Turners Novices' Hurdle

 Nowadays officially registered as the Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle, the Turners Novices' Hurdle was inaugurated, as the Aldsworth Hurdle, in 1971 and had various spomsors down the years before the transport company took over in 2025. A Grade 1 contest, run over the intermediate distance of two miles and five furlongs on the Old Course at Cheltenham, the race is currently scheduled as the opening event on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival 2026, a.k.a. Ladies Day.

Open to novice hurdlers aged four years and upwards – although the last four-year-old to win was Crystal Spirit back in 1991 – and currently worth £150,000 in total prize money, Turners Novices' Hurdle is obviously a prestigious and valauble event in its own right. However, it is sometimes used by exceptional novice hurdlers as a stepping stone to more ambitious goals later in their careers. Istabraq (1997), Hardy Eustace (2003) and Faugheen (2014) all returned to Prestbury Park to win the Champion Hurdle the following year and, at the time of writing, The New One (2025) is currently 4/1 favourite for the two-mile hurdling championship at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

The ubiquitous Willie Mullins, who trained Faugheen, also saddled Fiveforthree (2008), Mikael d'Haguenet (2009), Yorkhill (2016), Sir Gerhard (2022), Impaire Et Passe (2023) and Ballyburn (2024) for a total of seven wins and is the leading trainer in the history of the Turners Novices' Hurdle. Punters may also like to note that eight of the last 10 winners came from the top three in the betting and five of them were sent off outright favourite. At least two wins over hurdles, including at least one at Graded level, have proved to be a pre-requisite in recent years.

May Festival

Chester Racecourse, popularly known as 'The Roodee', has the distinction of being the oldest racecourse in operation, according to Guinness World Records, having staged its first recorded race on January 10, 1539. The May Festival, of which luxury jeweller Boodles has been the official, title sponser since 2013, is the most presitigious meeting of the year at Cheshire course. In 2025, the May Festival is schedule for Wednesday, May 7 until Friday, May 9 and, as is customary, consists of Trials Day, Ladies Day and Chester Cup Day. Free Bets UK and other sites will be doubt be helping you make the most of your money.

The Group 3 Chester Vase, run over a mile and half and restricted to three-year-olds, is a recognised trial for the Derby at Epsom on the first Saturday in June and, as such is the feature of a seven-race card on Trials Day. The race was won, by 12 lengths, by the subsequently ill-fated Shergar, en route to a still-record 10-length win on Epsom Downs in 1981, while the most recent participant to win the Derby was Wings Of Eagles, who finished second to stable companion Venice Beach in 2017 before defying odds of 40/1 in the Epsom Classic.

Ladies Day, as the name suggests, is a visual spectactle off the course, but on it the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes, run over an extended mile and five furlongs and open to horses aged four years and upwards, is the undoubted highlight. Notable past winners include Harbinger who, like Shergar, was trained by Sir Michael Stoute and remains, jointly, the ninth highest-rated Flat horse in the history of Timeform.

Again, as the name suggests, Chester Cup Day belongs to the Chester Cup, a 'Heritage Handicap', established, as the Tradesmen's Cup, in 1824, run over an extended two and a quarter miles and open to horses aged four years and upwards. Worth £170,000 in guaranteed prize money, the Chester Cup has a safety limit of 17, but is inevitably over-subscribed. So much so, in fact, that horses balloted out of the main event have an opportunity to contest a consolation event, the Chester Plate Handicap Stakes, run over the same distance as the last race on the card.

Willie Carson

Having been born and raised in Stirling, Scotland, Willie Carson 75, has been an ambassador for horse racing for many years and is a face is familiar to most people living in the United Kingdom. Featuring on television for decades, he was once a team captain of BBC1’s Question of Sport, appearing nationally every Saturday evening.

He earned his name in the sport that he still loves today and his journey began as an apprentice to North Yorkshire based Captain Gerald Armstrong. His first win of note came at Catterick Bridge in the Summer of 1962, when he rode Pinker’s Pond to victory in an apprentice handicap.

Willie Carson learned his trade over the next decade, at which point, he really came to prominence. 10 years after winning his first ever race, he went on to win his first British Champion Jockey title in 1972 and then again in 1973. It was a feat he repeated three more times, coming out on top in 1978, 1980 and 1983.

Ironically, Carson’s best ever tally came 7 years later in 1990, riding to an astonishing total of 187 winners. In many other years, this would have been enough to claim the Champion Jockey mantle, but the imposing figure of Pat Eddery stood in his way and got there first with a staggering 209 winners.

