The days are getting noticeably longer, writes Tony Stafford. We’ve already recovered three and a half hours of daylight from the stingy spells of midwinter, and Cheltenham starts tomorrow. In other words: 2026 starts now. Two septuagenarians, Messrs. Henderson and Mullins, have been the main forces at the meeting for decades, and neither is willing […]
You might be wondering if the dream of Saudi Arabia’s rulers to dominate the world’s most watched sports at the highest level isn’t a little vague. writes Tony Stafford. Golfers and footballers have been enticed with unfathomably large sums of money to join the Liv Tour and the Saudi Pro League respectively, but even after […]
Come on Paul, make a stand, writes Tony Stafford. Convince owner Colm Donlon to pay the additional £18,000 fee and place Tutti Quanti in the Champion Hurdle next month! In some ways the parallels are clear. On February 8e 1997 Make A Stand, ridden by AP McCoy, went all out to win the Tote Gold […]
If you happen to be 78 years old and own a racehorse that is not only the best you’ve ever owned, but could also be a future steep chase champion, it’s hard not to be impatient. writes Tony Stafford. It must have been unbearable for Harry Redknapp to have to wait 331 days for his […]
The 2025/26 show jumping campaign started six months and a few days ago, but traditionalists, especially among the trainers, still consider the actual season to have authentically only started during the two-day competition in Chepstow last month. writes Tony Stafford. The season’s climax (or anti-climax if your name is Skelton) at Sandown at the end […]
On a day when Ascot’s Champions Day produced winners at 200/1 and 100/1 for home stables, two of Ireland’s biggest yards were busy elsewhere, writes Tony Stafford. It was no surprise when Aidan O’Brien had the opening five and then mercifully let someone else get on the scoresheet before making it six on the day […]
Now we know why Kevin Buckley was sent to Doncaster, writes Tony Stafford. Few trainers or owners would miss the chance of a ninth ST army, a third in a row, and a possible 1-2-3 to start up, probably enough to complete another British trainers title. No, while the British representative of the boys in […]
There are doubles and then there are doubles, writes Tony StaffordWith a few on Saturday thanks to trainers Richard Spencer and Richard Hannon who border on the absurd. How else could you describe the performance of Spencer when winning both the AYR Gold and Silver Cups (in reverse time order) within a little more than […]