Mitson relives childhood visit as Rowland Ward is surprise winner

As a ten-year-old David Mitson visited a racecourse for the first time with his father – at Kempton on Boxing Day. More years later than he was willing to admit he was back – in the winner's enclosure.

His exciting visit was thanks to Rowland Ward's surprise victory in the Ladbrokes Daily Odds Boosts Introductory Juvenile Hurdle.

It is a race won by decent sorts, most notably from the Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson yards, and in Thyme White and Homer Rowland Ward had to see off two such horses to win at 9-1 for Stuart Edmunds.