That same season saw Carson become one of just 4 jockeys ever to win 6 winners at the same track on the same day in the whole of the 20th century.

Longevity

Carson always looked after himself and this allowed him to continue until well into his 50s. In 1996, he retired at the age of 54 and was very much still at the top of his game. In 1983, he was deservedly awarded an OBE for his contribution to horseracing and will certainly go down as one of the greats.

Stewards' Cup

Since 1993, the Stewards' Cup has been the betting highlight of the fifth and final day of the Goodwood Festival, a.k.a. 'Glorious Goodwood', staged annually in late July or early August. However, the history of the Stewards' Cup dates back to 1839, when it was conceived by politician and racehorse owner Lord George Bentinck; the inaugural running took place in 1840.

The Stewards' Cup is a Class 2 handicap run over 6 furlongs on the sharp, downhill sprint course at Goodwood and open to horses aged three years and upwards. With total prize money of £250,000, £155,625 of which goes to the winner, the Stewards' Cup is invariably well subscribed. Indeed, with a safety limit of 28, the race often resembles the proverbial 'cavalry charge', at the end of which close finishes and 'shock' results are not uncommon.

A total of five horses have won the Stewards' Cup twice, although the most recent of them was Sky Diver, who did so in 1967 and 1968. Three-time champion jockey Richard Hughes, who retired from race riding in 2015, remains the leading jockey in the history of the Stewards' Cup, with four wins. However, for the leading trainer, we need to look back to the nineteenth century, during which the 'Wizard of the North', John Scott, and James Jewitt both saddled four winners apiece. Down the years, notable winners of the Stewards' Cup have included Soba, Petong, Lochsong, Coastal Bluff and Borderlescott.

Arkle Challenge Trophy

The Arkle Challenge Trophy is a Grade 1 steeplechase run over 1 mile, 7 furlongs and 199 yards on the Old Course at Cheltenham in March. The race is open to horses aged five years and upwards who, at the start of the current season, have yet to win a race over regulation fences. Named after Arkle, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup three years running, in 1964, 1965 and 1966, the Arkle Challenge Trophy was established, in its current guise, in 1969. Currently scheduled as the second race on the opening day of the Chelteham Festival, the Arkle Challenge Trophy is, in fact, the leading race of its kind in the British National Hunt calendar.

Of course, it follows that the best novice steeplechasers over the minimum trip become the best steeplechasers in open company; in recent years, Moscow Flyer, Azertyuiop, Voy Por Ustedes, Sizing Europe, Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Put The Kettle On have all won the Arkle Challenge Trophy followed by the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the next Cheltenham Festival. Nicky Henderson, trainer of Sprinter Sacre and Altior, also saddled Remittance Man (1991), Travado (1993), Tiutchev (2000), Simonsig (2013) and Shishkin (2021) for a total of seven wins and is the leading handler in the history of the Arkle Challenge Trophy.

Looking forward to the 2023 renewal of the Arkle Challenge Trophy, which is scheduled for 2.10pm on Tuesday, March 14, the ante-post lists are dominated by Jonbon and El Fabiolo, who finished miles clear when first and second in the Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree, and Sir Gerhard, a comfortable winner of the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. At longer odds, Monmiral, described by trainer Paul Nicholls as 'a proper horse', has always looked an embryonic steeplechaser in the making.

Eclipse Stakes

Named after Eclipse, an undefeated champion thoroughbred of the eighteenth century, the Eclipse Stakes has been sponsored by bookmaker Coral since 1976, making it the longest-running Pattern race in Britain. Inaugurated in 1886, the Coral-Eclipse, as the race is popularly known nowadays, is run over an advertised distance of 1 mile 2 furlongs, or 1 mile, 1 furlong and 209 yards to be exact, at Sandown Park in early July each year. The Coral-Eclipse is open to horses aged three years and upwards and, as such, offers the first chance for the so-called 'Classic' generation to race against their elders at the highest, Group 1 level.

Several horses have won the Coral-Eclipse twice, the most recent of them being Halling, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, who recorded back-to-back victories in 1995 and 1996. Lester Piggott remains the leading jockey in the history of the race, with seven wins between 1951 and 1957. Early twentieth century trainer Alec Taylor, Jr. and Sir Michael Stoute are jointly the leading trainers, with six wins apiece.

