RACE NIGHT 5 MAY 2023
Race Night offers amateur riders and trainers the chance to take centre stage at Cheltenham for the only evening meeting of the season. Nick Seddon looks at why it produces competition as fierce as any you will see... RACE NIGHT
A sk anyone connected with Jump racing where they would most like to have a winner and the same answer will come back each time – Cheltenham. On Race Night, which is staged on Friday 5 May in 2023, each of the seven races on the card offers the spotlight to those on the point-to-point scene, giving amateur trainers and jockeys an opportunity to fulfil the ultimate dream of triumphing at the Home of Jump Racing. Point-to-point racing essentially serves as the ‘grassroots’ of the sport and has acted as the starting point for future stars in both human and equine form over the years. The beauty of Race Night is that it has a remarkable habit of throwing up stories
can’t get over it to this day, to be honest. We took over at the second last and he just powered on – somehow he just found more in the tank. “The fact that I had my first ride under Rules at Cheltenham was mad enough, so to win was just crazy. I’d only just done my fitness test at the racing school the week before, so there was no guarantee I’d have my licence in time. The man who sorted it obviously did a great job! “I’ve been a work rider for Kim Bailey for four seasons now, but I’d like to see how far I can go with this. I want to get my conditional licence at some point and hopefully one day turn professional, if I’m good enough.” Off the track, there will be live entertainment in The Centaur after the last race.
to warm even the coldest of hearts, and none is more remarkable than that of Lauren Keen-Hawkins, who had a debut to remember on board Dandy Dan. The 20-year-old was having her first-ever ride under Rules in the Ineos Grenadier Mixed Open Hunters’ Chase, but any lack of experience was swiftly forgotten as Keen-Hawkins looked a natural on the nine-year-old, who took over at the last and romped clear for a six-and-a-half-length victory. As if the first-time success for his rider was not enough, Dandy Dan is the only horse in trainer James Bourne’s yard! The story is made all the more remarkable by the fact that Keen-Hawkins only received her amateur riding licence just two days before taking the ride. Speaking later in the year she said: “I still
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