Race type - Jump
Towcester
Course details
Towcester or simply ”Toaster” is situation on the A5 between Northampton and Milton Keynes. The course is a right-hander at 1m6f where horses have to show their best at every yard. The course is severely undulating starting with a downhill section leading into a sharper and sharper climb. Stamina is at a premium at Towcester. Back horses that have won over the course and distance before.
GUIDE - For Racecourse
Right-handed, oval circuit of 1m6f, uphill from back straight
Towcester (pronounced "Toaster") is situated in beautiful parkland on the Easton Neston estate owned by the Hesketh family. It was Lord Hesketh who had the vision (and funds) to build a racecourse here in the first place with the first recorded meeting taking place in 1928, and the current Lord is very much hands-on, overseeing a £7.5million redevelopment of the course's facilities. The latest project is the construction of a greyhound stadium in the centre of the course, which is due to open in August 2012 - we'll see! Being situated on the A5 between Northampton and Milton Keynes, they never struggle to get a decent crowd here and the free admission (except Boxing Day and Easter Monday) is no doubt a contributory factor too. The course's configuration ensures some exciting racing too, so a visit is highly recommended.
Principal Races
Whilst the racing can be exciting, you are not going to see many top class horses in action here as the prize money is not the greatest and the races are framed for the more moderate animals. Still, the crowd can't really complain as they have got in free!
Course Characteristics
The course is a right-hander measuring 1m6f in circumference and horses have to stay every yard of that! That's because it is severely undulating with the downhill section, which begins as the horses turn out of the home straight and lasts for about 6f, the only real relief for tired legs. Once the runners have cleared the fourth last hurdle/fence, they start climbing and this continues all the way to the finishing line, with the last furlong being sharply uphill. As a result, stamina is at a premium here and this is accentuated by the ground which can get extremely testing. It therefore pays to concentrate on horses who have won over the course and distance before, or have won over longer trips at other tracks. It's virtually impossible to make all here and the lead can change hands several times in the home straight, which is worth bearing in mind if you are betting in-running. The fences themselves are not too difficult but you still get plenty of falls at the last two fences as the runners are exhausted.
Top Trainers
Jonjo O'Neill comfortably leads the way here over the past five seasons with 32 winners at a more than respectable strike rate of 21%, and backers of his runners would have made a level stakes profit of £29. Alan King has trained less winners (21) but boasts the better strike rate and you ignore him at your peril. Venetia Williams is a superb placer of her horses, especially when they are carrying a penalty for winning, and 18 of here runners here have been led into the winner's enclosure. Nigel Twiston-Davies and Nicky Henderson also deserve honourable mentions with 15 winners apiece.
Top Jockeys
The success of O'Neill is mirrored by his stable jockey AP McCoy and the champion jockey can normally be relied upon to bring home the bacon when riding a fancied runner. His 25 winners since 2007 is four clear of Jason Maguire, who is fast moving up the ranks and is surely a candidate for champion jockey sooner rather than later. Robert (or "Choc" as he is known) boots home the majority of the King-trained winners and anything he rides is worth a second look. Richard Johnson and Aidan Coleman, who rides for Venetia Williams, are also worthy of close consideration.