In recent seasons, the Coral-Eclipse has been won by such luminaries of the sport as Sea The Stars (2009), Golden Horn (2015), Enable (2019) and Ghaiyyath (2020). It is no coincidence that all four of the aforementioned quartet were named Cartier Horse of the Year in their respective years. Indeed, the Coral-Eclipse has always attracted the crème de la crème of middle-distance talent. The roll of honour includes Ballymoss, Mill Reef, Brigadier Gerard, Dancing Brave and Nashwan, to name but a handful.

Harry Findlay: Betting Too Bravely

If you asked ten punter to name a professional gambler I think a fair proportion would say Harry Findlay. As a follower of online bookmakers free bets this book is right up my street. From what I would call modern professional gamblers in the United Kingdom, Findlay has definitely had his time in the limelight and plenty of column inches in tabloids and sports editions. A larger than life character he is the equivalent of a bull in a china shop with attitude and words. A man who has been liked and disliked in equal measure, especially by many of the elite in horse racing from media to authority. Harry Findlay has always been outspoken which came as a refreshing change to some while a pain in the arse to others. That was most definitely the tone from the establishment who he was convinced were out to get him at ever stage.

His success with Denman ‘The Tank’ meant there were many interested in his opinions of both horse and anything journalists cared to ask him.

I must admit hearing about Harry Findlay back in the day, I thought he was a big mouth who simply bet on odds-on shots. As any gambler knows, there can be value in many a bet, even odds on, and the proof of the pudding is in the eating. I can imagine the man himself tucking into the largest bowl of apple pie with custard. Although, saying that, he was more of a cultured man than many would imagine and he likes the finer things in life.

At heart, he was a normal man on the street, but with a wizard like brain and instinct for a good bet. Unlike most punters he wasn’t afraid to bet big. He was fearless when it came to money. I was surprised reading his excellent book: Gambling For Life, published by Trinity Mirror Sport Media (2017) how much he loves his sport. There is betting and betting, and he wasn’t one to hide away in the shadows or fear going broke in the pursuit of wealth. If he was going to be a millionaire (which he was) it was going to be pitting his wits against the layers.

That pursuit saw him live a life on the edge, betting like a man possessed. If there was one problem with his approach to gambling it may have been he was too brave. Considering he has always bet in such a fashion, why would he stop or behave differently?

He couldn’t. He didn’t have an off switch.

It was full stream ahead. Like a big, old stream train screeching towards the buffers which saw sparks flying and shouts and screams until everything went black.

Literally all black. With his devastating bet on New Zealand to win Rugby Football World Cup. A bet that was to be his retirement fund.

Their loss to Argentina was a kick in the teeth.

Perhaps Harry Findlay was a little too brave.

But what can you say of a man who always bet full throttle?

That’s Harry Findlay. Good luck, mate.

Ebor Handicap

Taking its name from 'Eboracum', the Roman name for York, the Ebor Handicap is worth £1 million in prize money, of which £600,000 goes to the winner, making it the most valuable race of its kind in Britain. Many punters look for online bookmakers free bets to coincidence with this unmissable event. Inaugurated, as the Great Ebor Handicap, in 1843, the race is run over one mile and six furlongs at York Racecourse, where it forms the centrepiece of the four-day Ebor Festival, staged annually in late August. Since 2019, when prize money was increased to its current level, the Ebor Handicap has been open to horses aged four years and upwards. 

Flint Jack, who recorded back-to-back victories in the Ebor Handicap in 1922 and 1923, remains the only horse to win the race more than once. The legendary Lester Piggott remains the leading jockey in the history of the Ebor Handicap, with five winners between 1958 and 1983. His quintet included Gladness, who also won the Gold Cup at Ascot and the Goodwood Cup in 1958, and Jupiter Island, who subsequently became the first British-trained winner of the Japan Cup, in 1983. Other notable winners of the Ebor Handicap include Sea Pigeon (1979), who went on the win the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival twice, in 1980 and 1981, and Sergeant (2005), who completed a notable treble by winning the Northumberland Plate, Ebor Handicap and Cesarewitch Handicap in the same season.

Two-Year-old Horse Racing: Brocklesby Stakes Winners

The 23^rd March 2024 the Flat turf season began and the second race on the card at Doncaster (1:50) saw the Brocklesby Stakes take place. This two-year-old horse race had a bumper win price of £20,616. As detailed in a recent post: Why I Love The Brocklesby Stakes [Horseracingdirectory.net] this race has been won by a number of talented horses, a few going on to be sires.

