Be Aware caught the eye earlier this season when he made a winning start to his chase career at Stratford. Dan Skelton’s runner showed a lot of promise, and he is now set to take on some of the best novice chasers in the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival.
The seven-year-old is one of two horses entered in the 2m contest on day one of the Festival for Skelton. He will join his stablemate Mirabad, with the pair looking to give their trainer a first victory in the prestigious novice chase.
Be Aware has fared well in Graded company
Be Aware has featured just once in Grade One company so far. He finished second in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown behind Lulamba. Those placing Cheltenham bets on the Arkle Trophy can get odds of 80/1 on Be Aware reversing his form with Lulamba and prevailing in the race.
Lulamba is one of the leading horses in the Cheltenham predictions for the Arkle Trophy. Skelton will be encouraged by the way his runner competed with Nicky Henderson’s chaser at Sandown. Be Aware led for most of the race but just got outpaced in the final couple of furlongs.
In his most recent appearance at Windsor, Be Aware once again just found one horse better than him on the day. He was second in the Grade II Lightning Novices’ Chase, finishing a length behind No Questions Asked. That outing was the novice’s final preparation run before the Cheltenham Festival.
Skelton can be encouraged by Mirabad’s latest effort
Mirabad also goes into the Arkle Trophy as a winner over fences. He got off the mark at the first attempt at Exeter. That performance convinced Skelton to run his horse in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton, where he was third behind Mambonumberfive and Hansard respectively.
The Arkle Trophy contender suffered a blip at Windsor in early January as he unseated Harry Skelton from the saddle when clear of his rivals. He returned to the same course a month later to finish a respectable second behind Steel Ally.
With solid form from both horses this season, Harry Skelton faces a tough decision when it comes to which horse he will ride for his brother in the Festival contest. The former Champion Jockey is likely to leave his call as late as possible, and it may come down to which chaser impresses the most on the gallops in training.
Arkle win would be a boost to Trainers’ Championship bid
Success in the Arkle Trophy would be a huge boost for Skelton in his bid to win this season’s Trainers’ Championship. The Midlands-based trainer goes into the Cheltenham Festival with a big lead in the standings, but as he saw 12 months ago when runner-up to Champion Trainer Willie Mullins, with so much prize money on offer across the four days, his rivals can close the gap.
Panic Attack wins the Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase 🏆
It has been an excellent campaign so far for Skelton. Along with accumulating over £3 million in prize money, in the Trainers’ Championship standings, he has had big race wins in the Lancashire Chase, Paddy Power Gold Cup, and Haldon Gold Cup. A victory in the Arkle would be his biggest triumph of the season to date.
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival begins on Tuesday March 10th , with the Arkle taking place at 2.00 pm on the opening day, preceded by our own opening fixture the day before.
The Stratford season starts in a little more than 3 weeks, but February-March is punctuated by two of the richest-endowed races in the world, both in the Middle East. The Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup illustrate the shifting sands of the global racing market, showcasing the emerging powerhouse of the Middle East in the first quarter of the year.
For Jumps enthusiasts, the Cheltenham Festival arrives in 3 weeks’ time with four days of thunderous action at Prestbury Park, prefaced by our own first fixture of the year.
Punters will flock to Cheltenham knowing the bookies will be owed a beating this year, with so many favourites flattering to deceive when it mattered most in 2025.
It’s a big week for bettors, with Cheltenham jam-packed in a week that also features the Champions League Round of 16, the Darts Premiership in Dublin, and the final games of the Six Nations. Expect players locked to their screens, accas flying in, racing fans dipping into popular online slots between races, and all eyes fixed on Gold Cup Day.
Galopin Des Champs is hotly tipped for this year’ss Gold Cup, as National Hunt racing finds itself at the business end of the season with betting odds blazing across Gloucestershire.
But for flat racing enthusiasts, attention is already drifting toward the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster and the promise of what lies ahead.
There’s a different rhythm to the flat season. Lazy summer afternoons at Newmarket, Pimm’s in hand, the pageantry of the Epsom Derby, the August heat at York’s Ebor meeting. Where jump racing delivers raw drama and mud-splattered heroics, the flat offers elegance, speed, and its own brand of theatre.
As the jump season reaches its crescendo, flat racing has produced moments every bit as gripping as anything Cheltenham can offer. Here are five of the finest.
