fiona Needham made the long trek from north Yorkshire to win the pointtopoint.co.uk John Corbett Cup, aka the novice championship, with Sine Nomine. A more select field awaits the starter on this occasion, headed by Hannah Roach’s Iskander Pekos, who has graduated from his Leicester maiden success under Rules to consecutive successes at Ludlow over 2m4f and Cheltenham at intermediate level earlier in the month. He will start a warm favourite to see off the Rowley – trained Forest Chimes, successful here in February and a recent winner at Eyton, and Go Go Geronimo, trained by Kelly Morgan, who comes here fresh from a 3 1/2l victory over Camdonian at Charm Park earlier in the month. 

You can never rule out runners from the Ellis stable, and Master Templar was staying on when 3 1/2l behind Gabiorot in the four miler at the Cheltenham Hunters’ evening. Stratford’s tight turns are a different kettle of fish however. 

Bradley Gibbs runs Dur Al Aghaidh, a recent acquisition from Ireland. Whilst a winner at Boulta last November, recent form has been patchy, so a watching brief may be advised.

The other race of note is the Ladies Open Championship Final, in which just 5 are declared. Famous Clermont has run well this Spring without hitting the heights of his Aintree Foxhunter triumph of April ’23, but he found the Champion Hunters’ at Punchestown rather too hot at the start of the month. At his best, he should have the beating of the other four, who include Shantou Flyer, who ran a 20l sixth to Sine Nomine at the Festival, and comes here on a hattrick after wins at South Hill and Cothelstone. Olive Nicholls takes the ride.

Also on a hattrick is Imperial Esprit after wins at Mollington and Edgcote, but he is facing higher-rated competition for the first time. The field is made up by Captain Biggles, three times the bridesmaid in his last 3 contests, with little reason to suggest he can go one place better here.

It can’t be easy recruiting owners in the furthest reaches of South Wales where Rebecca Curtis plies her trade, but talent will out, they say, and the Pembrokeshire trainer with perhaps the most picturesque gallops in the country, has enjoyed success at the highest level, with no less than five Cheltenham Festival winners.

The Festival is a long way away from a May Sunday at Stratford, but proof of concept is alive and kicking after The Boola Boss made all under Paul O’Brien to win the feature William Hill Extra Place races Handicap Chase yesterday by 8l. Setting off in front, he was briefly challenged by Henry Daly’s Petty Cash, but pulled out extra to put the 2m 6f contest out of doubt. He’s likely to be rested now until the autumn.

The Curtis stable is just 10 miles away from Peter Bowen, a Welsh powerhouse that, injury allowing, would likely have propelled son Sean to his first Jockeys’ Championship in ’23-24. Take nothing away from the stylish Harry Cobden, but Bowen’s January layoff was critical in allowing the Somerset rider to catch up.

The energetic Bowen jnr is wasting no time in pressing on and a double yesterday at Stratford brought his tally to 8 already. Gary Hanmer is a man to respect around the summer tracks, and punters latched on to 2/7 favourite Minella Rescue in the 2m6f novices hurdle on the back of a 4 1/2l third in a higher class race at Cheltenham last month. It looked a textbook ride for Bowen as he took close order two out, challenged for the lead approaching the last and won going away by a 2l that could have been a great deal more.

A half hour later, he was back in the Winner’s Enclosure with Tom Gretton’s Fancy Stuff after a facile 8l victory in the Mares’ Handicap Chase. Clear after two out, this was a straightforward route to earning his £214.63 riding fee. Gretton’s runners are to be noted currently. Two winners from just 7 runners gives him a 29% strike rate.

The day had begun in warm sunshine with a competent display from Jamie Snowden’s Dusky Days, earning a maiden chase victory in the William Hill Epic Value Novices Handicap Chase from Barest of Margins, who deserves a short head victory on name credentials alone. Second here in a handicap hurdle 13 months ago, he was sent chasing shortly afterwards. Gavin Sheehan had something in hand with a winner who was stretching his advantage with every stride at the line.