The winner of the Brocklesby Stakes 2024 Zminiature, trained by Dylan Cuhna, ridden by Rhys Clutterbuck, raced in the familiar silks of the Sarkar family. This diminutive son of Territories ran on well to win in stylish fashion at odds of 16/1, beating Bob The Bandit trained by Brocklesby legend Bill Turner, who has won this race 6 times, dating back to Indian Spark in 1996 when ridden by Tim Sprake. Turner last won this race in 2013 with Mick’s Yer Man. Interesting the horse was later sold to race in Hong Kong where his name was changed to Always Win. This son of Bahamian Bounty went on to win 7 races and total price earning of £328,456.

The 2026 Flat Turf season starts with the Brocklesby Novice Stakes, which runs in the memory of Bill Turner a trainer who won this race no less than 6 times from 1996 – 2013. Sadly, Turner passed away on the 14th August 2025 after suffering a fractured skull after being knocked down by a young horse. 

I must admit, Bill Turner made the Brocklesby Stakes a race to remember in so many ways, such a dedicated, worthy horse trainer who captured your attention with a quietly spoken voice and vast experience.

He will be in the thoughts of his family as his daughter fields a daughter of Caturra, named Nevernotrememberu. 

It would be a fitting tribute to a man who loved his racing and loved by many. 

The Brocklesby can be something of a cavalry charge with two-year-old debutants getting to grips with their first day at the races. 15 horses have been declared with leading hopes Irish raider Blixen Force for trainer Robson De Aguiar, ridden by Rowan Scott for Amo Racing Limited.  Connections originally had three juveniles sent over, who had been galloping at Huntingdon racecourse in preparation for the big day. One of those has been withdrawn but they are double handed with Ocean Club. 

There has been money for Richard Hannon’s colt A Bear Affair, a son of Kodi Bear out of a twice-winning mare who cost 68,000g. 

There has been good money for the Tony Coyle & Kaine Wood’s gelding Rlasthope who has been backed from odds as big as 100/1 (at the time of writing 12/1). 

General statistics for the race indicate that most winners are priced 10/1 and less staring price. Very few fillies have won this contest. The race is scheduled for 1:20 Doncaster on good to soft going. With a winning prize of £20,616. It’s a race won by many a good horse at the start of its career. 

Personally, I would love to see the memory of Bill Turner shine brightly with a bold show from Nevernotrememberu. 

Good luck to all who take part.

The Brocklesby Stakes has seen winners including Mind Games (1994), Hearts Of Fire (2009) and more recently Persian Force (2022) trained by Richard Hannon in the ownership of Amo Racing Limited.

In fact the likes of Mind Games, The Last Lion and Persian Force all went on to be stallions.

Looking at the list of Brocklesby Stakes winners on the Wikipedia page, they go back to 1988 when Denham Green won for trainer Steve Muldoon, ridden by J H Brown.

From 1988 to 2024 (a period of 37-years) there have been 37 races although 2020 didn’t take place due to the COVID pandemic and in 2017 the race was split into two divisions.

It’s interesting to consider the winning odds of the 2024 winner Zminiature who returned at 16/1 as the race history has proven to favour those more fancied in the betting with 31/37 (83%) being won by horses priced 10/1 and less starting price (SP).

Interest to note that two of the shortest priced winners were better horses.

For instance:

2016 – The Last Lion, trained by Mark Johnston was priced 4/5f. He went on to win the Middle Park Stakes (Group 1) at odds of 25/1. He went to stud after his two-year-old career. However, he wasn’t successful at stud and came out of retirement to race some five-years later. He raced just four times, pulling up on his final start at Kempton.

2022 – Persian Force won ‘impressively’ for Richard Hannon in the ownership of Amo Racing Limited. A very talented sprinter, he raced 8 times achieving 3 wins including the July Stakes (Group 2) at Newmarket and narrow loser when runner-up in the Prix Morny (Group 1) at Deauville, France. He concluded his two-year-old racing season and career when finishing fourth at Keeneland in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Race in the United States. He now stands as a sire at Tally Ho Stud, Ireland for 8,000 (Euros].

For those who love their two-year-old racing the Brocklesby Stakes will always be the starting point of hope and ambition. For some it will be their only win. While others such as Bill O’Gorman’s Provideo 1984 victor set a 20^th century record winning 16 of his 24 races at two, including a couple of Listed races. He was crowned British Horse of the Year (1984).

A truly exceptional horse.

Such a record will never be beaten.

Zminiature has proven his ability to win the Brocklesby Stakes. By all accounts the stable had high hopes detailed by the Racing Post: ‘That was expected. We really fancied Zminiature. He's small but he's done a lot of work and he's tough. We took him to Chelmsford on Monday and did all we had to. He's tiny but he's a lovely horse - Dylan Cunha, trainer.’