Grundy vs Bustino, King George & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, 1975
Almost half a century later, they’re still talking about this one. The 1975 King George should have been competitive with eleven runners, including Eclipse winner Star Appeal and two-time defending champion Dahlia, but it developed into a brutal two-horse war from four furlongs out.
Dick Hern sent out pacemakers to set a punishing gallop for Bustino’s stamina, and it worked. Joe Mercer led turning for home, three lengths clear, with Grundy (the Derby and Irish Derby winner) struggling to close.
Pat Eddery somehow conjured one final effort, drawing level at the furlong pole and edging ahead as Bustino rallied on the far side. They ran on fumes through the final furlong, class and willingness propelling two exhausted champions forward.
Grundy prevailed by half a length, both horses smashing the track record by two and a half seconds. Pure, unrelenting brilliance.
Fantastic Light vs Galileo, Irish Champion Stakes, 2001
Coolmore versus Godolphin. The rivalry defined an era and still does, and this was its finest expression. Galileo arrived at Leopardstown unbeaten in six, having won the Derby, Irish Derby, and King George. He was long odds-on, the coming force in European racing.
Fantastic Light was the grizzled campaigner, a late bloomer who’d finally clicked at four. Tactics proved crucial. Frankie Dettori threaded Fantastic Light through a gap on the inside rail turning for home, stealing a length on Michael Kinane and Galileo, who were forced wide.
Up Leopardstown’s straight they came, Galileo closing relentlessly (half a length, a neck, a head) but Dettori’s mount was game on the far side.
At the line, a head separated them. Galileo would go on to transform global breeding; Fantastic Light had his day when it mattered most.
Affirmed vs Alydar, Belmont Stakes, 1978
Affirmed and Alydar met for the final time in the 1978 Belmont Stakes, the closing chapter of racing’s greatest rivalry.
They had already clashed eight times, including the first two legs of the Triple Crown, where Affirmed won the Derby by a length and a half and the Preakness by a neck.
The longer Belmont trip was expected to bring them even closer and it did. Steve Cauthen set a steady pace on Affirmed while Jorge Velasquez moved Alydar up the back straight and forced the tempo to rise. They turned for home together and ran the entire straight stride for stride, neither giving an inch.
Only in the final strides did Affirmed stretch his neck and edge ahead to win by a nose. He became the eleventh Triple Crown winner and the last for almost four decades until American Pharoah arrived in 2015. Two rivals at their peak and one finish that became legend.
Secreto vs El Gran Senor, Epsom Derby, 1984
Pat Eddery made one critical mistake: he looked across at Christy Roche. El Gran Senor was the warm favourite, a Northern Dancer colt who’d swept through the Dewhurst and 2000 Guineas for Vincent O’Brien. Secreto, trained by Vincent’s son David, had flopped in the Irish 2000 Guineas and looked outclassed.
El Gran Senor travelled beautifully through a fast pace, moved smoothly to challenge At Talaq, and Eddery sat motionless passing the two-furlong marker.
He glanced at Roche, flat to the boards on Secreto, and waited. When he finally asked at the furlong pole, El Gran Senor responded but not explosively.
He went half a length up, no more. Secreto kept finding, kept grinding. Inside the final 150 yards, Roche conjured one last effort and Secreto stuck his neck out on the line, prevailing by a short head. Drama, heartbreak, and an upset for the ages.
Rite of Passage vs Age of Aquarius, Ascot Gold Cup, 2010
This won’t feature in many greatest-race lists, but it should. Rite Of Passage was an unconventional Gold Cup contender, just two flat runs before Ascot, both wins, but he’d been jumping hurdles in between and finished third in the Ballymore at Cheltenham three months earlier.
Age Of Aquarius looked the proper stayer, second in the Grand Prix de Paris and the Ormonde Stakes. The race became a test of wills.
Age Of Aquarius hit the front five furlongs out, and Rite Of Passage immediately went after him. They slugged it out the entire length of the straight, Pat Smullen and Johnny Murtagh driving relentlessly, neither horse willing to yield.
Stride by stride, Rite Of Passage closed the gap, drew level inside the final furlong, and won by a neck. It was a gripping, brutal encounter between two horses who simply refused to lose.
As the roar of Cheltenham echoes through Gloucestershire next month, these races remind us that flat racing offers its own brand of magic. Speed, stamina, and stories all endure for generations. The summer can’t come soon enough. Meantime, tell us your own favourite races – flat or jump.