Georgie Nicholls evidently learnt a thing or two during her time with ex Paul. Now training under her own name around Wantage, she teamed up with Lorcan Williams to deny Rebecca Curtis a double when 7 year old Saint Bibiana had enough up her sleeve to outpoint4/1 favourite Bridget Mary. A length down at the last, she found some speed to put 3l between her and the runner-up by the line. There was a race for the minor placings, Curtis’ charge just getting the better of fellow Welshman, David Brace’s Newmill Getaway by a neck.

No bumper would be complete at Stratford without the introduction of another youngster from the Twiston-Davies centre of excellence. If Georgie Nicholls had been hopeful of a double with Chattamento in the concluding bumper, she was swiftly disabused. Debutant Little Watson, running in Twiston-Davies colours, made pretty much all, and kept on well to win by 2 1/2l from the aforementioned Nicholls runner. again, the race was for the minor placings, Fergal O’Brien’s Hola Hermosa losing out by a neck for second.

Fine weather graced Stratford’s first evening fixture on Thursday but the advent of Spring sunshine had yet to make an impact on ground conditions, described as good to soft in places. Owners and trainers seeking an early showing in the Championship rankings were quick to respond with 62 runners facing the starter in 7 contests.

The best finish of the day took place in the Racing TV members Night Novices Handicap Chase, and viewers who didn’t take up the offer to attend were given a gripping finish by the 6 runners with just 8 chase starts between them. The running order barely changed throughout, with Lightening Mahler cutting out the running, and eventual winner Golfe Claire handy in fourth. Three out, you would have been hard-pressed to put runner-up Watergrange Jack in the finish, but all changed as they exited the final bend.

Sam Twiston-Davies’ persistence on the Mulholland-trained Watergrange Jack forced him into contention between horses, with Lightening Mahler setting sail for home, and Golfe Claire and Twiston-Davies apparently fighting out second place. A hundred yards from the line, Watergrange Jack got his head in front, but was run out of it by the Phil Kirby-trained Golfe Claire to win by a neck – the sort of finish that Stratford regulars love.

Dr Richard Newland and new training partner Jamie Insole have been outspoken in defending smaller British trainers from Irish invaders, suggesting some races should be restricted to British-based handlers. The idea hasn’t stopped them from sourcing horses further afield themselves, and they introduced a new recruit in Wales, a 1 3/4l winner of the opening maiden hurdle. Wales is a German-bred, winner of two middle distance races in Hanover for Andreas Wohler. The Germans have an excellent record of breeding stayers.

Sixth placed Get The Value was the subject of some scrutiny in the Stewards’ Room, for some apparent tender handling before running on in the final stages. Explanations from rider Ben Poste and trainer John O’Shea were noted.

The Stewards were busy again 40 minutes later when assessing an apparent improvement in form of No More No, 2 1/4l winner trained by Lawney Hill of division one of the novices’ handicap hurdle. No More No hasn’t troubled the judge in six previous races over hurdles and in point-to-points, but the application of a visor seemed to galvanize the 5 year old into action under Richard Patrick. The stewards weren’t wholly convinced and noted the explanation: code for keeping the horse under scrutiny in future runs.

The remainder of the evening was very much a victory for the ladies changing room as Tabitha Worsley, Isabel Williams and Lilly Pinchin each made their mark. Much has been made of Bryony Frost’s departure to France in the absence of a book of regular rides here. Nevertheless, there is a growing cadre of women riders who are making their presence felt, and who offer just as good value in the plate as their male counterparts.

Worsley’s winner was no great surprise to punters, who latched on to previous Stratford winner Bernard in the second division of the novices handicap hurdle to send the 8 year old gelding off 11/8 favourite. Leading on the bend, the Mel Rowley – trained winner always had the edge on Inspector Lynley in second, ensuring a frustrating evening of seconds for Neil Mulholland.

Isabel Williams gets plenty of opportunities for her father Evan, and the latest was Tour Ovalie in the Mares Handicap Hurdle. Twice second in March and April at Hereford, she finally found the winning habit with a promising burst of speed from the bend, facilitated by the omission of the final hurdle. Williams has 63 winners to her name, just 8 off losing her claim.