Only time will tell if this colt will achieve the lofty heights of past winners.

His name sits proudly in the record book of the Brocklesby Stakes.

Kieran Fallon

Born on the 22nd February, 1965, Kieran Fallon is a retired Irish flat racing jockey, who clocked up an impressive 2,253 career wins in his time in the saddle. Now in his fifties, Fallon hails from County Clare and boasts five 2,000 Guineas Stakes wins, four 1,000 Guineas Stakes wins, three Epsom Derbies, three Epsom Oaks and a victory in the Arlington Million.

In addition to these impressive wins, Kieran Fallon would also become British Champion Jockey a remarkable six times and the early part of his success could be attributed to his association with leading trainer, Henry Cecil. Whilst in the Cecil’s stable, Fallon would enjoy a successful time, but the pairing would come to an abrupt end in 1999, when he was dismissed for undisclosed reasons. The jockey is known to be a fiery character, which could have easily led to a disagreement or two and a subsequent parting of ways.

Rocky Period

After the turn of the century, things became a little ‘chequered’, with a mixture of winners, injury and controversy. Now in the Michael Stoute stable, he won the 2,000 Guineas shortly before sustaining an serious arm injury at Ascot which would ultimately lead to Fallon losing the jockey’s championship that year.

Controversy then struck in 2004 when Kieran Fallon was accused of race fixing in a 2 year long trial, but was subsequently exonerated for lack of evidence. After having been banned from racing in the UK for the period of the inquest, Fallon returned to racing immediately after being acquitted.

Continued Controversy

It seemed that trouble was never far away for Fallon, as the jockey was banned from racing again for six months for failing a drugs test in 2006, then failing another in 2007. In total, he missed almost two years of racing through suspension before returning to the saddle in 2009 as a freelance rider.

With his most successful years behind him, Fallon retired from racing in 2016, citing depression as the primary reason. Four or five years of relative underachievement by his own high standards saw the jockey lose his appetite for the challenge.

During his career, Kieran Fallon was always a colourful character and it was ironically the characteristics that made his successful that ultimately led to his fall from grace. However, race fans will always have a soft spot for the mercurial talents of the jockey.

Vertem Futurity Trophy

Inaugurated, as the Timeform Gold Cup, in 1961, the Vertem Futurity Trophy has been known as the Observer Gold Cup, Futurity Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy at various points in its history. However, following the introduction of the European Pattern in 1971, the race was awarded Group 1 status and has maintained that status ever since.

Run over a mile on Town Moor, Doncaster, the Vertem Futurity Trophy is open to two-year-old colts and fillies and its scheduling, in late October, makes it the final Group 1 event in the British Flat racing calendar. In 2019, with Doncaster abandoned due to waterlogging, the Vertem Futurity Trophy was run at Newcastle, thereby becoming the first Group 1 race in Britain to be run on a synthetic surface.

Lester Piggott and Pat Eddery remain the leading jockeys in the history of the Vertem Futurity Trophy with five wins apiece, while Sir Henry Cecil remains far and away the leading trainer with ten wins between 1969 and 1993. The race is considered a trial for the Derby the following season and five winners, namely Reference Point (1986), High Chaparral (2001), Motivator (2004), Authorized (2006) and Camelot (2011) have gone on to win the Epsom Classic. Aside from the subsequent Derby winners, other notable winners of the Vertem Futurity Trophy include Saxon Warrior (2017), Magna Grecia (2018) and Kameko (2019), who all won the 2,000 Guineas the following season.

Triumph Hurdle

The Triumph Hurdle is Grade 1 juvenile novices' hurdle run over 2 miles and 179 yards on the New Course at Cheltenham in March. Restricted, exclusively, to horses aged four years – who, of course, start the season aged three years – the race is currently scheduled as the opening contest on the fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival.

The Triumph Hurdle was inaugurated, at the now-defunct Hurst Park, in West Molesey, Surrey, in 1939 and, following the Second World War, was run, uninterrupted, until 1962. Hurst Park closed permanently that year and, in 1965, the Triumph Hurdle was resurrected at Cheltenham, becoming part of the Festival programme in 1968. The race was initially sponsored by the Daily Express, followed, briefly, by the Elite Racing Club and, since 2002, by JCB.