This week, your Stratford correspondent is at the Asian Racing Conference in Riyadh, where global trends in racing are under the spotlight, including the globalisation of racing. One might argue this has little to do with Stratford, but you’d be wrong. Horse racing has always been a sport with global appeal. Major race meetings attract attention from fans across continents, each tuning in with their own expectations and traditions. While the action on the track remains the focal point, the way fans experience it can vary greatly depending on where they are from, and Stratford’s races, whilst rarely attracting runners from further than Ireland, still command international attention where they are broadcast abroad.
International interest adds depth to big races, turning them into shared moments that extend far beyond the grandstands. Cultural habits, viewing styles, betting preferences, and travel experiences all influence how fans connect with the sport. These differences help explain why the same race can feel unique depending on who is watching and how they engage with it.
Racing traditions play a major role in shaping how international fans approach big race days. In countries with long-established racing histories, like the UK, fans often feel a strong emotional connection to specific courses, trainers, and bloodlines. The past is woven into the present, and tradition carries real weight.
Elsewhere, horse racing may be viewed through a more modern lens. Fans from regions where the sport developed later often focus on recent form, speed figures, and track conditions. Their engagement is more analytical, centred on performance rather than legacy.
These contrasting viewpoints influence how races are discussed and appreciated. Some fans celebrate heritage and ceremony, while others focus on efficiency and results. When international audiences come together, these perspectives blend, creating lively conversations and varied interpretations of the same event.
This mix of traditions adds richness to major race meetings. It allows long-standing customs to coexist with fresh approaches, ensuring that horse racing continues to evolve while still respecting its roots.
How fans of international races follow big races
Not all international fans experience big races in the same way. While some attend in person, many follow events from abroad through live broadcasts, streaming services, or delayed replays, depending on time zones.
Watching from overseas often requires commitment. Early mornings or late nights become part of the routine, especially for fans determined not to miss major fixtures. These unusual viewing hours can heighten anticipation and make race days feel like special occasions. US or Middle Eastern time zones lend themselves well to British viewers, Australian or Asian slightly less so.
Different regions also favour different styles of coverage. Some audiences enjoy detailed pre-race analysis and expert commentary, while others prefer broader storytelling that captures atmosphere and spectacle. Broadcasters often adapt their presentation to suit these preferences.
Online communities play an important role in bridging distance. International fans share reactions, opinions, and insights through social platforms, creating a sense of shared excitement. Even without being trackside, fans remain connected to the moment, proving that distance does not diminish passion for the sport. A major topic at this week’s Conference has been the development of fan engagement in a sport not characterized by team support.
Betting Perspectives across different countries
Betting is closely linked to how many international fans experience horse racing, though attitudes towards wagering vary widely. Cultural norms, regulations, and access all influence how fans approach betting on big races.
In some countries, betting is a social tradition tied to race days, with wagers placed casually as part of the event. In others, betting is treated more strategically, with careful study of form, statistics, and conditions before any decision is made.
As fans follow international racing, many expand their knowledge beyond basic wagers. Some take time to learn about exotic bets in horse racing, exploring options that involve multiple horses or outcomes within a single race. These bets can add an extra layer of engagement when watching major events.
Different betting habits shape the overall experience. Whether fans place small wagers for enjoyment or analyse races in detail, betting often deepens involvement and attention. These varied approaches reflect how horse racing adapts to diverse audiences across the globe.
Fashion & Social Custom on Racedays
Stratford’s Ladies Day is our best attended fixture of the mid-summer. Race day fashion is a key area where international differences become clear. At certain meetings, clothing is an essential part of the experience, while at others it plays a more minor role, and in the microcosm of our Warwickshire experience, this is no less the case.
British racecourses are well known for traditional dress expectations, particularly at prestigious events. Formal attire, hats, and tailored outfits contribute to the atmosphere and reinforce the sense of occasion. For many visitors, dressing appropriately is part of respecting the venue. Equally, for a majority of our fixtures, we seek to put the racegoer at his ease. If shorts are your thing, you’re still welcome!
International fans may come from cultures where comfort and practicality are prioritised over formality. These differences do not create division; instead, they add colour and interest to race days. Fashion becomes a form of expression and conversation, highlighting how racing blends sport with social tradition.
Travel & planning for globe-trotting fans
For international fans attending big races in person, the experience begins long before race day. Travel arrangements, accommodation, and ticket planning often require months of preparation, especially for high-profile meetings.