Lilly Pinchin must now be the senior British rider in the girls’ changing room, and she teamed up well with Gary Hanmer to win the first division of the 2m 2f Novices Handicap Hurdle with commentator’s tongue twister Fandabidozi, who stayed on well to beat Amalfi Bay and The Sad Shepherd one length and a neck respectively.

The second division went to Kayley Woollacott’s Our Dylan, a winner at Hereford last month, and belatedly finding the sweet spot after 24 starts. Ben Godfrey has been in the plate for both winning rides.

After the wettest Spring any of us can remember, we really shouldn’t complain about seeing the sun, but the bright light made a pig’s ear of the NH Racing Club likes Cotswold Larder Handicap Chase, with 3 fences in the straight omitted, reducing the obstacle count from 17 to 10. Village Master made this race a hat-trick after successes at Hereford and Warwick, under James Bowen, to send punters home happy with a 6/4 favourite. There have been some lean years recently for trainer Warren Greatrex, but on his current form, you oppose him at your peril. Three winners from 8 runners is no mean record, even at this stage of the year.

It’s On The Line asserted his credentials to be the best hunter chaser in Britain & Ireland in another narrowly won victory in the Event Power Champion Hunters’ Chase at the Punchestown Festival on Friday. 

The J P McManus owned gelding is, to all intents and purposes, a professionally trained horse, in the care of Emmet Mullins, and ridden by Derek O’Connor, the leading Irish amateur. However, he’s a horse that makes life hard for himself, and is aptly named.

Re-opposing from Cheltenham in this race were Ferns Hill, Billaway and Samcro, with Famous Clermont the sole British contender. Second only to Sine Nomine in the Cheltenham Foxhunters, It’s On The Line had gone one better at Aintree, only asserting over Benny’s Hill in the last half furlong, enough to be sent off 6/4 favourite here. Vaucelet, winner and runner-up in each of the last two renewals of Stratford’s Pertemps Network Foxhunter, was also in the field.

In murky conditions and in demanding ground that encouraged 5 of the 14 runners to pull up, Samcro led largely unchallenged for the first two-thirds of the race, before being joined by Famous Clermont, under James King from the 9th fence. It’s On The Line remained in touch, some 5l adrift as the two leaders slugged it out in front.

Samcro was first to crack, allowing Famous Clermont to take up the running, but as they turned in, Lifetime Ambition hoved into view with the favourite, and two out, any one of the three might have won. Lifetime Ambition got away from the last in front, but Derek O’Connor showed why he is the leading amateur, conjuring up a tremendous burst of finishing speed to assert 100 yards from the post. the winning distance of 1 3/4l was growing with every stride.

Emmet Mullins told RTE, “He doesn’t make life easy but Derek has the trick to him. Early doors it wasn’t great as Derek had to make a move to get him off the inside and get him travelling.

“I was very happy the whole way around until the third last and there was a bit of a panic when Lifetime Ambition went on. Once he got over the second last I was always fairly confident he was going to get him back.”

O’Connor added, “He’s an amazing horse. He’s just doing enough to stay alive all the time but every time you ask him, he brings a little bit more for you.

“To be fair, I never really got serious with him until after I jumped the last, I just wanted that company. Susie Doyle rode a brilliant race (on Lifetime Ambition) and she’s unlucky in defeat.”

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The history of the battle of the Trainers’ Championship in Britain this season will not include a chapter on Stratford’s April fixture after none of the three contenders sent runners for the 7 race card. And whilst Paul Nicholls enjoyed a double at Wincanton the same day, the impact of his winnings is unlikely to change the course of the Championship, set to conclude at Sandown on Saturday.

Irish runners are a familiar sight on many British racecourses, notably venues like Cheltenham, Ascot and Perth, the latter a relatively easy run from the port at Larne. Stratford is a more tortuous route via Holyhead, but if Mullins prevails on Saturday, who knows if this will encourage more from the Emerald Isle.