Four winners of what is, effectively, the seasonal championship for juvenile hurdlers in Britain – namely Clair Soleil (1953), Persian War (1967), Kribensis (1990) and Katchit (2007) – have gone on to win the Champion Hurdle later in their careers. Interestingly, the jockey of the 1954 winner, Prince Charlemagne, was none other than 18-year-old Lester Piggott, who would win his first Derby on Never Say Die later the same year.

Veteran Seven Barrows trainer Nicky Henderson has saddled seven winners of the Triumph Hurdle – First Bout (1985), Alone Success (1987), Katarino (1999), Zaynar (2009), Soldatino (2010), Peace And Co (2015) and Pentland Hills (2019) – making him the most successful handler in the history of the race. Anyone looking ahead to the 2023 renewal, scheduled for 1:30pm on Friday, March 18, might also like to bear in mind that seven of the last ten winners were trained in Ireland; at this still early stage, the once-raced French filly Lossiemouth heads the ante-post betting market.

One For Arthur

Owned by Belinda McClung and Deborah Thomson, a.k.a. 'Two Golf Widows', and trained by Lucinda Russell near Kinross, in eastern Scotland, One For Arthur is best known as the winner of the 2015 Grand National. Indeed, he had the distinction of being just the second horse trained north of Hadrian's Wall – the other being Rubstic, trained by John Leadbetter in Denholm, near Hawick, in 1979 – to win the premier steeplechase.

One For Arthur had demonstrated his Grand National credentials when staying on well to finish fifth, beaten just 3 lengths, in the valuable Becher Chase, over 3 miles 2 furlongs, on his first attempt over National fences the previous December. He subsequently won the Classic Chase, over 3 miles 5 furlongs, at Warwick in January in taking style and headed to Aintree at the top of his game.

Despite being 11lb higher in the weights than at Warwick, One For Arthur was sent off 14/1 fourth favourite for the National, behind Blaklion, Definitly Red and Vieux Lion Rouge. Under a confident ride from jockey Derek Fox, who was making his debut in the race, he was held up in rear, as he had been at Warwick, but made steady headway throughout the second circuit.

Favourite Blaklion took a clear lead as the field crossed the Melling Road for the final time, but One For Arthur, who had travelled and jumped well throughout, moved upsides at the second-last fence and soon quickened into the lead. On run-in, recent Cheltenham Festival winner Cause Of Causes appeared as his main challenger, but he was not to be denied and stayed on strongly to win by 4½ lengths.

Northumberland Plate

The Northumberland Plate has been run at its present venue, High Gosforth Park, which houses Newcastle Racecourse, since 1882. However, in 2016, the owners of Newcastle Racecourse, Arena Racing Company, replaced the turf course with Tapeta and, since then, the Northumberland Plate has been run on the new synthetic surface.

Until the middle of the twentieth century, the Northumberland Plate was run on a Wednesday, as the highlight of a holiday period for local mineworkers, known as 'Races Week', and was known colloquially as the 'Pitmen's Derby'. The race was moved to a Saturday in 1952 and, nowadays, forms the centrepiece of the third and final day of the Northumberland Plate Festival, which is staged annually in late June or early July.

Run over an extended two miles, the Northumberland Plate is a Class 2 handicap open to horses aged three years and upwards. With total prize money of £150,000, it is one of the most valuable races of its kind run anywhere in Europe and, unsurprisingly, remains one of the highlights of the Flat racing season in the north of England. Just one horse, the diminutive Underhand, trained by John Fobert, has won the Northumberland Plate three times, in 1857, 1858 and 1859, and also finished second in 1860. Much more recently, other notable winners of the historic race have included Celeric in 1996, Sergeant Cecil in 2005 and Overturn in 2010.

Galileo

Nowadays, Galileo, by Sadler’s Wells out of Urban Sea, is best known as a champion sire. Indeed, in 2017, he was named leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland for the ninth time in ten years, with 12 Group 1 winners, including Classic winners Churchill and Winter, and just under £12 million in prize money. Since 2012, he has stood exclusively at Coolmore Stud, Co. Tipperary, for a “private” fee, which is reputed to be in excess of €400,000.

In a racing career lasting exactly a year and a day, Galileo won six of his eight races, including the Derby, the Irish Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes in 2001, and earned over £1.6 million in prize money. He raced just once as a juvenile, winning his maiden, over a mile, at Leopardstown, by 14 lengths from subsequent winner Taraza. He reappeared in the Listed Ballysax Stakes, over 1 mile 2 furlongs, at the Co. Dublin course the following April when, at odds of 1/3, he made short work of stable companion – and future St. Leger winner – Milan, winning easily by 3½ lengths. He stepped up in class for the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial over the same course and distance less than a month later but, although he had to work a little harder for victory, he stayed on strongly to beat Exaltation by 1½ lengths.

