Prolific Stand Guard back for more at ripe old age of 13

Stand Guard, the winningmost horse in British all-weather history, is back.

It looked like his retreat from the racing ranks could be permanent, with his trainer John Butler hinting last winter could be his last tour of duty, but the 13-year-old is showing enough at home that his potential retirement has turned into a mere 249-day hiatus.

Just four of his 80 career starts have come on turf, and with 28 wins across the various all-weather surfaces he is one ahead of fellow stalwart La Estrella. Butler is hopeful he can extend that lead this winter – and maybe even on Sunday over a course and distance he has conquered five times.

"He's been on the go and getting ready for a while and we've got enough work into him – he's had a couple of racecourse gallops – so he's in good shape and we're hoping for a good run.

"He's fit enough, so it could be tomorrow he'll add to his record number of all-weather wins. It'll give us an indication of where he is."

Stand Guard won on his winter return last year and faces 13 rivals in the Compare Bookmakers @ bookmakers.co.uk Handicap at 5.10.

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