Meantime, the floodwaters which kyboshed the previous fixture have receded, allowing 67 runners to compete on near perfect Good to Soft ground. The water has made its presence felt; steeplechase fences do not respond well to 3ft of water, and the first in the back straight has yet to be fully replaced, meaning each circuit comprised 7, not 8 fences.

They say that every horse has his day. In the feature 3m3f handicap chase, it was difficult to see any but long time leader Lord Sparky proving that adage correct. Throughout 3 circuits of Stratford’s sharp track, he outjumped his nine rivals, showing up indifferent jumping from many of them too. But sadly, it wasn’t his day. Challenged as they rounded the final bend by Ballyrashane and Fast Deal, we went wrong behind 200 yards from the post and was quickly pulled up by rider Cieran Gethings. Maiden Fast Deal, whose trainer Michael Chapman must have the patience of Job, came good with late speed to win at the 46th attempt over obstacles and on the flat. Full marks for persistence.

Lord Sparky was attended and made his way back home with a slipped tendon.

Meantime, results readers needed a double take as winning rider Alan King might have led some to believe the master of Barbury Castle was having a mid-life crisis after taking up race-riding in his fifties. This Alan King is an Irish conditional rider enjoying his first British winner on his 138th ride in total. The winner may have been as much a surprise to him as to punters everywhere else, given his SP was 150/1.

It was a productive weekend for the better known Alan King. Favour And Fortune had produced his 34th winner in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr for Hemmings Racing, whilst Finest View continued the winning theme in the 2m handicap hurdle at Stratford under To Cannon. In fairness, perhaps not all the credit should rest with King, who only took back charge of Finest View in late March from Andrew Martin, but maybe he should never have left. A winning sequence of 4 in Spring 2022 must have left the Barbury maestro wondering what we needed to do to retain the horse in the first instance.

One contemporary of King’s we’ve not seen a lot of this jumps season is Ian Williams. The Williams enterprise is largely focused on the flat nowadays, which is Jumping’s loss, for this articulate and savvy trainer has plenty to offer. A forceful finish ridden by Charlie Todd on Garitsa Bay ensured his 11th winner of this term in the first division of the novices’ handicap hurdle, getting up by a head to produce the tightest finish of the day.

The ballot to decide which horses drop into which division fell badly for Henry Oliver, whose two runners in the second division filled the first two places. Irish Point-to-Point winner Finn Lough was sent off 13/8 favourite but it was the largely unfancied Telefenney who prevailed under Toby Wynne for a 3l advantage at the line. The pair were 9 1/2l ahead of the third, so they may be a cut above their peer group.

Fergal O’Brien recently celebrated his fourth consecutive century of winners when Manofthepeople provided a swansong winner for retiring rider Paddy Brennan at Cheltenham earlier in the week. Winner 104 might reasonably have been expected in the opening Grace & Dotty Mares Maiden Hurdle, but Richard Bandey’s Villainess was there to spoil the party, taking it up 2 out and winning with a little more in hand than the 1 1/2l distance would suggest. Bandey has a good record at Stratford.

Another who may have more talent than his lowly rating would suggest is R Bernard, an 8 1/2l winner of the 3m 2ft handicap hurdle that followed Villainess’ triumph. The Rowley team has made a successful transition from the amateur division, and despite the vexations of losing their gallops to the floods in mid-winter, continue to improve their numbers. R Bernard, a maiden hitherto, was their 19th of the season to date, this time under the guidance of Tabitha Worsely.

The fixture concluded with a hunters chase, a done deal almost from the off. Winner Deise Aba from Fran Poste’s Warwickshire yard is rated 15lb superior to the nearest of his rivals, and nearly 30lb ahead of the majority. No Surprise then to see Zac Baker dictate the race from the off and and do enough to keep What A Glance no better than 3l at the line. Expect to see Deise Aba back here for the Hunters’ evening on May 31.

With the new season at Stratford starting on the 21st April after the last fixture fell foul of waterlogging, Stratford’s summer programme of racing provides the perfect opportunity for some of the very best jumps trainers in the business to keep their stables ticking over.

This summer’s jumping fixtures look set to be of the highest quality and several stars will be on show. Let’s look at who could be making an appearance at the track over the course of the next few months.