As an unbeaten colt with a top pedigree, owned by Mrs John Magnier and Michael Tabor and trained by Aidan O’Brien, it was really no surprise that Galileo started joint favourite, at 11/4, for the Derby at Epsom. His main market rival, Golan, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, was also unbeaten and already a Classic winner, having beaten Tamburlaine in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket the previous month. Nevertheless, it was Galileo who prevailed, leading inside the final quarter of a mile and drawing clear for an impressive 3½-length win over Golan, with Tobougg a never-nearer third, beaten a further neck. Galileo earned a Timeform rating of 132, making him one of the best Derby winners since the turn of the century, alongside Authorized and Workforce.

Ryan Moore

Born on the 18th September 1983, Ryan Moore is an active flat racing jockey from Brighton that to date, has won the champion jockey title three times, as well claiming many other British classics. They include two Epsom Derby triumphs, two Epsom Oaks wins, two Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes and the St Leger Stakes in 2017.

Right now, he is the primary jockey for the stable of Aidan O’Brien and Ballydoyle, which means that the majority of his rides are on horses from the Coolmore Stud.

In the Blood

Ryan Moore’s involvement with horse racing comes as no surprise, as many of his family have been connected to the sport over the years in a number of different capacities. His father, Gary L Moore is a successful trainer and he has two jockey brothers, Jamie and Joshua, as well as his sister Hayley Moore who is a leading light in amateur racing.

He even has an Aunty Candy who plies her trade as a professional jockey, so you could say that he belongs to a racing mad family.

Early Start

Having showed an interest in racing as four year old, Ryan joined a local pony club and after finding the experience a bit too ‘tame’ for his liking, he progressed to competitive racing at the age of 12. He joined the big time at the age of 20, becoming part of the Richard Hannon stable, for who he was still riding as late as 2013.

The first major race won by Ryan Moore was the 2002 Cesarewitch Handicap, which he claimed in the saddle of Miss Fara and whilst he wasn’t exactly lighting the flat racing world on fire, he would still become a Champion Apprentice in 2003.

In the years since, the jockey has ridden winners for St Michael Stoute and Aidan O’Brien and at the age of just 34, he still has many years ahead of him and no one would bet against him becoming flat racing champion again soon.

Time will tell just how iconic this jockey can be and where it places him in the pantheon of the sport’s greats.

Hampton Novices' Chase

 

The Hampton Novices' Chase is a Grade 2 novices' steeplechase run over 3 miles at Warwick in January. Open to horses aged five years and upwards, who start the season without a win over regulation fences, the race was inaugurated, as a Class 2 weight-for-age contest, in 2004. However, it was promoted to Listed status by the Jump Pattern Committee of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in 2015 and, having continued to exceed the required rating parameters, was promoted again, to Grade 2 status, in 2020.

In the relatively short history of the Hampton Novices' Chase, Paul Nicholls has saddled four winners, namely Gungadu (2007), Rocky Creek (2013), Next Destination (2021) and Threeunderthrufive (2022) and is the leading trainer so far. As far as future winners are concerned, it is worth noting that, despite field sizes of no more than seven, just three of the last ten renewals have been won by the favourite, who was odds-on on all three occasions. That said, the longest-priced winner in that period was Sego Success, who was sent off 5/1 third favourite in 2015, so the Hampton Novices' Chase is no get-rich-quick scheme either.

Course form, even winning course form, appears unimportant, but all bar one of the last ten winners had previously won at least once between 2 miles and 7 furlongs and 3 miles and 1 furlong. Other recent trends suggest that the runners on which to concentrate are those aged seven or eight years, officially rated 137, or higher, with recent, last time out winning form, preferably within the last seven weeks or so.

Ryanair Chase

The Ryanair Chase is a Grade 1 steeplechase run over 2 miles, 4 furlongs and 127 yards on the New Course at Cheltenham in March. Open to horses aged five years and upwards, the race is a relatively recent addition to the Cheltenham Festival programme, having been inaugurated in 2005, when the Festival was extended from three days to four. The Ryanair Chase can be considered a replacement for the Cathcart Challenge Trophy, which was run for the last time in 2004, although in its final incarnation the Cathcart Challenge Trophy was restricted to steeplechasers in their first or second season. 

