The 2023/24 National Hunt season is up and running in the UK and Warwick are preparing for their next meeting of the campaign when they host the Warwick Winter Festival on 7-8 November. The two-day fixture includes 14 races, with the feature, the Stan Mellor Chase, coming on day one.
Here is a look at what there is to look forward to at Warwick this season on the track.
Dan Skelton Bidding to Become Champion Trainer
Local trainer Dan Skelton has been the leading trainer at Warwick over the last five years. Given his location, he often sends many of his horses to this venue, and that is likely to be the case again this season.
Back in business 🏇
Galia Des Liteaux bounces right back to her best to taste Graded success in the Hampton Novices' Chase for @DSkeltonRacing & @harryskelton89 @WarwickRaces pic.twitter.com/otj3TLLYCk
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 14, 2023
Skelton will be one of the strong contenders for the Trainers’ Championship in the UK. He has Paddy Power racing odds of 33/1 to win his maiden title this season, but to do that he must beat the likes of Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson, and Willie Mullins. One of Skelton’s leading horses is Protektorat. He is the 3/1 in the sports betting to win the Grade One Lancashire Chase at Haydock, one of the first major chases in the early stages of the campaign. Victory in that contest will help him get off to a good start in his bid to win the Trainers’ Championship.
Warwick Classic Chase the Feature Race of the Season
The most valuable race run at Warwick this season is the Warwick Classic Chase. It is a Grade Three contest run over the distance of three miles and five furlongs in January. This is one of the longest races in National Hunt racing, so stamina is vital for those involved.
The 2022 Warwick Classic Chase was won by Iwilldoit for trainer Sam Thomas and jockey Sam Sheppard, as reported by the BBC. The roll of honour also includes One For Arthur who went on to win a Grand National and Ladalko for Champion Trainer Nicholls.
Iwilldoit could feature in the race in 2024, and if he does line up at Warwick, he will be bidding to become the first horse in the history chase contest to defend its crown.
All Roads Lead to Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival in March is the meeting that every owner and trainer wants to be involved in. There are 28 races across the four days, with each contest carrying a great deal of prestige to them.
We are likely to see some of the leading Cheltenham Festival contenders at Warwick this season in one of their warm-up races. Some trainers enjoy sending their Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders to the West Midlands course, as not only are the fences a great test for the chasers, but it is a stiff course, just like they will find at Cheltenham.
Next stop: Cheltenham!
He was made to work but it's job done for Jonbon in the Kingmaker at Warwick… pic.twitter.com/alg1HFa7Lb
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 11, 2023
Last season, Jonbon won the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick before he appeared in the Arkle Trophy, one of the leading novice races at the meeting. He went on to prevail in two Grade One chases at the back end of the campaign, with victories coming in the Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree and the Celebration Chase at Sandown.
For more information on race days and ticket availability for the 2023/24 National Hunt season, visit Warwick Racecourse’s official website today.