Dan Skelton

Dan Skelton has emerged into one of the UK’s most prominent trainers. The leading British trainer at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, Skelton is no stranger to success at Stratford. His position leading the Trainers’ Championship has temporarily been usurped by Grand National – winning Willie Mullins, but he may yet find his way back to the top of the leaderboard in the final two weeks of this season. Three seasons ago, a string of April winners at Stratford helped brother Harry to become champion jockey.

Whilst most of his top Cheltenham and Aintree stars will be put away to prepare for a new winter campaign, some of his younger and newest recruits should be on show throughout the summer. 

Skelton has made no secret of his desire to be crowned as the UK’s leading trainer and he has been quick to recognise the role that meetings like Stratford can play in achieving that aim. Even if summer horses have taken a lesser role in his success in recent years, Stratford is his local course, and a track he’s keen to support.

Look for Skelton to play a leading role across many races this summer.

Nicky Henderson

It has been a mixed first quarter of 2024 for Nicky Henderson. With his stable hit by illness over the Cheltenham Festival, one of the UK’s most prolific ever trainers was unable to add to his impressive haul of 73 Festival winners. 

Only Willie Mullins has trained more winning horses at Cheltenham than Henderson and make no mistake about it, Henderson will be intent on closing that gap over the next few years.

Similarly to Dan Skelton, Henderson holds racing at Stratford in the highest regard and several promising horses should be declared to race over the next few months. The Seven Barrows winner machine always includes some top-of-the-ground horses.

Paul Nicholls

For those who have a passion for jumps racing, Stratford provides the perfect opportunity for those to watch some top class action. With every race being able to be bet on the best sportsbooks, for years Paul Nicholls has been a punter’s best friend and he has reigned supreme at the top of the UK training rankings. Punters love that among all the trainers, Nicholls tells it straight every time.

With an all-conquering stable of horses, Nicholls doesn’t attend Stratford as often as the duo of Skelton and Henderson but when he does send a horse to the track, you can be assured that horse racing betting sites up and down the UK will be taking it very seriously. 

To consistently win the UK Trainers’ Championship is certainly no easy feat and winning races at Stratford can prove valuable in the long run. To get the new season off to a bang, expect Nicholls to maintain his excellent record in the Spring before the ground dries up, and from September when his winter horses are ready for their first run.

Gary Hanmer

Whilst Gary Hanmer might not be as well known as some of the other trainers on this list, he is a name to keep an eye on over this Stratford season.

The leading trainer at Stratford for steeplechases, Hanmer currently holds a 31% strike rate in chases held at the track and he will be looking to keep that impressive strike rate intact this summer. The likes of multiple winner Steel Wave kept his tally moving forward last year.

Fergal O’Brien

A distinct pattern of the first few months of the season in recent years has been a plethora of runners from Ravenswell, home to Fergal O’Brien. Like many before him, he has used the summer programme both to build a lead in the Trainers’ Championship, and to enhance his reputation whilst some of the big boys have focused on their winter horses.

Over the last three years no trainer has enjoyed as much hurdles success as Fergal O’Brien at Stratford.Over that timeframe, O’Brien can boast an impressive 26% strike rate in hurdles races over the course. Keen to keep that strike rate high, look for O’Brien to continue his strategy of going into November still in the lead in the Championship.

David Christie

Runners from Ireland are generally pretty rare at Stratford, but there’s one meeting where horses trained by Ulsterman David Christie should always command respect. The Hunters’ evening on May 31 draws the Point-to-Point community from both sides of the Irish Sea together. Christie has saddled at least one winner in each of the past 2 years, and he’s sure to have candidates this time around too.

There are several other trainers to keep an eye on this Stratford season.

Jonjo O’Neill is racing royalty, one of the few men in racing who has won the Gold Cup multiple times as a jockey, he has trained well over 900 winners as a trainer and is one of the most respected trainers in the business. He is a go-to trainer for big handicap winners.

O’Neill boasts an impressive strike rate over both hurdles and chases at the course and will be hopeful of even more success this summer after a fruitless Cheltenham and Aintree.

