A crowd bedecked in their best finery races for our best attended day of the year - Ladies Day, enjoyed bright sunshine and warm weather that made up for somewhat light in runners that attracted just 35 across seven races.

Happy faces were among those that won the splendid prizes for our best dressed competition, which brought a rare finesse to our normal casually dressed cadre of spectators. Stratford's relaxed environment is more habitually accustomed to open-necked shirts and shorts than broad-rimmed hats and cravats.

As if to wow the crowds, Champion Jockey Sean Bowen rose to the occasion with a short-priced treble for three separate trainers, emphasizing why he is the in-demand choice of so many.

In Gary Hanmer's Sir Tivo, he found himself booked for a rare outsider in the field of five for the feature Silver Fox Classic Handicap Chase over the minimum trip. The crowd had focused on last month's winner here Captain Cool, graduating to open handicap company after winning a novices handicap in June.

Bowen however, owned the race from the off, making all, seeing off Captain Cool and the late-finishing In The Air at the last to win by a handy 1 1/2l at the pleasing price of 10/1.

Hanmer had found himself the wrong side of a Bowen jockey booking earlier in the afternoon, when his Northern Rose had to make way for the Bowen-ridden Stellarmasterpiece, a long distance traveller from Mickey Hammond's Middleham yard in the novices' handicap hurdle. This second winner was a trifle lucky, as he was under pressure from Get A Superstar at the final hurdle, before that runner was abruptly pulled up with a fatal injury.

Five set off for the 2m 7f Patrick's 60th Celebration Handicap Hurdle, and if the race sponsor had backed Bowen on the James Owen-trained 6/5 favourite, Charging Thunder, 3 out, he was all for tearing up his ticket. Over 30l adrift, he looked an improbable winner of this contest, yet the versatile 8 year old, who has been mixing it on the level too this summer, sluiced through his field like a knife through butter, running on to a 10l success.

But to the beginning.

The day had begun as so many summer cards have: with a Skelton winner. A novices hurdle 60th birthday celebration for Sharon Pardy (one wonders if Sharon and Patrick are acquainted given they share a birthday) saw a fourth career strike for Edelak, winner here in mid-June. In truth, Edelak might be a course specialist, as the two successes here could so easily have been three but for taking a purler here a week ago. With the summer still young, there is time enough.

In Harry Skelton's absence at Newton Abbot, where he also struck for the yard, claimer Harry Atkins deputized for a comfortable 7l success.

The winning favourites trend continued in the first of the two chases, a novices handicap over 2m3f. Jamie Snowden has fielded less than half the runners of 12 months ago in July, and in contrast to 2025's 3 winners, even money favourite Whatyouwaitingfor was his first of the month, with regular rider Gavin Sheehan in the plate. It was a copybook race from behind to overcome long time leader Mary and late-finishing Duel au Soleil by 18l.

It was left to trainers based in the north to conclude the card, Mike Sowersby in the staying handicap hurdle and Donald McCain in the closing Conditionals hurdle.

Stratford's summer cards are often the domain of the smaller fish in the National Hunt pool. Sowersby is one such, having run just 13 horses to date this term, this his third winner. But every small yard unearths a gem. He has recently taken charge of Gunsight Ridge, a decent handicapper formerly with Olly Murphy, rated 134, so expect to see him in middle distance veterans races.

In the meantime, stable colours were ably flown by East Eagle, who downed hot favourite Artiste d'Ainay, a winner here a week previously, with a comfortable 11l triumph in the 3m2f handicap hurdle under Charlie Maggs.

It was left to twin brother William Maggs to finish the card with elan on the Donald McCain - trained Roarin Success in the boys race at the end of the card, denying James Owen a short-priced double.