Officially registered as the Festival Trophy, the Ryanair Chase initially held Grade 2 status, but was promoted to Grade 1 status in 2008; the race has been sponsored by Irish budget airline Ryanair for all bar the inaugural running. Nowadays, the Ryanair Chase is the feature race on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival and is ideally suited to top-class steeplechasers who lack the speed required for the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the stamina required for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Two horses, namely Albertas Run (2010 and 2011) and Allaho (2021 and 2022), have won the Ryanair Chase twice. Willie Mullins, trainer of Allaho, also saddled Vautour (2016), Un de Sceaux (2017) and Min (2020) to victory and is the leading handler in the short history of the race. Looking ahead to the 2023 renewal of the Ryanair Chase, scheduled for 2.50pm on Thursday, March 15, Allaho could attempt an unprecedented hat-trick and is currently a short-priced favourite to do so. However, the opposition, headed by the likes of Galopin Des Champs – a desperately unlucky loser in the 2022 Turners Novices' Chase – looks certain to be strong, so adopting a waiting brief may be the best ploy.

Geoffrey Freer Stakes

Inaugurated, as the Oxfordshire Stakes, in 1949 by Geoffrey Freer, who was Clerk of the Course at Newbury Racecourse at the time, the Geoffrey Freer Stakes was renamed in honour of Freer following his death, in 1969. Run over an advertised distance of 1 mile 5½ furlongs and open to horses aged three years and upwards, the Geoffrey Freer Stakes is staged annually in August.

Nowadays, the Geoffrey Freer Stakes is a Group 3 contest, having been downgraded from Group 2 status in 2006. However, it has typically proved a strong race for the grade, with several recent winners – Mount Athos (2012), Royal Empire (2013) and Seismos (2014) – going on to contest the Melbourne Cup at Flemington, Australia, albeit without distinction, later the same season.

Just one horse, Mubtaker, trained by Marcus Tregoning, has won the Geoffrey Free Stakes three times; he recorded his unprecedented hat-trick in 2002, 2003 and 2004 to become the most successful horse in the history of the race. Other notable winners include Ardross, trained by Henry Cecil, who recorded back-to-back victories under Lester Piggott in 1981 and 1982, Drum Taps, trained by Lord Huntingdon, in 1991 and Silver Patriarch, trained by John Dunlop, in 1999. Lester Piggott, Pat Eddery and Frankie Dettori are jointly the leading jockeys in the history of the Geoffrey Freer Stakes with four wins apiece. Sir Noel Murless remains the leading trainer, with five wins between 1949 and 1973.

Paul Hanagan

Born on the 8th September 1980 and hailing from Cheshire, Paul Hanagan is a ex champion jockey of great acclaim in the flat racing world.

Having never been in the saddle until the late age of 14 and having had his eyes firmly fixed on a career on the green grass of a football field rather than a racetrack, Paul Hanagan was a graduate of the British Racing School after great encouragement from his father, Geoff Hanagan. Deemed ‘too small’ for professional football, he helped out as a weekend work experience stable hand for trainer Terry Caldwell, based in Warrington, which ultimately led to the pivotal moment when Hanagan realised that racing had gotten under his skin and into his blood.

Captivated by what he saw at Caldwell’s yard, Hanagan would get his first taste of being a jockey, being allowed to ride out at the age of 14 and begin training the British Racing School, graduating in 1997.

Breakthrough

Hanagan got his first taste of senior racing on Stone Beck 4 days shy of his 18th birthday , racing to a creditable 4th place under the stewardship of Malcolm Jefferson, who was better known for his work in National Hunt training. Jefferson knew his onions and he saw a promising flat jockey in Hanagan, guiding the young man to join Richard Fahey as an apprentice flat jockey just a year later.

Over the next four years, the apprentice jockey saw his promise turn into results, improving each season and gaining the title of Champion Apprentice in 2002. He did this by riding a highly impressive 87 winners, the 2nd most since the end of WWII, which included a win on Vintage Premium in the John Smith’s Cup.

Richard Fahey foretold a big future for Paul Hanagan and he wasn’t wrong. Having matured over the next few years, he won his first senior Champion Jockey title in 2010 with a brilliant 191 winners and then backing that up by winning it again in 2011, beating Silvestre De Sousa from Brazil on the very last day of the season.

After this great achievement, Hanagan took a brief sabbatical and stated that he need a break after all his efforts. He did return the next year, but he never again hit the heights of the 2010 and 2011 seasons. To this day, he attributes much of his success to Richard Fahey who he spent 14 years with and he will forever be included in the pantheon of great flat jockeys.