Ben Pauling has enjoyed a wonderful winter season and notched another Cheltenham Festival winner at this year’s festival.

Regarded as one of the sharpest trainers in the industry, Pauling’s stock is on the rise and Stratford provides the perfect platform for him to show off many different horses from his impressive stable. He is a name to watch out for, and another that makes hay whilst the more established among his rivals wait on easier ground conditions.

Stratford Racecourse is a prominent fixture among the UK’s racing circuits. Situated in picturesque Warwickshire, it specialises in thoroughbred jump racing, offering more than a dozen meetings annually from March through to November. Renowned for its relaxed ambience compared to the grandeur of Ascot or Epsom, Stratford is an appealing venue for first-timers seeking a day at the races. There’s no pretension here, and you needn’t be shy about asking questions about what’s going on.

What to expect on raceday

The left-handed course, which has sharp bends within its triangular shape, features eight fences per circuit. It is notable for its speed. It boasts three distinct enclosures: the Centre course, Tattersalls Enclosure, and the Club enclosure from where you can watch the day’s action take place.

Visitors to Stratford can enhance their racing experience with a racecard, available for purchase throughout the venue, offering insights into each race such as tips, racecourse details, current performance of trainers and jockeys, longest-distance travellers, and essential form information. Additionally, it serves as a guide to navigate the course and highlights entertainment options available between races.

You can also upgrade between enclosures effortlessly by paying the price differential. Typically, you’ll have the chance to enjoy around seven races but variations may occur with occasional pony races held after the final official event. Gates open two hours before the first race, allowing ample time to get to know your surroundings. If you’re in the two higher-priced enclosures, the riders walk through the crowd to reach the parade ring. You don’t get that close to the players at old Trafford or Anfield.

The Spring has been wet as we are all too aware, but the public enclosures offer hard surfaces, so you won’t be needing wellington boots. But inevitably, the early season fixture list has been marred by a few cancellations when the adjacent River Avon took an unwelcome part in proceedings.

Time to place your bet

When it comes to the all-important betting, there are two ways to wager on races. You can physically place your bet at the venue or do it online. If you’d prefer to wager in person, decide on the amount and type of bet, then choose where to place it: either at the Tote or in the betting ring. Approach the betting operator, stating the horse’s number, your bet amount, and the type of bet (e.g., “Number 3, £5 to win”). Receive your ticket and keep it safe until after the race. If you’re betting direct with a bookmaker in the ring, then state the horse’s name instead of number.

If you want the ease and convenience of betting online then it’s important to choose a reputable operator. Check out independent review sites and read other customers’ experiences. The growth of online gambling, incorporating sports betting, slot games, and live casinos featuring popular games like poker and roulette, has created a very competitive market. Just as guides around the best roulette sites UK detail a platform’s strengths, bonus offers, and reputation for those keen on betting on traditional casino games, you must ensure you choose a regulated sports betting operator with a good track record.

Get the most from your day

Before each race, we recommend taking a moment to observe the horses in the parade ring. It’s a unique opportunity to appreciate these magnificent animals up close before they compete. Depending on your ticket privileges, make use of the various viewing areas available. Watching each race from different vantage points, especially from high up in the Grandstands or close up to an obstacle, offers a fresh perspective on the excitement.

Personally, I love being at the start to hear the starter’s instructions, and jockey chit-chat as they circle before the scheduled off time. “Who’s making it? My horse jumps left, don’t come up my inner” mixes with “I’ve tickets to Coldplay this weekend, do you want to come?”, emphasizing that for the riders, this is an ordinary day at the office.

In addition, after each race, head to the Winners’ Enclosure. Witness the victorious and placed horses return alongside their delighted owners and trainers, and enjoy the presentations to the winning connections. Embracing everything that Stratford Racecourse has to offer, from watching the race build up to the action itself and the betting that goes along with it, will ensure you get the most out of your day.

