Nicholls gunning for 11th title as action returns to Stratford

TUESDAY sees the opening of the annual summer festival of fashion and racing known as Royal Ascot but, to jumping fans, Stratford’s six-race card sponsored by Bordeaux Undiscovered is the only place to be, writes David Hucker.

Despite lower levels of prize money, even at the highest grade, jump racing has seen a renaissance in the last ten years or so, thanks to the exploits of chasers such as Kauto Star and Denman and, more recently, star hurdlers including Faugheen and Annie Power, who have all fired the public’s imagination.

With summer jumping now firmly established in the calendar and courses well equipped to produce good ground, the approaching holiday season should see some competitive racing and a surge in attendances at meetings up and down the country.

Stratford’s evening double-header last month saw people flocking to the course and there are some more big meetings coming up next month with Family Day on Sunday 10th and Ladies’ Day the following week.

There will be plenty of entertainment for Family Day including The Sheep Show, face painters, circus skills, inflatables with a surf simulator, Bubblemania and Teddy and Otto walkabout act.

The Gloucester-based wine merchants are regular sponsors at the course and had intended to support the meeting on 26th March, the second of three lost following flooding when the River Avon burst its banks.

Hopefully, there will be no such worries on Tuesday when the opening race is the Bordeaux Undiscovered Sommelier’s Choice Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle over two-and-a-quarter miles, due off at 2.20pm.

There are two races over the bigger obstacles on the card, the first of which is the Bordeaux Undiscovered Wines Handicap Chase over two-and-three-quarter miles at 3.30pm.

The trip is slightly shorter for the Bordeaux Undiscovered Wines La Fleur Morange Novices’ Handicap Chase which will go off 4.45pm. The meeting rounds off at 5.20pm with the Bordeaux Undiscovered Wine On Line Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race.

The race to win the two cases of wine on offer for the leading stable in 2016 is hotting up. Alvechurch trainer Ian Williams is still in the lead with 34 points, followed by Tom George in second place on 27 points, with Dai Burchell and Chris Gordon joint third on 25.

Multiple champion trainer Paul Nicholls scored 23 points over the May two-day meeting to close in on the leaders and can be expected to send more horses to Stratford as he seeks an 11th title.

On Tuesday, gates will open two hours before the first race and there is ample free parking.