Rare opportunity to meet National Hunt heroes
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Coneygree will be among the equine heroes on show at this year’s Lambourn Open Day.
On Good Friday (3 April) Lambourn trainers throw open their doors to racing fans, for people to get an inside insight into the preparation behind the races and the lifestyles the equine stars lead.
Coneygree — trained by Mark Bradstock in Oxfordshire — will be travelling to the Berkshire village to take part in a parade in the afternoon. The eight-year-old, ridden by Nico de Boinville, became the first novice in 41 years to win the Gold Cup at last week’s Cheltenham Festival (13 March).
Coneygree will be joined in the parade by this year’s World Hurdle Winner Cole Harden, who is trained in Lambourn by Warren Greatrex. Dual Gold Cup winner Kauto Star, who is being retrained in Berkshire with eventer Laura Collett, will also be in the line up.
More than 10,000 visitors head to the Valley of the Racehorse for the open day each year. Around 30 yards will be open to the public — including Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows where fans can visit last week’s Festival winners Peace and Co and Call The Cops.
There will be an opportunity to see the facilities at the Valley Equine Hospital and a range of demonstrations will be taking place throughout the day, including horses swimming and farrier displays.
The events field with its central arena will open at 1pm where camel racing, scurry driving and a puissance competition with top jockeys will take place.
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There will also be a wide range of trade stands and pony racing.
The day is sponsored by Betfair and all money raised goes to Lambourn’s registered charity, The Lambourn Valley Housing Trust, which works for the welfare of its stable staff, The Air Ambulance and other local needy causes.
Tickets can be bought in advance online until 31 March, costing £12. Under 12s have free entry.
To book visit: www.newburyracecourse.co.uk
Tickets on the day cost £15. For more information visit: www.lambourn.info
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.