News
Wednesday October 21 2026
A Champion Day and a big fundraiser for Bob
It may not be April, but a Bob Champion Cancer Trust Raceday takes you straight back to that fateful day in April 1981 when Aldaniti and the eponymous Bob inspired millions suffering from cancer to believe in a future beyond the disease. The result inspired Bob to set up the Trust in 1983, which has since raised over £15 million, funded the Bob Champion Cancer Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, and contributed to research that has lifted survival rates for testicular cancer from 40% in the late 1970s to over 95% today.
Gifford gets tearful with memories of Josh
Aldaniti was hardly the type to appreciate Plumpton's tight circuit, but with Findon down the road, it's an entirely appropriate venue to celebrate the trust's achievements, and to raise a glass to the sole survivor of that quartet of folk.
And what better a way to celebrate than for Nick Gifford to win the race in memory of his late father. The Josh Gifford Memorial Trophy, this year sponsored by SIS, is confusingly, a middle distance handicap hurdle, when the epithet "trained J T Gifford, Findon" is best associated with staying chasers. Nevertheless, they all count!
And it would appear that 6 year old hurdler Gone Country had read the script, for he took a fierce hold under Tom Cannon, took the lead at the base of the hill, and galloped on resolutely to win his second race on the bounce by 2 1/2l from Bread And Butter.
The gelding has taken a little time to get the hang of racing this side of the Irish Sea. Early promise in a Monksgrange Point-to-Point has taken a full season here to convert, but the market sent him off a warm 7/4 favourite on the back of a 3/4l success at Fontwell in May, and he's started his season in similar winning vein.
For good measure, Nick also saddled the third, Eliza Doolittle, , but she was no fair lady this time around. her time may yet come again as she's enjoyed success here.
Nick relayed to Racing TV that the result tugged at his heartstrings, "It was a little bit emotional walking off the stand. I don’t always have a runner in this, but I knew this one had a real chance."
Champion Bumper third passes first jumping test with flying colours
Chris Gordon is a man to follow at Plumpton, and leading owner Bet Goodwin a major sponsor too. The Hampshire yard enjoyed an excellent season last time around, and looks in a mood to continue the same way.
Cheltenham Festival winners are tricky to identify in these emerging months of the season. However, Champion Bumper third Bass Hunter is already a lively chance for those that like an ante-post price, and his 8 1/2l romp in the opening Betty Chantler Novices Hurdle has his trainer dreaming of progression through the ranks. This five runner field may not have taught him too much of the rough and tumble of a race, and by the looks of his jumping, the pace took him by surprise at his obstacles. But that he won fair and square is in no doubt, and the Formby Novices at Aintree on Boxing Day is on the agenda.
Gordon was on the mark again in the handicap hurdle over the minimum trip later in the afternoon when Nap Hand lived up to his name to win by a comfortable 3l, both uder the guidance of son Freddie, who is earning a sound reputation among the younger members of the Weighing Room. Happy days for owners Goodwin Racing, sponsors of the Sussex National at Easter.
Changing of the guard at Cisswood
It's changing times at Cisswood Stables in Lower Beeding, or is it? The third generation of Moores to train racehorses is now in charge, as Josh and Jamie take over the licence. But Gary is never far from the action, and whatever their own experience, his own record of nearly 2,500 winners, flat & jump, will ensure his advice is heeded.
For the time being however, the licence remains Gary & Josh, and this little partnership, on the back of a 35 winner flat season, added a fourth winner in this nascent jumps season, when 9 year old Tapley raised a rare cheer in the ring when upsetting the Skelton favourite in the feature Nick & Valda Embiricos Chase, a middle distance handicap.
The four preceding races had gone to favourites, and the following two did also, so it was with empty satchels that ur friends in the ring departed: a rare day for punters to smile every 30 minutes.
Tapley's success belies a succesful season last time around, winning at Wincanton and Stratford. Not enough however to prevent him switching stable fro Suzy Smith, who must be ruing the continued sun of success that's seen two on the bounce since September. Caoilin Quinn was the man in the plate.
Long fella wins on Golly Gosh
An easing in the weather has, at least, allowed us to run a pair of steeplechases, but runners remain as scarce as hens' teeth.
The other chase, over 2m 4f, carried a title we can all sign up to. The Back British Farming Handicap attracted just 4 runners, of which one wasn't really at the races after the first and didn't finish. Winner Golly Gosh justified strong support when endorsing promising efforts at Stratford and Market rasen with a comfortable 1 3/4l success over Cath Williams' Yorgonnabeplucky.
Trainer Tom Ellis is another building a solid reputation for himself, ably assisted by brother-in-law jockey Jack Andrews, the tallest rider in the Weighing Room.
Short head finish makes work for the judge
The best finish of the day occurred in the 2m Trottenden Farm Handicap Hurdle, where first and second were separated by just a short head at the line.
Ez Tiger, with Bryan Carver up, prevailed in a sustained ding-dong from the last, over in-form Olly Murphy's Latin with champion rider Sean Bowen up. Were it not for a mistake at the last, Bowen might have added to his four-timer at Market Rasen on Saturday. A tenth winner from just 52 runners for Alex Hales.
Neil Mulholland was another to frustrate the Skelton winner machine in the finale, a mares hurdle named after the 1981 Grand National winner Aldaniti. What the grand old chaser would think about his name added to a handicap for mares, we will never know.
Conor O'Farrell made the best of winner Mild Magic's 7lb advantage over second Burning Embers, but 2 1/2l covered the first three in a competitive finale.