Stratford’s Monday of Cheltenham festival week has often seen an influx of Irish spectators getting a first flavour of the racing week before heading to Prestbury Park. Stratford’s hotels are populated by price-sensitive visitors looking for better value accommodation that is also closer to their departure airport of Birmingham.
Visiting any renowned racecourse can feel like a milestone for dedicated fans. Many build trips around major events, combining racing with sightseeing and cultural exploration. This turns race attendance into a broader travel experience, and Stratford’s Festival Monday is an excellent example of that.
Navigating unfamiliar customs, transport systems, and local traditions can be challenging, but it also adds excitement. Helpful staff, clear information, and welcoming facilities make a significant difference for visitors.
The journey itself often becomes a memorable part of the story, as those Irish spectators who shared a return trip to Dublin after Michael O’Leary, Ryanair boss, had won the Gold Cup with War of Attrition can attest. International racegoers tend to value the effort involved, seeing it as part of their connection to the sport. These experiences deepen loyalty and create lasting ties to iconic racecourses.
A shared passion that crosses borders
Despite cultural differences, big races unite fans through shared anticipation and emotion. The thrill of a close finish or an unexpected winner creates reactions that look remarkably similar around the world.
International audiences celebrate victories, debate outcomes, and relive memorable moments together. Language and distance fade when excitement takes over, reminding fans why horse racing has endured as a global sport.
As access to racing improves, international engagement continues to grow. Fans bring their own traditions while embracing those of the host country, enriching the sport through diversity.
Big races are more than competitions; they are global gatherings shaped by countless perspectives. This shared passion ensures that horse racing remains vibrant, inclusive, and celebrated in many different ways across the world.
Some horse races rise above the rest, shaping seasons, influencing breeding, and drawing attention from across the globe. From Dubai’s desert lights to Ascot’s manicured lawns, these events blend history, culture, and elite competition like few others.
For fans and insiders alike, they act as reference points that mark the rhythm of the racing world and set the stage for the year ahead. Each result reverberates beyond the finish line, impacting breeding decisions, international campaigns, and the way the sport is followed worldwide. The prestige of these races ensures they remain defining moments that capture the imagination of the global racing community. Sadly, few of these are Jump races, but that doesn’t stop a racing enthusiast from enjoying fast horses, wherever they appear.
The Dubai World Cup feels like racing’s opening statement. Held each March at Meydan, it arrives just as many jurisdictions emerge from winter, straight after Cheltenham, and signals that the international season is fully underway.
Meydan itself plays a role. Its scale, spectacle, and setting project modern ambition, while the race’s purse attracts elite runners from every major racing nation. American dirt specialists line up against European turf stars experimenting on the surface, alongside challengers from Japan, Australia, and the Middle East.
Timing matters here. The Dubai World Cup sits perfectly between hemispheres, giving trainers a chance to test form early and owners a global stage before spring classics elsewhere. For many, it is less about one result and more about setting the tone for the year ahead.
The Kentucky Derby: America’s gateway to international competition
The Kentucky Derby remains one of sport’s great contradictions. Rooted deeply in American tradition, it has quietly become one of the most international races on the calendar.
The expansion of the Road to the Kentucky Derby has changed everything. European, Japanese, and Middle Eastern qualifiers now feed into Churchill Downs, bringing diverse bloodlines and training styles to a race once dominated by domestic prep races. The result is a more global contest, even if the setting remains unmistakably American.
For racing fans outside the United States, Derby week has become a time to track international contenders, compare prep form across regions, and follow the build-up from afar. Many now engage digitally, monitoring odds, analysis, and race-day coverage through platforms offering features such as FanDuel Racing bonus bets, which fit naturally with the global attention surrounding marquee fixtures.
The Derby still lasts two minutes. Its impact stretches far longer.
Royal Ascot: where sport, society and tradition intersect
Few events blend racing and ritual like Royal Ascot. Founded in 1711, it carries a weight of tradition that even first-time visitors can feel immediately. From the opening strains of the national anthem to the precision of the Royal Procession, every detail reinforces Ascot’s status as a cornerstone of the British sporting calendar within and well beyond racing circles.
