Virgin Bet Autumn Festival Saturday 2025

1:35 pm

The British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes

A son of the top class Ghaiyyath, Ghost Mode (5/4F) looked to be another useful prospect when running out an impressive 5 ½ length winner of Race 1, landing the spoils for Rob Hornby and Andrew Balding. In the box seat from an early stage, Ghost Mode quickly established a commanding lead in the opening contest, stretching a couple of lengths clear of Enamorus (9/2) passing the halfway point. Still very much on the bridle coming towards the home turn, Ghost Mode looked to be in a world of his own as he led the field into the final quarter mile, and after merely being shaken up to extend his lead, the talented juvenile readily flew clear to score impressively. Another winner in the bag for Michael Blencowe & Partner, the winning owner also took Group 2 & Group 3 honours in the UAE earlier this year with useful sprinter West Acre!

Results

Winner
Name: Ghost Mode (2)
Owner: Mr Michael Blencowe & Partner
Prize: £30,000
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Rob Hornby

The Race
Distance: 7f 1y
Prize: £30,000
Class: 2

Runners
Runners: 9

2:05 pm

The Virgin Bet Stand Cup Stakes

A grand campaigner over the years, Hamish (11/8F) readily notched his 14^th career victory when coming home a tough winner of Race 2, keeping on by half a length to score for Cieren Fallon and William Haggas. Held up initially, Hamish gradually made his way into a more prominent position towards the end of the opening mile, sitting around a length behind Champagne Prince (12/1) as Grey Cuban (12/1) led the way. Coming off the bridle but readily finding the gaps off the home bend, Hamish hit top gear passing the two-furlong marker, moving up to challenge for the lead with Mount Atlas (8/1) also making a bid out wide. Hitting the front a furlong out, Hamish had to be kept up to his work in the closing stages, but the old boy perked up once again and kept on well towards the line to provide Cieren Fallon with his 93^rd winner of the year!

Results

Winner
Name: Hamish (1)
Owner: The Hamish Partnership
Prize: £60,000
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Cieren Fallon

The Race
Distance: 1m 4f 63y
Prize: £60,000
Class: 1

Runners
Runners: 5
Non-Runners: 1

2:40 pm

The Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Watergate Cup

Successful in this race last year, Spirit Mixer (5/1) repeated the feat in determined style to take the 2025 Watergate Cup by half a length, just doing enough in the closing stages to provide doubles for Rob Hornby and Andrew Balding. Settled in midfield throughout, Spirit Mixer travelled comfortably through the opening mile, racing alongside Tribal Star (9/1) as Youthful King (33/1) set the pace. Moving with ease towards the final half mile, Spirit Mixer soon started to gain ground on the leaders around the home turn, pushed forward into fourth place with just a couple of furlongs to go. Now under the pump, Spirit Mixer briefly looked unlikely to reel in new leader Prydwen (16/1) with a furlong to race, but keeping on straight and true, the plucky 7-year-old stayed on strongly in the closing stages to lead in the final strides. A second big win of the season for connections, Spirit Mixer was also successful in this year’s Northumberland Plate!

Results

Winner
Name: Spirit Mixer (4)
Owner: Mr J. C. Smith
Prize: £100,000
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Rob Hornby

The Race
Distance: 1m 7f 196y
Prize: £100,000
Class: 2

Runners
Runners: 12

3:23 pm

The Lotus Manchester at H.R Owen Nursery Handicap Stakes

Best turned out and first past the post, Temple Of Athena (100/30) ran out a gutsy winner in the fourth race of the day, holding on by ¾ of a length to score for Ben Robinson and Brian Ellison. Quickly into stride, Temple Of Athena occupied the rail in second place for much of the way, sitting around a length behind leader Hanney Girl (12/1) with Front Line Fury (13/2) to her outside. Still travelling with plenty of zest, Temple Of Athena really caught the eye around the home turn, clinging to the rail and moving up to challenge for the lead at the furlong pole. Now in the clear and switched off the rail, Temple Of Athena responded well for pressure in the final furlong, gradually pulling back the deficit to edge past Hanney Girl towards the line. Another solid year for the trainer, Brian Ellison also won a Listed Race in France recently with Wor Faayth!

