It's commonly overlooked in racing that a day at the races is inexpensive family entertainment given that admission for under 16s is free, in contrast to other major sports like football, cricket or rugby where children over 5 incur a charge to watch. Stratford is among other racecourses highlighting this asset, with the annual family day last Sunday just one example.

Whilst for older children this provides a chance to introduce them to the challenge of finding a winner with a small helping of parental pocket money, youngsters also get to enjoy the fresh air, alongside kids' entertainments ranging from bouncy castles to quoits and fairground games.

And as if to emphasize the importance of the younger generation to the sport's future, the first 3 races were won by younger trainers making their mark in the sport.

James Owen - a product of the Point-to-Point field

We've become used to seeing "trained James Owen, Newmarket" in recent years, but it's hard to believe that former amateur rider James only took out a licence in 2023. Since then, winners have flowed thick and fast, across both codes, and not just here in the UK, as Wimbledon Hawkeye's Nashville Derby last September at Kentucky Downs illustrated.

Middle distance flat-breds convert especially well to the juvenile hurdle division, amply illustrated by the superior speed of Lucky Sevens, who made good on his 2 1/4l second here at the end of June, going one better in the opener under Jonathan Burke, to score over 5/6 favourite Tiny Riot and put an ever-so small brake on the Skelton bandwagon.

Max Comley - a man on the march

Another graduate of the Point-to-Point field, Max Comley, took out his professional licence in 2025 following a successful trial between the flags. Last season was a breakthrough year with 16 winners, and the stable has been investing in better quality animals to maintain the momentum.

One such is French Diablo, a four year old who has strengthened with another year on his back after two unremarkable efforts last winter. He broke his maiden in the novices handicap hurdle under David Bass with an accomplished 5 1/2l success over Babychino to give Comley a second winner of this nascent season.

Billy Aprahamian - another Pointer

Former Irish Guardsman Aprahamian started life playing polo before graduating to race riding, interspersed with his military duties, before giving up the Army to join Nicky Henderson at Seven Barrows as assistant.

Now in his sixth year with a professional licence from his own premises near to Towcester, where the racecourse may yet re-open, his prize money earnings have topped £100k in each of thre past 2 seasons, and Artiste d'Ainay produced his third winner of this youn g term in the Gary Hubball's 60th Celebration Year Novices Handicap Chase, over the extended 2m 6f. James Bowen had him out in front throughout, and he showed good speed to fend off challengers and win comfortably by 11l, indicating he can readily defy a penalty and win again.

Also relatively new to training, albeit no longer in the pimply youth brigade, Faye Bramley is making a name for herself from her base at the Champ, A P McCoy's premises in Lambourn. Until big handicap success at Cheltenham last December, she was known only to those within the sport, but her graduation from pre-trainer to a full licence has been impressive, fielding horses in big races and having one over on big names.

Her 2 winners to date from 5 runners in chases since the season began has given her a notable 40% strike rate over fences, and maiden hurdle winner Genealogy was her third individual winner from 12 horses that have run to date through the summer. Harry Cobden always had something in hand over second-placed Penzance under Paddy Hanlon, the two making some 40l distance from the remainder of the field.

Bramley was denied a double in the following 2m3f handicap chase, when a mistake at the last by Person Of Interest and Harry Cobden allowed the Skelton trained and ridden Thickthorn Tom to win his second race over fences by a margin of 2 1/2l, winner 54 in the chase for the season record.

The old guard regains the initiative

Neither Anthony Honeyball nor Seamus Mullins would relish being described as old sweats in the sport, but in contrast to the youthful start to the meeting, the older generation regained the initiative as the bouncy castle was allowed to deflate toward the end of the afternoon.

Stratford's Summer Silver Salver attracted a disappointing 5 runners, among which Getmetothemoon, under bottom weight, was able to overcome some wayward jumping to win with hands down, under claimer Chad Bament for Anthony Honeyball, the margin 5 1/2l.

Seamus Mullins' Basilette, a regular here over the past few months, got her head in front again in a hurdle race for the first time since Fakenham last October, having run several times on the flat since. It was her turn again in the closing mares' handicap hurdle, Daniel Samson's 3lb claim proving useful to allow her a 2 1/2l distance at the line.

Next time around it's Ladies Day, where we anticipate elegance both on and off the track.