The 2024 Grand National is just around the corner as betting punters and horse racing enthusiasts alike focus on Aintree for one of the biggest events on the sporting calendar. Steeped in history, tradition and class, the National represents the elite pedigree of horse racing and is a true test of skill for those looking to write their name in the history books, with Merseyside’s Aintree course one of the toughest to navigate due to the plethora of challenging fences. The visibility for the sport provided by Aintree stimulates interest at places like Stratford.

Last year saw a dominant display from favourite Corach Rambler, who cruised to victory in a performance that ensured the protestors’ pre-race shenanigans didn’t overshadow the festivities. Indeed, the forced restart if anything benefited Derek Fox, who joins an exclusive list of multiple National winners, navigating One For Arthur in 2017 before the victory on the Rambler.

Fox will be hoping to retain his title in this year’s event, coming in at 5/1 in antepost odds but the likes of Vanillier and Willie Mullins-trained I Am Maximus are other fancied shots.

The National is so unique in that the fences make even the best in the world of jumps have to think about their approach, and the race’s unpredictability ensures an upset is always on the cards. The form book can sometimes go completely out of the window once the race starts, and other variables like conditions and weather mean an underdog can always have its day. Ground conditions have always been a factor in producing unexpected results.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some outsiders who defied the odds and caused some of the biggest upsets in the history of the Grand National.

Aurora’s Encore – 2013

Ryan Mania has established himself as one of the best jockeys of the modern era, but few knew his name until he got aboard Aurora’s Encore, who shot to success in 2013 at odds of 66/1 to see off competition from Cappa Bleu to win by nine lengths. The  bay gelding, trained by Sue Smith, defied the odds after transitioning to steeplechasing, and while he had a good record in novice races at Sedgefield, Carlisle, and Ayr, few would have imagined he would be this dominant on the grandest stage of them all.

Mon Mome – 2009

For just the second time in history a horse had won at odds of over 100/1. This is the story of Mon Mome’s massive achievement in 2009. You’d have to go back as far as 1967 to Foinavon for the last time anyone had picked up a result as spectacular as this, and Venetia Williams became the second woman trainer to win race as Mon Mome saw off defending champion and 8/1 favourite Comply Or Die, to the surprise of the trainer and even the best Grand National betting offers.

“It’s an absolutely unbelievable finish, I had the perfect run through the race, he jumped brilliantly for me,” said rider Liam Treadwell, tragically to take his own life some time later.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet, all I can say at this moment in time is it is unbelievable. A couple of times loose horses fell upsides me and went under his legs but it didn’t really affect the horse.

“He gave me such a great ride. He was an absolute pleasure to ride. He is so genuine. I had a quick look round but I wasn’t really sure how far in front I was.”

Last Suspect – 1985

They say age is just a number, and while there have been some young winners of the Grand National, Last Suspect was believed to be past his peak when he picked up victory in the 1985 edition of the race. The Duchess of Westminster – owned thoroughbred had pulled up at Warwick and wasn’t given much of a chance heading to Aintree, yet managed to win by one and a half lengths, using its unconventional style and powerful running to finish in front of Mr Snugfit.

The winner was owned by Anne, Duchess of Westminster, and trained by Tim Forster, whose riding instructions to jockey Hywel Davies were “keep remounting”! Unable to recapture that same spark the following year, an almost 13-year-old Last Suspect barely making weight and pulling up at the 18th, but his victory in the 1985 National will always have its own place in history.

Foinavon – 1967

Only the keenest racegoers had heard of Johnny Buckingham before the 1967 Grand National. A journeyman jockey, he was on the unfancied Foinavon, a rank outsider in the 1967 National for his first ever ride in the race.

Foinavon had been the intended moun t of his trainer John Kempton, but he couldn’t make the weight. Buckingham was his third choice rider, booked just 3 days before the world’s greatest steeplechase.

A pile-up initiated by a riderless horse at the fence after Becher’s on the second circuit allowed Buckingham to steer around the outside of the trouble. Virtually the entire field was halted in its tracks, allowing him to build a 30l lead with just 7 fences left.

The rest is history… Johnny Buck’s place in history was assured, with a 100/1 winner so unfancied neither his owner nor trainer had bothered to turn up at Aintree. Buckingham went on to make a successful career as a jockey’s valet.