Results

Winner
Name: Temple of Athena (7)
Owner: Nick Bradley Racing 17 and Partner
Prize: £30,000
Trainer: Brian Ellison
Jockey: Ben Robinson

The Race
Distance: 5f 15y
Prize: £30,000
Class: 3

Runners
Runners: 7
Non-Runners: 3

4:00 pm

The Livescorebet Handicap Stakes

A course winner in fine form, Spioradalta (11/1) recorded his third victory in a row when successful in the fifth race of the day, rallying strongly in the closing stages to land the spoils by half a length for Duran Fentiman and Mark Walford. Bustled along in the early stages to gain a prominent position, Spioradalta gradually found his way to the front after a couple of furlongs, setting a decent pace ahead of Glistening Nights (16/1) in second. Still ahead at the three-furlong marker, Spioradalta came off the bridle around the turn into the straight, bumped along to maintain his position as course specialist Box To Box (11/4F) made a forward move into second. Briefly headed in the straight, it looked all over for Spioradalta at one stage, but the valiant 5-year-old rallied half a furlong out, edging back in front to steal victory from the jaws of defeat. A decent year for the trainer, Walford has now equalled his career best of 14 flat winners in a season!

Results

Winner
Name: Spioradalta (12)
Owner: Clayton Manning, S Morrell & Hathaway
Prize: £30,000
Trainer: Mark Walford
Jockey: Duran Fentiman

The Race
Distance: 1m 2f 70y
Prize: £30,000
Class: 3

Runners
Runners: 11
Non-Runners: 2

4:35 pm

The Oktoberfest Season Finale Saturday 20th September Handicap Stakes

Winning for the fifth time this season, Knights Gold (11/1) put two below par runs well behind him in the sixth race of the day, running on well by 1 ¼ lengths to score for Cieren Fallon, Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole. Keen to go faster than his jockey would allow, Knights Gold looked a bit of a handful in the early stages but managed to settle for a midfield position through the halfway point. As course regular Paws For Thought (15/2) made the best of his way home out in front, Knights Gold found a lovely gap up the inside rail to sneak into third place around the home turn. Galloping on strongly down the home straight, Knights Gold hit the front half a furlong out, and despite a late rally from Miami Matrix (4/1), the leader had just enough in reserve to see out a stylish victory, providing the Newland-Insole stable with their 32^nd winner of the season!

Results

Winner
Name: Knights Gold (8)
Owner: Mr A. J. Spratt
Prize: £22,000
Trainer: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole
Jockey: Cieren Fallon

The Race
Distance: 7f 127y
Prize: £22,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 12
Non-Runners: 1

5:05 pm

The John Smith's Jump Jockeys Challenge Handicap Stakes

In consistent form under both codes, Saligo Bay (15/8F) continued in the same vein to take Race 7, delivered perfectly by Jonathan England to record a gritty ¾ length victory for trainer Sam England. Always nearer first than last, Saligo Bay raced prominently for the most part in the seventh race, sitting toward the inside of Spartan Times (13/2) in midfield as Cotswold Cottage (11/2) took the lead coming towards the four-furlong marker. Yet to be asked a serious question by Jonathan England, Saligo Bay sneaked through into fourth place around the home turn, edging past Green Team (10/1) as Cotswold Cottage set sail for home. Hard ridden but steadily closing the gap, Saligo Bay saved his best work for the finish, gradually pulling his way into the lead and powering home to land the spoils. A reliable jockey over obstacles, Jonathan England has also won graded jumps races aboard Cloudy Too and Mwaleshi in the past!

Results

Winner
Name: Saligo Bay (5)
Owner: Lpd Demolition Ltd
Prize: £22,000
Trainer: Sam England
Jockey: Jonathan England

The Race
Distance: 1m 4f 63y
Prize: £22,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 10

5:35 pm

The John Smith's Jump Jockeys Challenge Handicap Stakes

A former champion in his own right, Harry Cobden proved he could do it all when landing the finale aboard Playtime by a stylish 3 ¼ lengths, recording a third victory of the afternoon for trainer Andrew Balding in the process. Alert out of the gates, Playtime gained a prominent position from an early stage in the eighth race, taking control at the ahead of recent course winner Tailorman (18/1). Allowed free reign in front, Playtime travelled with ease through the opening mile and having passed the half-mile point with a two-length lead, Cobden began to squeeze for more. Pushed along to maintain the lead, Playtime wasted no time in extending the advantage down the straight, settling the contest in a matter of strides to see off Secret Beach (4/1) in second place. One of the best in the business, Cobden also rode three Grade 1 winners over jumps last year, winning aboard Pic D’orhy, Caldwell Potter, and Kalif Du Berlais – all for Paul Nicholls!

Results

Winner
Name: Playtime (5)
Owner: Mr N Botica & Partner
Prize: £22,000
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Harry Cobden

The Race
Distance: 1m 4f 63y
Prize: £22,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 10