The Royal Procession, the dress codes, and the meticulous presentation all signal that this is more than a race meeting. Yet beneath the pageantry lies fiercely competitive racing. International trainers and owners meticulously plan campaigns to target Ascot victories, understanding that prestige often outweighs the immediate prize money. Success here carries long-term weight, enhancing reputations, shaping breeding decisions, and influencing the strategies of competitors around the globe.
For sprinters and milers, an Ascot win can define a career. For owners from overseas, success here signals acceptance into the upper tier of European racing culture, a recognition that resonates well beyond a single season. That blend of social theatre and sporting seriousness is precisely why Royal Ascot continues to draw global attention year after year.
The Priz de l’Arc de Triomphe: Europe’s defining Championship
The Arc is often described as a monument rather than a race, and Longchamp on the first Sunday in October lives up to that reputation. For many in the sport, it represents the ultimate test of European middle-distance excellence.
Unlike festivals spread over days, the Arc distils everything into one defining contest. Europe’s best middle-distance horses converge, joined regularly by challengers from Japan, Ireland, and the UK. Winning the Arc is not about hype or spectacle; it is about legacy.
The race’s position late in the season adds to its gravity. Careers can be cemented in a single run, and breeding valuations can change overnight. For many seasoned racing followers, the Arc remains the purest expression of elite Thoroughbred competition on turf.
The Melbourne Cup: a national tradition with global reach
Few races carry cultural weight quite like the Melbourne Cup. Branded as “the race that stops a nation,” it has grown far beyond Australian borders, evolving into a shared moment for racing audiences across multiple continents.
The Cup’s demanding two-mile distance invites international challengers bred specifically for stamina. European trainers, in particular, have reshaped their campaigns to target the race. Asian connections increasingly see it as a global prize worth chasing. Many even plan entire seasons around a single November appearance.
Television audiences stretch worldwide, and the Cup’s handicap format keeps intrigue high until the final strides. What began as a national tradition now sits firmly within the global racing conversation, uniting fans through a rare blend of endurance, uncertainty, and spectacle.
How these fixtures shape the modern racing calendar
Together, these races form the backbone of the international season. Their sequencing creates a natural flow:
Dubai opens the global conversation,
Kentucky introduces spring classics with international reach,
Ascot defines early-summer excellence,
The Arc crowns Europe’s season,
Melbourne closes the year with endurance and spectacle.
Qualifying pathways, reciprocal invitations, and international partnerships have tightened these links further. Trainers and owners now think globally by default, not as an exception.
The heartbeat of the global racing calendar
These fixtures endure because they balance tradition with evolution, respecting history while embracing global participation, modern broadcasting, and changing fan habits. For racing fans, they offer more than entertainment, providing context, continuity, and shared moments that connect racing cultures worldwide. As the sport globalises, these races remain emotional and competitive anchors, reminders of why Thoroughbred racing still captivates audiences across continents.
Content reflects information available as of January 2026; subject to change.
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
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.
Wandering Ego and Sean Bowen win the EBF And Charlie Longsdon ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle at Stratford. 30/10/2025 Pic Steve Davies/Racingmediapics.co.uk
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.
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.
Be Aware and Harry Skelton win the Happy Birthday Samantha Borland Handicap Chase from The Widdow Maker [left] and Grandeur D’Ame [right/about to fall] at Stratford. 30/10/2025 Pic Steve Davies/Racingmediapics.co.uk
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.
Wandering Ego and Sean Bowen win the EBF And Charlie Longsdon ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle at Stratford. 30/10/2025 Pic Steve Davies/Racingmediapics.co.uk
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.
A Good Saturday crowd at Stratford. 18/10/2025 Pic Steve Davies/Racingmediapics.co.uk
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.
Alastair Ralph with Mix Of Clover, first part of a Stratford double for the trainer. 18/10/2025 Pic Steve Davies/Racingmediapics.co.uk
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.
Absolutely Doyen and Freddie Gingell [left] wins from Vesalius [centre] and Aceofadiamond [right] at Stratford. 18/10/2025 Pic Steve Davies/Racingmediapics.co.uk
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.
Moody clouds during racing at Stratford. 20/7/2025 Pic Steve Davies/Racingmediapics.co.uk
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.
Nico De Boinville at Stratford before his first ride back after injury/a winning one on The Expensive One. 6/10/2025 Pic Steve Davies/Racingmediapics.co.uk
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.
Mr McLoughlan and Sean Bowen win at Stratford. 6/10/2025 Pic Steve Davies/Racingmediapics.co.uk
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.
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